July 16, 2025 – Buchalter is pleased to announce the launch of its Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Group, dedicated to serving clients across the alcoholic beverage industry. With deep ties to California’s wine country and a growing national platform, this group provides strategic counsel across all stages of business—from formation and regulatory compliance to brand protection, litigation, and complex transactions.
Buchalter’s launch of the Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Group reflects the firm’s ongoing commitment to aligning with the evolving needs of clients in highly regulated and rapidly changing industries. As producers, distributors, and retailers in the alcoholic beverage space navigate a web of state and federal regulations, market expansion, and operational demands, the need for experienced and industry-savvy legal counsel continues to grow.
The Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Group is co-chaired by Oren Bitan and Trina Falace, who lead a cross-disciplinary team of attorneys experienced in regulatory, transactional, litigation, and land use matters specific to the beverage sector.
“Clients in this space face everything from complex labeling requirements and distributor relationships to water access rights and vineyard land use disputes,” said Bitan. “Our team brings together the right mix of legal capabilities and industry knowledge to help clients solve problems and seize opportunities.”
“Buchalter has long supported clients in this space, and the formation of this group allows us to deliver a more tailored and integrated approach. Whether a client is launching a new brand, securing financing for expansion, or navigating a use permit appeal, our team is positioned to support every stage of their business,” added Falace. “We are proud to work with some of the most respected names in the industry and are excited to continue expanding our service in this space.”
Buchalter’s Wine, Beer & Spirits Industry Group offers a full range of services, including:
- Regulatory Compliance with TTB, ABC, and other federal and state agencies
- Corporate & Transactional Counsel for licensing, M&A, and business planning
- Banking & Finance related to acquisitions, crop lines, and operational funding
- Real Estate & Land Use for vineyards, tasting rooms, and production facilities
- Intellectual Property protection for brands, trademarks, and proprietary processes
- Labor & Employment support tailored to industry-specific workforce issues
- Insolvency & Financial Solutions for distressed assets or restructuring needs
- Litigation involving distribution disputes, product claims, and IP issues
Notable representative successes include securing an $8 million jury verdict in a distribution dispute for Breakthru Beverage California, defending Pabst Brewing Co. in a Ninth Circuit labeling class action, and winning a quiet title and jury trial victory for Duckhorn Vineyards in a contested water easement matter. The group also advises on high-value winery transactions, vineyard leases, influencer partnerships, and celebrity brand launches.
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Buchalter is a full-service business law firm representing local, regional, national, and international clients in a multitude of practice areas and their subspecialties, among them: Bank and Finance, Corporate, Health Care, Litigation, Insolvency and Financial Law, Intellectual Property, Labor and Employment, Real Estate, and Tax and Estate Planning. Buchalter has offices in California, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington. For more information about the firm, visit: buchalter.com.
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