Beverage Services

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Industry Contacts

SmithAmundsen’s beverage industry team provides project evaluation services and general business counsel for both startup and existing craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries. We handle the entire legal process of starting and growing a business including: handling federal, state and local excise application and licensing, real property and site evaluation and negotiation, intellectual property protection, and strategic business guidance. Our industry clients include manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers who transact business throughout the country.

Beverage business owners and operators are faced with every day decisions that are simplified with counsel from an experienced attorney. We guide you in the right direction so that you can rest assured you are making informed decisions that will ultimately help your business grow and prosper. Our goal is to help increase profits, maximize efficiency and decrease liability so you can focus on the business of your business. When problems do arise, we are there to help you find the best solution whether that involves innovation, negotiation or litigation.  

Some of our services include:  

CORPORATE

  • Entity Formation and Structuring
  • Entity Funding and Structuring
  • Bank and SBA Borrowing Counsel
  • Supply Agreements
  • Distribution Agreements
  • Buy and Sell Strategy

rEAL ESTATE

  • Location and Site Acquisition
  • Leasing and Purchase Options
  • Zoning
  • Construction Services and Contracting
  • Incentives and Governmental Interaction

REGULATORY / LICENSING / TAX

  • TTB, State and Local Licensing
  • Label Registration
  • Excise Tax Compliance

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

  • Initial Branding Research
  • Intellectual Property Registration (logo, trademark, label and merchandise art)
  • Trademark Infringement
  • Patents for Equipment Innovation

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT

  • Hiring/Firing
  • Employee Handbook
  • Training
  • Discrimination & Harassment
  • Wage & Hour
  • OSHA
  • Non-compete and Non-solicitation Agreements

LITIGATION

  • Contract disputes
  • Commercial Supplier and Distributor Disputes
  • Premises Liability
  • Product Liability