Wine, Spirits and Beer Law 101 (2026 Edition)

Michael B. Newman | Holland & Knight LLP

Michael B. Newman is a partner in Holland & Knight’s San Francisco office and head of the firm’s Alcohol Beverage Team. Mr. Newman focuses on counseling alcohol beverage and hospitality industry clients on national and international regulatory, contract, legislative and licensing matters, advertising and promotional law, importation matters, trade practices, and inter-tier relations. He represents clients before the federal Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau, the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and State Board of Equalization, and other state alcohol beverage agencies throughout the United States.

Mr. Newman works with international importers, suppliers, exporters, domestic manufacturers, regional and local distributors, and retailers (including multi-state restaurant and hotel and convenience store and other off-premise chains) across the United States. He also has worked with national and statewide industry trade groups and associations, including the Wine Institute, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association, and the California Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association.

Mr. Newman is an associate member of the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators, the Brewers Association, the Wine Institute and the National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association. He currently serves on Wine Institute’s Public Policy Committee. In addition, Mr. Newman lectures frequently on compliance and other alcohol beverage regulatory matters to clients, regulators and other alcohol beverage industry members.

Mr. Newman and the firm’s Alcohol Beverage Team also advise the hospitality industry on a variety of matters, including: alcohol beverage licensing; alcohol beverage regulatory filings in connection with mergers and acquisitions; representation in administrative proceedings; and litigation/dispute resolution.

Jason H. Barker | Holland & Knight LLP

Jason H. Barker is a partner in the Portland, Oregon office of Holland & Knight LLP. His multidisciplinary practice converges at the intersection of regulatory law and complex corporate transactions. In the beverage alcohol industry, he represents domestic and international brand owners (including craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries) on regulatory, corporate, and brand acquisition matters throughout the country.

For suppliers and brand owners, Mr. Baker also serves as outside general counsel to start up growth stage and established businesses, including ongoing advice regarding corporate governance, operational strategies (including brand expansion and divestiture) and franchise law.

He also advises cannabis and hemp brand owners, including strategic operators, family office, private equity, and hedge fund investors, regarding threshold legalities and risks of cannabis investments, operations and strategic joint ventures within adult use, and CBD/hemp markets.

Mr. Barker is an adjunct professor at the University of Miami School of Law where he teaches upper-level law school courses regarding beverage alcohol and cannabis regulatory law. He is an associate member of the Brewers Association and the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators. In addition, Mr. Barker is a visiting professor at the University of Miami School of Law and teaches courses regarding the regulation of alcoholic beverages and cannabis to upper-level law students. He is also a frequent lecturer on craft beer topics, including at conferences sponsored by the Brewers Association and the Vermont Brewers Association.

Mr. Barker has been recognized by Chambers USA Guide 2024-25 for Food & Beverages: Alcohol-Nationwide.

I. Historical background to alcohol beverage regulation | 1:00pm – 1:30pm

II. Allocation of regulatory authority between federal and state regulatory authorities | 1:30pm – 2:00pm

Break | 2:00pm – 2:10pm

III. ‘Three tier’ system issue spotting and structuring considerations | 2:10pm – 2:40pm

IV. Emerging trends and products | 2:40pm – 3:10pm