Alcohol Licensing & Regulatory Compliance

Far Reaching Capabilities. Straight Up.

Our attorneys have experience handing a variety of trend setting matters and industry acquisitions including:

• Handled regulatory compliance and national alcohol licensing management including license transfers and ownership updates after record breaking bankruptcy restructuring and mergers for international exhibition companies
• Assisted with lobbying efforts to support new alcohol license exception and special license classes for multi-use entertainment and hospitality concepts
• Provided on-site regulatory compliance guidance Assisted various producers and retailers in adjusting business operations during COVID-19 closure orders and facilitated expedited permitting for re-purposing of manufacturing facilities to produce hand sanitizer and other essential products
• Handled all food and alcohol vendor and concessions licensing for major sports stadiums and provided assistance with special promotion and event compliance
• Handled special licensing for common carriers including airlines, airports, and train statins including lobbying for and drafting new special licensing categories and managing food and alcohol service licensing for transport vessels and commuter transport stations
• Successfully represented various alcohol producers and retailers in defense against Federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) subpoenas for exhaustive financial records and marketing practices.
• Developed social distancing plans for restaurants, bars, and other on-premise retail facilities in compliance with state and local emergency orders.
• Assisted with management agreement review and negotiations, and alcohol license and business permit transfers during and following a major real estate investment group’s first entry into the U.S. hospitality market with the $125 million purchase of a South Beach hotel. The Spirit Law Partners Team worked to complete all business and alcohol license transfers simultaneously with transaction closing to avoid interruption in alcohol and amenity services.
• Assisted with licensing and regulatory due diligence in preparation for a major cruise lines’ sale of assets for $3.025 billion dollars. The team reviewed regulatory compliance issues and completed license filings throughout the U.S. prior to closing deadlines. Post-closing, the Group assisted with preparation of due diligence and licensing summaries for in-house regulatory counsel.
• Assisted with analysis and review of promotional and social media marketing programs, completed business licensing and permitting for various sports team franchises, and arena food and beverage concessions, including drafting and negotiation of concession agreements and provided corporate and regulatory compliance guidance.
• Provided regulatory guidance and due diligence of operating licenses and permits for various movie theater chain acquisition of assets including transactions over $3.5 billion. The Spirit Law Partners team has transferred all alcohol licenses and operating permits simultaneously with closing to prevent interruption in alcohol service and provided post-closing compliance guidance for multiple jurisdictions.
• Represented the national movie theater chain, Muvico Entertainment, as alcohol regulatory and licensing counsel in the sale of its theater chain and remained as licensing regulatory counsel for Buyer post-closing. Post-closing, the Spirit Law Partners Team assisted Muvico Entertainment in disposition and sale of alcohol inventory and continued representation of Buyer for completion of business licensing and regulatory compliance issues.
• Review and analysis of alcohol internet sales and direct to customer alcohol shipping issues for national retailers.
• Defense of administrative enforcement allegations and TTB subpoenas during joint State and Federal task force investigation relating to alcohol trade practice investigations involving use of supplier support and marketing funds; provided post-settlement regulatory compliance guidance.
• Represented foreign investment group in acquisition of U.S. alcohol import company worth over $150 million in alcohol licensing and permitting processes in all 50 states.
• Represented largest producer of Scotch Whiskey based in Scotland in new product launch across all 50 states. Representation included all licensing ad permitting processes on the federal, state, and local levels.
• Represented various producers of alcohol infused food items in regulatory label approvals and compliance with permitting requirements.
• Assisted international retailer with review and regulatory permitting for unique and themed private label. Representation included review and drafting of licensing agreements, label approvals and brand registrations.
• Served as special alcohol regulatory counsel in Cineworld Theaters acquisition of a major movie exhibition chain, valued at over $3 Billion USD, and completed multi-jurisdictional license tracking, license transfers and corporate updates resulting from change in ownership.
• Provided on-site alcohol marketing training for various sports teams and hospitality venues with a focus on permissible use of social and digital media for alcohol related promotions.
• Assisted various nightclubs and bars with review of drug prevention policies and provided on-site training.
• Comprehensive licensing and permitting of concessionaire kiosks and food stands at train stations, sports stadiums, conference centers and other entertainment venues with third-party food catering services.