Litigation Update: What is New and Important to You!
This panel will explore new changes and trends within the diverse world of alcohol litigation. They will highlight some of the jurisprudential shifts in constitutional and administrative law and discuss how these changes might impact industry operations. They will also address the range of state cases percolating across the country--and address how these dynamics intersect within the unique federalism dynamics inherent to the 21st Amendment.
Regulation and Enforcement of Marijuana: Sifting through the Haze
Following the passage of the budget bill in November 2025, the cannabis beverage market was thrown into a state of flux. This panel seeks to navigate the regulatory and legal complexities of this emerging billion-dollar industry as the November 12, 2026 deadline effectively banning most intoxicating hemp-derived products looms.
You’re under the influence! Exploring Partnerships and Sponsorships in the Modern Era
The modern rise of the “influencer” has made brand deals all the rage. Alcohol has seen an influx of new partnerships and sponsorships in an increasingly competitive market. This panel will explore the nuance of celebrity sponsorship and provide insight for navigating/orchestrating these deals vis a vis existing trade practice frameworks. DTC shipping considerations, tied-house restrictions, and retail and supplier intersectionality will all be evaluated within the confines of this exciting topic.
Warehousing & Licensing & Sales, Oh My!
Warehouses are the backbone of logistics and require varying types of licenses. In the beverage alcohol space, the nature and use of the warehouse are primary considerations in the type(s) of licenses which may be required to do business. In recent years, the alcohol industry has wrestled with iterations of this question on topics ranging from fulfillment houses to off-dock sales. In this session, experts will discuss some of the most common business models regulators are tasked with licensing—from direct-to-consumer to public warehouses—and share practice points based on their experiences.
Mergers and Acquisitions 101
This panel seeks to explore best practices in the world of mergers and acquisitions by comparing and contrasting considerations within varying levels of the three-tier system. What does this process look like in the supplier tier versus the wholesaler tier? What are some of the licensing considerations and risk management practices that must be considered? This panel seeks to answer these questions and more.
Stolen Alcohol: Challenges for Consumers, Regulators & Industry
Organized crime and alcohol have a colorful history. In recent years, professional criminal networks have targeted a wider range of business processes—including alcohol. The impact of alcohol theft poses risks to the regulated industry, to revenues, and to public safety. This problem is causing both industry and regulators to adapt to stay ahead of new strategies by organized criminal rings. In this session, experts will discuss the evolving legal, regulatory, and business initiatives designed to make enforcement and prosecution more effective.
Consumer Class Actions: Recent Developments and Risks
Product benefit claims and novel ingredients might make for good marketing, but they can also create legal risk. In recent years, beverage alcohol companies have faced class action suits in relation to a variety of product claims. In this session, attorneys will discuss recent class action lawsuits, risks, trends, and proactive steps companies can take to mitigate litigation risk.
Tariffs 101: A Primer on Key Domestic & International Law Implications
International trade compliance is ever-changing and multi-dimensional. As companies seek solutions to new tariff frameworks, a wide array of business and legal processes are being pulled in for review. Adding to this complexity are new trade agreements with varying levels of detail and scope. Regardless of outcome, legal departments will need to ensure their systems are flexible enough to accommodate the rate volatility, yet secure and sufficiently iterative to maintain the required documentation and advice. In this session, attorneys will discuss the most critical components of trade compliance frameworks—and how to develop systems that are nimble, but not porous.
The Face Age
Well-intentioned policies like digital identification and biometric requirements are often laden with legal risk for states and corporations. As biometrics are used more broadly for age verification in alcohol sales, the push-pull between the privacy rights of individuals and the broader integrity of systems has become a major debate. In this session, attorneys will discuss the most pressing legal questions inherent to this ever-changing space.
Is Past Prologue? Robinson-Patman, Antitrust, & Alcohol
The Supreme Court’s elevation of “history and tradition” and “contemporaneous” understanding have begat fascinating questions around the nature of antitrust enforcement. As the new FTC leadership sets its agenda, the intersection of their priorities with recent Supreme Court jurisprudence might offer insight into the contours of this regulatory framework. In beverage alcohol, enforcement actions and private suits have been developing for years. But open questions remain around procedures such as the merger guidelines. In this session, attorneys will discuss the current FTC landscape, the evolution of its enforcement practices, and how these shifts may impact private companies and state policies.
Bottle Bills & EPR: Where Sustainability Intersects with Compliance & Cost
Alcohol and agriculture share legal, political, and most importantly, literal, roots. This co-dependence has historically translated into shared leadership in policy areas like sustainability and conservation. Recently, some jurisdictions have shifted from debating a known policy in bottle bills to more expansive regulatory frameworks for extended producer responsibility (EPR). These new frameworks require significantly more compliance paperwork and demand better line of sight into third-party inputs and costs. Moreover, compliance can be difficult as state agencies are often tasked with standing-up new regulations on short timelines. In this session, attorneys will discuss the key distinctions and knock-on effects of these laws.
Ethics & Artificial Intelligence: Designing, Developing, and Implementing an AI Future That Works
As AI continues a rapid expansion within all facets of society, how can it be developed and modeled to be fair, transparent, accountable, and ensure privacy? Within the context of the law, how can AI assist in expedited research and decision-making within the context of our current ethical parameters? This session will explore the power of AI as a tool within the legal profession and offer insight as to the ethical implications and realities of implementing it within your practice.