Katherine Philippakis chairs Farella Braun + Martel’s Wine Industry practice and works from the St. Helena and San Francisco offices. She has a diverse real estate, corporate and land use practice with a focus on the wine industry.
Ms. Philippakis advises a broad range of clients including privately and publicly owned wineries, vineyards and other industry-related businesses. She represents clients in complex real estate and corporate transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, development, financing, management and leasing of winery and vineyard properties. Her practice extends to counseling clients through the various land use, environmental and beverage alcohol regulatory and diligence issues presented by such wine-related development projects. In addition to her winery practice, Ms. Philippakis maintains a general land use practice focused on obtaining use permits and other entitlements for hospitality, commercial/industrial and residential uses.
While many of Ms. Philippakis’ matters are confidential, she has recently completed winery acquisition deals valued at more than $100 million. She also assists cult, super premium and premium wine brands with their efforts to protect or grow their business by acquiring or divesting assets (e.g., brands, vineyards and production facilities), renegotiating with lenders and increasing debt or equity investments.
Ms. Philippakis received a 2012 Women in Business Award from the North Bay Business Journal. She was named to the Daily Journal’s 2011 list of the "Top 25 Women Corporate and Transactional Lawyers" in California. She served on the City of St. Helena Planning Commission for nine years (with five years as its Chairman), where she helped to develop St. Helena's Small Winery Ordinance, and is a member of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers Issues Committee.