ST. HELENA, CALIF. (October 3, 2007) - Farella Braun + Martel announces that Katherine Philippakis has been elected chair of the firm's Wine Industry Practice.  Philippakis is a partner in the Real Estate and Land Use practice groups at Farella Braun + Martel and has been with the firm since 2001.

Philippakis will oversee the growing 25-attorney Wine Industry Practice, considered one of the largest and most comprehensive in the nation.  From its San Francisco and St. Helena offices, Farella represents wineries, growers, institutional, international and private equity investors and suppliers to the industry.  The cross-practice group assists winery and vineyard owners with acquisitions and dispositions, leases, loan structuring and documentation, grape contracts, alternating proprietor and custom crush agreements, broker and distribution agreements, beverage alcohol regulatory compliance, litigation, employment, and trademark and licensing issues.

Philippakis has a diverse real estate, corporate and land use practice with a focus on the wine industry.  She advises a broad range of clients including privately and publicly owned wineries, vineyards and other industry-related businesses.  Philippakis 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.  Among her industry clients are Premier Pacific Vineyards, Fortress Investment Group, Mumm Napa, Del Dotto Vineyards, Round Pond Estate, and the Rutherford Dust Society. 

Philippakis also serves as chairman of the St. Helena Planning Commission.  She earned her J.D./Ph.D. from Arizona State University (1998), her M. Litt. from Oxford University (1994), her M. Phil. from the University of St. Andrews (1991) and her A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard University (1989).

Since its founding in 1962, Farella Braun + Martel has achieved a national reputation for the acumen of its business practice, the high profile cases of its complex commercial litigation practice and its prestigious client base. Based in San Francisco, the firm serves a diverse group of clients from multinational corporations to emerging businesses. The firm also has an office in St. Helena focused on the wine industry and related businesses. Farella Braun + Martel is a Green Business.  http://www.fbm.com