Farella Braun + Martel’s wine industry litigation team continues to be a legal cornerstone of the industry, providing knowledgeable, pragmatic guidance to clients embroiled in unwanted disputes. With a deep bench of experienced trial attorneys, extensive relationships in the community, and a results-oriented, problem-solving approach, we have helped clients efficiently resolve disputes for over sixty years.
Litigation as Opportunity
Our wine industry lawyers see litigation as an opportunity for problem-solving and resolution. Although litigation is sometimes unavoidable, we view it as a costly, last resort. Instead, we seek practical, strategic solutions that protect our clients' interests without unnecessary conflict or damage to important business and personal relationships. Our job is to solve the problem, and we bring considerable resources to the assignment.
We’ve represented clients in a broad range of situations, including contract disputes, consumer class actions, regulatory defense, real estate disputes, insurance claims, employee management, partnership conflicts, familial trust and estate matters, environmental concerns, and trademark issues. The matters we’ve handled have ranged in scale from high-stakes disputes between international companies to disagreements between neighboring vineyards. The scope of our capabilities allows us to provide clients with a full suite of legal services under one roof, providing continuity and efficiency.
Rooted in the Community
Our representation in the industry is bolstered by our ongoing presence in the community. Wine can be a very personal business. Relationships matter. We know firsthand the people, businesses, and details that are fundamental to the industry. Our lawyers are members of trade boards, have children in local schools and sports programs, and participate in charity events. We are good at getting things done in the wine industry because we understand how they get done.
Our physical office and presence in wine country enables us to maintain and strengthen industry relationships. These relationships, which we’ve often built over many years, frequently allow us to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently. Prioritizing conversation over litigation often helps our clients stay out of court altogether or at the very least, mitigate its risks.
Identify Core Issues to Drive Resolution
Our process begins by identifying the core issues behind a dispute, which often aren’t immediately apparent. By addressing the underlying issues, we can often resolve a dispute quickly and amicably. The only way to find a workable solution, in our experience, is to dig into the actual root of the dispute and apply creative problem-solving skills. We don’t get bogged down in the irrelevant. We focus on what’s important.
Our Broad Experience
In the wine industry, several legal issues tend to predominate. Our team has particularly deep experience with the following:
- Contract Disputes: Whether it's a disagreement over a grape contract between a grower and winery or a distribution agreement between a winery and its distributor, contract disputes are common. We have successfully handled these issues, ensuring that our clients' rights are protected while finding solutions that maintain important business relationships.
- Insurance: Wildfire damage is a major concern for wine industry clients, with many facing disputes over insurance coverage. Our team is experienced in navigating the complexities of insurance claims, particularly those related to natural disasters.
- Real Estate Disputes: As land in wine country is a valuable commodity, real estate disputes—including disputes relating to vineyard leases, purchase options, land use entitlements, easements, and encroachments—are also common. We help clients resolve these matters efficiently, often through early negotiation and settlement.
- Trademarks: Protecting intellectual property in the wine industry is critical, particularly as brands expand globally. Our litigation team has extensive experience defending and enforcing trademarks, ensuring that our clients' brands are protected against infringement.
Our wine industry litigation practice is defined by deep experience, a proactive and problem-solving approach, and a commitment to preserving (and leveraging) important business relationships. Our team brings unmatched legal expertise and industry knowledge to every case, ensuring that our clients can focus on growing their businesses without the burden of unresolved legal challenges.
