Matt is an experienced California lawyer (with bar admissions in Pennsylvania and New Jersey) serving the wine industry as well as the hotel, restaurant, retail and related sectors from his Napa Valley office. He works in the following practice areas along with other attorneys, planners, consultants and paralegals in Napa, throughout the Bay Area and nationally, when the legal issues demand it and in order to maximize benefit and value to the client:
Business/Corporate Law
Matt has worked for business clients and entrepreneurs from their inception, which includes entity selection and formation, through acquisitions, and disposition events like sale, merger or dissolution. He has guided individuals and families on a range of business issues , and has assisted both public and privately-held companies on securities offerings and as outside general counsel on business transactions and corporate/board guidance. In this regard, he has successfully negotiated acquisitions and sales (stock and asset purchases) of vineyard, winery, brewery, resort, restaurant property and related assets, a range of debt and equity financing transactions, complex vineyard leases and grape contracts, in addition to preparing and structuring investment offering materials and advising clients on a variety of finance and business planning issues.
Real Estate
Matt has significant experience on real property issues and has worked on transactions locally, nationally and on behalf of clients internationally. He has worked on complex due diligence and title work during the property acquisition process and a range of leasing issues (commercial, industrial, office, ground/retail). Matt has successfully negotiated acquisitions and sales of vineyard, winery, brewery, resort, restaurant property and related assets. Matt has also advised clients on 1031 exchanges and achieved success for multiple clients on real property sales tax issues/appeals.
Land Use/Entitlements
Matt has obtained land use entitlements for prominent North Bay clients, including winery, brewery, hotel, restaurant and mixed-use development. Matt also works with experienced planners in Napa and Sonoma County in order to make client representations cost effective and efficient. Matt keeps abreast of major land use, natural resource, and environmental regulations affecting property owners.
Wine, Beer and Spirits Law (Alcohol Beverage)
Matt has worked with wineries, vineyard owners, importers, restaurants, hotels and other business on compliance with local, state and federal alcohol beverage laws, as well as various applications to the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC). Matt handles matters such as ABC license transfers and new license applications, TTB basic permit applications, custom crush arrangements and alternating proprietorships, establishment of wine appellations, labeling matters, alcohol beverage franchise laws pertaining to distributor appointments and terminations and a full range of other alcohol beverage compliance matters.
Mediation and Pre-Litigation Representation
Matt has successfully mediated and/or negotiated settlements of disputes for and among growers, wineries, brokers/agents, landowners/landlords, tenants, consultants, financial institutions, borrowers and others. He takes a practical, fact and law-based approach to demand letters, negotiation and mediation to obtain beneficial and cost-effective outcomes for clients and between parties.
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