Wine and Viticulture Legal Experience

Jil provides the depth and breadth of her experienced law firm with the specialized knowledge, and contacts of a local practice to clients in all sectors of the wine industry. Her clients range from family-owned wineries to vineyard owners/managers, winemakers, and retailers.

Jil advises clients regarding entity formation, real estate acquisition, lease due diligence, entitlements, zoning and permitting, as well as land conversion, subdivision and Greenbelt/Williamson Act issues.  Jil negotiates and drafts wine-related agreements, including sourcing, vineyard development and management, private easements, water use, distribution, employment, and business contracts.  Jil works closely with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, as well as with state, county, and local regulatory, licensing, and permitting entities.

Jil provides employment counsel in wine related areas, as well as comprehensive and customized training in all areas of employment law, and negotiates and drafts compensation agreements, independent contractor/winemaker and consultant agreements, as well as confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements and termination-related documents, including severance, arbitration, and buyout agreements.  Jil also advises clients as to the protection, transfer, and exploitation of intellectual properties such as trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and labeling and branding issues.

Jil provides related litigation services, prosecuting and defending cases in all areas of wine and viticulture before California Superior Courts, California Courts of Appeal, Federal Courts, the American Arbitration Association, JAMS/Endispute, and private arbitrators/mediators.