Dimitrios G. Christopoulos and Jennifer R. Niesen Offer Keen Insights at NABCA 2024 Symposium
Christopoulos Dickens’ Principal & Partner, Dimitrios G. Christopoulos, and Senior Associate, Jennifer R. Niesen, shared insightful observations at the 31st National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) Legal Symposium in March 2024 in Arlington, Virginia.
The NABCA provides research, analytics and alcohol regulatory information to members to ensure efforts to protect public health and safety, as well as establish responsible systems for beverage alcohol sales and distribution.
Jennifer presented at the symposium, focusing her discussion on the Treasury Department’s 64-page report examining competition within the beverage alcohol industry following President Biden’s executive order 14036 on promoting competition in the American economy from July 2021. Jennifer shared insights on the report’s main concerns, such as:
- Beverage alcohol industry’s three-tier system
- Vertical mergers between industry members
- Re-examine labeling barriers for new entrants
- FAA Act practice regulations
- Recommendations for the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission
Additionally, Jennifer served on the 2024 Symposium planning committee and shared insights as a panelist on the current landscape of beverage alcohol industry litigation.
Jennifer’s practice focuses on representing suppliers, distributors and retailers in the beverage alcohol industry. She advises clients on complex transactional and regulatory matters such as production, distribution and importation agreements; federal, state and local licensing matters and application issues; commercial leasing; partnership disputes and trademarks.
Dimitri served as a panelist at the 2024 NABCA Symposium to discuss “Brand Equity: Where Marketing Meets Legal.” He shared insights on alcohol brand ownership within the context of compliance with the three-tier system, such as:
- Financial independence of each tier
- Differences between licensing brands for production
- Responsibility of brand owners to hold state and/or federal permits
- Implications of each structure in the context of trade practice compliance
Dimitri has extensive experience representing suppliers, importers, distributors and retailers before federal, state and local regulatory commissions. Clients seek his unique and intricate understanding of all aspects of the beverage alcohol and hospitality industry in Chicago, throughout Illinois and nationwide. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and has taught other attorneys on industry issues for continuing legal education.
Christopoulos Dickens is the premier, Chicago-based law firm representing clients nationwide in all tiers and facets of the beverage alcohol and hospitality industry. Our seasoned professionals bring over three decades of experience to clients, including breweries, distilleries, distributors, restaurants, hotels, event production teams and any other entity within the vibrant industry.
