Dimitrios G. Christopoulos Offers Keen Insights at Numerous Beverage Alcohol Industry Conferences Throughout 2023

PresentationsJasmine Salinas

Principal & Partner Dimitrios G. Christopoulos participated in multiple discussions regarding the beverage alcohol and hospitality law industry throughout 2023, providing up-to-date insights and sharing trends at various industry-focused events.

At the Wine, Beer & Spirits Law Conference hosted by CLE International in Savannah, GA in October 2023, Dimitri, alongside other industry attorneys, shared his experience in defending Industry members regarding enforcement actions by the Department of Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau.

In September, as part of his responsibilities as General Counsel for the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois (ABDI), Dimitri presented on issues surrounding commercial bribery, provided a legal update on significant litigation impacting the three tier system and along with Christopher Coleman, VP of ABDI, moderated a panel comprised the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) staff for ABDI’s annual convention in Burr Ridge, IL.

Dimitri also served as a moderator for the panel, “Regulator/Industry Dynamic in the State House” at the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators in Branson, MO in June, where both wholesaler and supplier representatives presented to regulators on their role in the legislature and their input on legislative matters.

At the June National Conference of State Liquor Administrators annual conference in Oklahoma, Dimitri moderated the panel, “Follow the Money: Is “this” a Three Tier Problem?” along with ILCC Executive Director Lisa Gardner and Randy Liebowitz, General Counsel for Blue Cloud, during which industry leaders discussed:

  • Private label arrangements
  • Contract manufacturing
  • Brand ownership agreements
  • Potential three-tier implications
  • Regulatory considerations for approving licenses and permits for such structures

In May, Dimitri also served as a panelist on the panel, “Divergence of Alcoholic and Non-alcoholic Beverages” at the Beer Marketers Insight Conference in Chicago, where he and fellow panelists discussed the regulation of soft drink manufacturers entering the beverage alcohol industry with products such as Hard Mountain Dew, Jack and Coke, Sunny D Vodka and others.

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 related to 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.