Jennifer R. Niesen’s practice focuses on representing suppliers, distributors and retailers with complex transactional and regulatory matters including production, distribution and importation agreements, federal, state and local licensing matters and application issues, commercial leasing, partnership disputes and trademarks. She also assists clients with litigation related to these matters as well as marketing and communications compliance and the acquisition and sale of businesses and real estate within the beverage alcohol and hospitality industry.
Prior to joining the firm, Jennifer was an associate at a full-service Illinois and Wisconsin law firm where she represented large financial institutions as well as individuals and other entities regarding corporate transactional and real estate matters and the related litigation surrounding corporate and security matters.
Professional Leadership
- Chicago Bar Association, Member
- Food and Beverage Law Committee, Chair, 2022-2024
- Illinois State Bar Association, Member
- Business and Securities Law Committee, Member, 2017-2018
- Professional Women’s Club of Chicago, Member
- Illinois Restaurant Association, Member
- Women of the Vine & Spirits, Member
- National Conference of State Liquor Administrators, Member
- National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, Member
- Planning Committee Member for 2024 Annual Conference
- National Association of Licensing & Compliance Professionals, Member
Community Leadership
- Chicago Bar Association
- Lawyers in the Classroom, Volunteer
- Annual Moot Court Competition, Judge
- Dear Santa Letters Program, Volunteer
Representative Matters
- Advised publicly traded company on regulatory multi-use grocery and operation of a plant-based food hall.
- Successfully represented multiple hotel groups on corporate acquisition and guided through the complexities of local and state alcohol regulations to secure multi-level local and state licenses.
- Represented multiple retailers in partnership disputes and related alcohol regulatory matters.
- Provided guidance on corporate restructuring, commercial and alcohol regulatory matters for chain grocery retailer.
- Represented publicly traded food and beverage operator on multi-use licensing and alcohol regulatory matters for an international airport.
- Provided counsel to multiple national hospitality groups on corporate restructuring, retail compliance, licensing, regulatory and tax-related matters.
Publications
- “Chapter 11: Series Limited Liability Companies,” Illinois Limited Liability Companies, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2018
- “Drafting a Bullet-Proof Merger Clause,” The Transactional Lawyer, 2012
Presentations
- Panelist, “2024 Litigation Landscape – Anti-Trust Investigations and Litigation,” National Control Beverage Association, 31st Annual Legal Symposium, 2024
- Speaker, “THC Beverages – Navigating Regulation, Compliance, and Industry Trends,” Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, 2024
- Speaker, “Beverage Alcohol and the Corporate Landscape,” Illinois State Bar Association, 5th Annual Bock Food Law Symposium, 2023
- Moderator, “Women Leaders in Beverage Alcohol,” Chicago Bar Association, 2023
- Speaker, “Retailers and Licensing,” Illinois Restaurant Association, 2022
- Speaker, “Bootlegging in the Modern Age,” Chicago Bar Association, 2022
- Speaker, “Blurred Lines Slotting Fees in Alcohol and N/A Markets,” Chicago Bar Association, 2022
