What Hinman & Carmichael LLP does

Hinman & Carmichael LLP is a privately-held specialty law firm founded in 1989 and headquartered at 260 California Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, California. The firm focuses exclusively on laws governing the production, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages, and has represented clients in accusation proceedings before the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) for over 30 years. Its services span licensing and qualification, distribution relationships and commercial transactions, alternative routes to market, marketing and promotions, trade practices and compliance, and regulatory enforcement defense. The firm also maintains a Cannabis Practice and provides expert witness and special counsel services to other law firms in the US and abroad.

The firm was co-founded by Lynne Carmichael, formerly an M&A partner at the San Francisco Brobeck firm, and John Hinman, former General Counsel of Sonoma Vineyards — a publicly traded operator of more than 2,000 acres of vineyards, three wineries in two states, and the then-largest direct-to-consumer wine business in the US. Today the firm is guided by John Hinman and partners Beth Aboulafia and Erin Kelleher. Hinman & Carmichael generates revenue through professional services fees from alcoholic beverage licensees, hospitality operators, and cannabis businesses, and from special counsel engagements with other law firms; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

The firm sustains its pipeline through institutional positions — including Special Counsel to Wine America, General Counsel and Board Member of the National Association of Wine Retailers (NAWR), Founding General Counsel of the California Nightlife Association, and Board of Directors membership in the International Wine Lawyers Association (AIDV) — alongside regular teaching at UC Davis and the Sonoma State University Wine Business School and publishing the Booze Rules and Czar's Blog industry resources.

Name

Hinman & Carmichael LLP

Legal name

Hinman & Carmichael LLP

Website

https://beveragelaw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hinman & Carmichael LLP is a San Francisco-based specialty law firm founded in 1989 that provides regulatory, licensing, and compliance legal services to alcoholic beverage licensees, hospitality operators, and cannabis businesses throughout the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alcoholic beverage and hospitality legal services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAAAB)

Keywords

• Alcoholic beverage law
• Hospitality legal services
• Cannabis regulatory law
• Liquor licensing transactions
• Alcohol regulatory compliance

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Professional Services Revenue: The firm generates revenue through providing specialized legal services to alcoholic beverage licensees, including licensing and qualification, business and marketing practices, regulatory representation, and expert witness services. Revenue is derived from legal fees for services rendered to clients in the alcoholic beverage, hospitality, and cannabis industries.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hinman & Carmichael LLP is a specialty law firm providing legal counsel to alcoholic beverage, hospitality, and cannabis industry clients. Its core offering spans licensing and qualification, distribution relationships, marketing and trade practice compliance, regulatory representation before federal and state agencies (California ABC and federal TTB), expert witness services, and special-counsel engagements to other law firms domestically and internationally.

Product overview

Hinman & Carmichael LLP offers a unified suite of specialty legal services for the alcoholic beverage, hospitality, and cannabis industries. The firm provides comprehensive legal counsel through distinct practice areas including Distribution Relationships and Commercial Transactions, Alternative Routes to Market, Licensing and License Transactions, Marketing and Promotions, Regulatory Representation (Protests and Accusations), Trade Practices and Compliance, and Cannabis Practice. The firm also publishes industry knowledge through its Booze Rules and Czar's Blog content resources. Founded in 1989, the firm has over 30 years of expertise representing clients before the California ABC, federal TTB, and state agencies throughout the US.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Distribution Relationships and Commercial Transactions Legal counsel on distribution relationships and commercial transactions within the alcoholic beverage industry, advising wineries, breweries, distilleries, and other licensees on agreements and commercial arrangements subject to three-tier system and other alcohol regulations.
• Alternative Routes to Market and Third Party Providers Legal guidance on alternative routes to market and third-party provider arrangements for alcoholic beverage clients navigating regulated distribution channels.
• Licensing and License Transactions Assistance with alcoholic beverage licensing and license transactions, including qualification work, license transfers, and entity acquisitions involving alcoholic beverage licensees before federal and state regulatory agencies.
• Marketing, Promotions and Events Legal guidance on marketing, promotions, and event-related activities for alcoholic beverage industry clients operating under strict alcohol advertising and event regulations.
• Protests, Accusations and Regulatory Representation Representation in accusation and protest proceedings before the California ABC and federal TTB, defending alcoholic beverage licensees in administrative and regulatory enforcement actions and responding to regulatory agencies throughout the U.S. on direct-to-consumer wine shipment matters.
• Trade Practices and Compliance Counsel on trade practices and regulatory compliance for alcohol businesses, covering federal and state statutes, rules, and policies governing alcohol operations, distribution, and marketing throughout the U.S. marketplace.
• Cannabis Practice Legal services for the cannabis industry, providing counsel on cannabis licensing, regulatory compliance, and business practices for cannabis operators and ancillary businesses.
• Booze Rules Blog Industry blog providing analysis and commentary on alcoholic beverage regulations and industry developments, maintained by Hinman & Carmichael LLP attorneys.
• Czar's Blog Blog offering insights on alcohol industry legal matters and regulatory updates, maintained by Hinman & Carmichael LLP attorneys.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wine AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial Counsel for Industry Legal Affairs - providing dedicated legal counsel to Wine America, the principal trade organization for wineries throughout the United States operating out of Washington D.C.
• International Wine Lawyers Association (AIDV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard of Directors member - contributing to international wine industry legal standards and professional development in the wine law community.
• National Association of Wine Retailers (NAWR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral Counsel and Board Member - providing legal guidance and advocacy for brick-and-mortar and Internet-based wine retailers, wine clubs, and wine auction houses advocating for rights to sell and ship wine nationwide.
• California Nightlife AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding General Counsel and Board Member - establishing legal framework and providing ongoing counsel for California's nightlife industry.
• Zinfandel Advocates and Producers (ZAP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPro bono legal services support for industry initiatives and event participation at Zinfandel Experience events.
• California Music and Culture Association (CMAC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector and General Counsel - providing legal counsel to venue owners, industry professionals, artists, and fans dedicated to music and culture preservation in California.
• Wine InstituteminorOthersAssociate Member - participating in California Wine Institute initiatives and advocacy for state, federal, and international public policy affecting wine consumption and industry.
• Family Winemakers of CaliforniaminorOthersAssociate Member - supporting the rights and interests of small California family wineries in California legislation and national political matters.
• Monterey County Vintners and Growers AssociationminorOthersAssociate Member - supporting wine region promotion and member resources.
• Sonoma County Vintners AssociationminorOthersAssociate Member - supporting Sonoma County wine region representation and annual wine auction events.
• DISCUS (Distilled Spirits Council of the United States)minorOthersAssociate Member - national trade association representing distilled spirits producers and marketers.
• NABI (National Alcohol Beverage Control Association)minorOthersAssociate Member - association of state liquor law officials from control states.
• National Conference of State Liquur Administrators (NCSLA)minorOthersAssociation membership - national organization of state liquor law officials holding quarterly workshops on regulatory developments.
• National Association of Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Attorneys (NAABLA)minorOthersAssociation membership - listing of law firms and attorneys across the United States with specific expertise in the alcoholic beverage industry.
• Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA)minorOthersAssociate Member - Washington D.C.-based trade association representing the nation's largest wine and spirits wholesalers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Dickinson Wright PLLC: Multi-state law firm with a recognized alcohol beverage law practice serving wineries, breweries, distilleries, and retailers. Directly comparable in regulatory and licensing scope, with broader geographic reach than Hinman & Carmichael.
• GrayRobinson PA: Florida-based full-service firm with a deep alcohol beverage law group representing licensees in licensing, distribution, and marketing matters. Comparable in dedicated alcohol beverage regulatory specialization and three-tier system expertise, though it operates across more southeastern states.
• Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC: National law firm with a longstanding Alcoholic Beverage Law practice representing producers, distributors, and retailers across multiple states. Closely comparable to Hinman & Carmichael in its dedicated alcohol beverage regulatory focus and multi-jurisdictional coverage, though it is materially larger.
• Shipman & Goodwin LLP: Northeast law firm with a Liquor Liability and Alcoholic Beverage Law practice serving producers, wholesalers, and retailers. Comparable in alcohol beverage regulatory specialization and licensing transactions, though it focuses on the Connecticut and broader Northeast market.
• Stoel Rives LLP: Pacific Northwest law firm with a Wine, Beer & Spirits practice serving producers, distributors, and retailers. Directly comparable to Hinman & Carmichael in winery-focused alcohol beverage regulatory representation, with overlapping expertise in DTC shipping and three-tier system compliance.
• Farella Braun + Martel LLP: San Francisco-based law firm with a Wine Law practice advising wineries and distributors on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters. The most direct California-based regional peer to Hinman & Carmichael, with overlapping wine industry client base.

Broad incumbents

• DLA Piper LLP: Global law firm with regulatory practices touching food, beverage, and consumer products including alcohol. Overlaps with Hinman & Carmichael in alcohol regulatory work but as part of a much broader portfolio serving multinational clients.
• McDermott Will & Emery LLP: Global law firm with regulatory and corporate capabilities spanning food, beverage, and consumer products. Represents alcohol beverage clients across licensing, M&A, and regulatory matters, comparable in scope but operating as a much larger general practice.
• K&L Gates LLP: International law firm with alcohol and beverage regulatory capabilities embedded in its food and beverage practice. Comparable on regulatory representation for alcohol clients but at meaningfully larger scale and broader industry scope.

Regional players

• Nossaman LLP: California-based law firm with regulatory and infrastructure practices that occasionally serve alcohol beverage and hospitality clients. Comparable to Hinman & Carmichael on California-centric regulatory work, though alcohol is not its primary focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hinman & Carmichael LLP