John A. Hinman, founder of the firm, is an experienced administrative hearing advocate and one of the leading alcoholic beverage trade practice, marketing and distribution lawyers in the United States. John, with thirty plus years worth of experience with all aspects of the alcoholic beverageindustry, has published numerous articles and treatises, and has successfully represented industry members in BATF and ABC discipline, protest and appeal proceedings up to and including the California Supreme Court. John was the founding general counsel of the Coalition for Free Trade, is actively involved in First Amendment and Commerce Clause litigation around the country and was a pioneer in establishing the legal framework for doing business using new communications technology. John also serves on the board of directors of the Speciality Wine Retailers Association (wine retailers) and the California Music and Culture Association (music venues).
E-mail: jhinman@beveragelaw.com
Admitted to bar:
1975, California, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, and U.S. court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
2005, Supreme Court of the United States of America
Education:
University of California at Santa Barbara (B.A., with honors, 1971); Columbia University (J.D., 1974); Phi Delta Phi (Story Inn); College of Advocacy, Hastings College of the Law, University of California, 1980.
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Lynne A. Carmichael, partner in the firm since 1991, was previously a partner in the Corporate and Financial Services Group at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, where she gained extensive experience in all types of asset-based financing transactions. Her current focus is on formation of new entities, acquisition of existing licensed businesses, completion of licensing for all business ventures, trade practice and distribution counseling. Lynne co-authored the first major California CEB treatise on retail liquor licenses in 1991 (with John) and revised and reissued the treatise herself in 2000. She is a past president of Women for Winesense, and regularly counsels many wine industry organizations. In August 2006, Lynne was named as one of the top attorneys in Northern California. Northern California Superlawyers 2006, Law & Politics and the publishers of San Francisco magazine (August, 2006); www.superlawyer.com.
Email: carmichael@beveragelaw.com
Admitted to bar:
1978, California; U.S. District Court, Northern District of California.
Education:
Occidental College (B.A., 1965); University of California at Berkeley (J.D., 1978).
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Beth Aboulafia, a partner at Hinman & Carmichael since 1998, clerked for federal court judge, Lawrence Karlton, and then became a partner in the San Francisco law firm of Landels, Ripley & Diamond, specializing in business litigation with an expertise in wine industry matters. Currently Beth’s focus is on alcoholic beverage licensing, compliance with interstate direct shipping laws and trade practice counseling.Beth also represents clients at administrative hearings involving protests against issuing a license or accusations alleging violation of the alcoholic beverage laws, and in appeals before the Alcoholic Beverage Control Appeals Board.
Email: aboulafia@beveragelaw.com
Admitted to bar:
1987, California, U.S. Districts, Northern and Eastern Districts of California.
Education:
University of California at Berkeley (B.A., 1977); Hastings College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1987).
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Sara Mann is an experienced wine industry corporate and business attorney. She spent over ten years as in-house counsel for WineShopper.com, a company that pioneered direct shipping and third party marketing agent practices and New Vine Logistics, a major wine shipping/logistics/compliance provider in the industry. Her current practice includes trade practice counseling, licensing, marketing and regulatory compliance, including compliance with interstate shipping laws and internet sales.
Email: smann@beveragelaw.com
Admitted to bar:
1995, California.
Education:
University of California at Berkeley (B.A., 1991); UCLA School of Law (J.D., 1995).
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Rebecca Stamey-White, an associate in the firm, was previously an associate in the litigation group of Kirkland & Ellis, where she gained substantial experience in commercial litigation matters, worked on litigation involving constitutional challenges to state alcohol regulatory statutes, and provided regulatory advice to California wine industry businesses. Rebecca's current practice focuses on supporting the firm's alcohol beverage licensing, hearing and compliance practice, as well as the firm's marketing and distribution advice practice, and trade counseling practice.
Email: rstamey-white@beveragelaw.com
Admitted to bar:
2008, California.
Education:
Northwestern University (B.A., 2003); Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., 2008).
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Linda Gago-Seco, legal assistant, joined the firm in June 1999 after six years as an employee of the Alcoholic Beverage Control. Linda's experience and knowledge has prepared her to complete license applications for the ABC as well as the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. She also assists the H & C attorneys and clients with a variety of other issues. Linda communicates regularly with alcoholic beverage regulators in numerous states.
Email: lgago-seco@beveragelaw.com
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Jennifer M. Campbell, legal assistant, joined the firm in July 2004 after working extensively in the fields of immigration law and political campaign management. Jennifer has obtained alcoholic beverage licenses for clients throughout the U.S. and abroad from many state governments and from the federal Alcohol &Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Jennifer works with alcohol regulators in all fifty states to clear promotional programs and expedite licensing projects for our clients. Jennifer also conducts legal research on various alcohol beverage related matters. In addition to her work with Hinman & Carmichael, Jennifer is a member of the Board of Directors at the Commonwealth Club, a national public affairs forum.
Email: jcampbell@beveragelaw.com
Education:
University of California, Santa Barbara (B.A., 1997); San Francisco State University (M.A. with honors, 2000)
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Karen Bodishbaugh, legal assistant, joined the firm in May 2006 after working for several years in the legal departments of several restaurant companies. Karen has obtained alcoholic beverage licenses for clients throughout the U.S. and has worked with many state governments as well as the Federal Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. Karen works with alcohol regulators in all fifty states on various licensing projects, with a focus on obtaining direct shipper permits, certificates of compliance and out-of-state shipper's licenses for our supplier and retail clients.
Email: kbodishbaugh@beveragelaw.com
Education:
Certificate in Paralegal Studies from Hayward State University, 1997
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Ginger Permillion Cava, office administrator, joined the firm in April of 1999. She has 12 years of previous law firm experience, five of which were spent at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. An immigrant from Stockholm, Sweden, Ginger studied journalism and business. She is responsible for all financial matters, in addition to general office administration.
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Community Service: Involvement in the Industry
John Hinman has served on the Advisory Council to the California Senate Select Committee on California's Wine Industry, as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Wine Distribution Association and as a Director, General Counsel and Secretary of the American Wine Alliance for Research and Education (AWARE). He has also drafted legislation amending various provisions of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.
John has lectured at U.C. Davis Extension on the "Legal Aspects of Winery Management" and on "Buying and Selling Wine Grapes". John has also lectured with the California Department of Food & Agriculture Educational Seminar Team.
He and Lynne Carmichael regularly author the "Counselor's Corner" educational feature found in Wines & Vines. Lawyers in the firm frequently write articles for industry trade publications. In addition, in 1991 John Hinman and Lynne Carmichael published "Transferring Retail Liquor Licenses in California" for the CEB Business Law Practitioner. This treatise is currently being revised and expanded at the request of CEB for use by California lawyers.
Lynne Carmichael has worked extensively with representatives of wineries, wine growers' associations and warehousemen on both coasts to fashion new legislative and regulatory proposals dealing with wine taxation and product distribution matters. She is also past-President of Women for WineSense, an organization whose goal is to provide balanced information about the risks and benefits of moderate wine consumption. She currently serves on the NorCal Board of the American Institute of Wine and Food and the Advisory Board of Women for WineSense.
Hinman & Carmichael LLP provides clients of the firm with regular complimentary updates of significant legal developments affecting the alcoholic beverage industry. The firm is currently acting as the focal point for the Coalition for Free Trade in Alcoholic Beverages, a grassroots organization that is seeking legal pathways for the interstate shipment of alcoholic beverages.
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