Joseph M. Infante

Joe's experience includes:

• Drafting and negotiating dozens of craft beverage distribution agreements throughout the country.
• Assisting in the opening of numerous craft breweries, wineries and distilleries.
• Representing buyers in the purchase of Michigan craft brewery.
• Assisting client with sale of self-distribution rights to wholesaler.
• Negotiating license agreement between craft beverage producer and media company related to use of TV series IP for beverage products.
• Successfully representing clients before Michigan Liquor Control Commission in license denial appeals.
• Overseeing the growth of the Craft Beverage Lawyers Guild as its President.
• Successfully defending a craft beverage manufacturer in franchise termination litigation which resulted in the release of the franchise rights by the wholesaler.

Additional matters include:

• Successfully secured a landmark constitutional victory for a group of small, family-owned wineries on Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula, resulting in $50 million in lost-profits damages being awarded to our clients after an 11-day federal bench trial challenging restrictive local zoning laws, and affirming constitutional protections for entrepreneurs everywhere, especially in the agriculture and craft beverage industries.
• Successfully resolved litigation between a beverage manufacturer and a wholesaler following the wholesaler’s attempted sale of the beverage manufacturer’s distribution rights without prior approval.
• Negotiated distribution agreements between beverage manufacturers and wholesalers across the country and across both franchise and non-franchise jurisdictions.
• Litigated a beverage distributor termination as a result of the distributor’s failure to abide by the terms of the distribution agreement with a client brewery
• We represent a national insurance company in disputes arising under its health care plan, including defending the company and its insured in lawsuits filed by providers and plan beneficiaries.
• Assisted numerous breweries, wineries and distilleries through the complicated state and federal licensing process.
• Successfully appealed an adverse decision before an En Banc panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of a prisoner in a Section 1983 case resulting in a change in the law to apply federal law in spoliation cases and a remand of the case.
• Represented a start-up microbrewery through the licensing process and, ultimately, a successful appeal of a Liquor Control Commission license denial.
• Represented a winery/cidery in negotiations with the Department of Agriculture and obtained a successful determination that certain regulations were inapplicable to the client.
• Represented a brewery in litigation resulted in return of the brewery’s property.
• Advised a large multi-state grocery chain on the process of transferring alcohol and tobacco inventory when closing a store and coordinated the transfer with the required state regulatory agencies.

"Litigation Trends," Wine, Beer & Spirits Law Annual Conference, Denver, October 9, 2024

"Zoning Uncorked: Legal Perspectives on Winery Challenges and Other Issues in Navigating Modern Use Regulations," State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section Summer Conference, Traverse City, MI, July 18, 2024

"Are You a Craft Beer Aficionado?" Association of Corporate Counsel, October 27, 2021

Michigan Craft Brewery Industry Update, ACG Detroit, October 20, 2016

Brewery and Distillery Law, National Business Institute teleconference, April 19, 2016

Brewery Worker Health & Safety OSHA/MIOSHA Issues with Attorney Doug Crim, Michigan Brewers Guild Winter Conference, Kalamazoo, Michigan, January 14, 2016

"Prepare for the Regulators" with Attorney Douglas W. Crim, Craft Spirits Conference and Vendor Expo, Louisville, Kentucky, April 1, 2015

"Our Bumpy Ride to Opening a Brewery" with Land Grant Brewing Company, Ohio Craft Brewers Conference, Wooster, Ohio, February 5, 2015

"Brewery & Distillery Law: Practical Considerations for Advising Brewery & Distillery Clients," CLE International, Orlando, FL, September 18, 2014

"Brewery & Distillery Law," Thomson Reuters, Teleconference, September 11, 2014

"Distillery Regulatory Compliance":  American Distilling Institute, Holland, Michigan, September 10, 2014

"Enforcing Your Non-Competes," Miller Canfield Cappuccino with Counsel Series, July 15, 2014

"Brewery and Distillery Law," National Business Institute Teleconference, June 19, 2014

"Protecting Your Brand," 2014 Michigan Grape & Wine Conference, Traverse City, Michigan, February 26, 2014