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 years worth of experience with all aspects of the alcoholic beverage industry, 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.



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.



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, partner in the firm, joined the firm in April, 1998. She was formerly a partner at the San Francisco law firm of Landels, Ripley & Diamond, where she engaged in business litigation, with specialized expertise in wine industry matters including grape purchase contracts, custom crush and bulk processing agreements, and disputes with equipment vendors and contractors, as well as administrative law matters. Beth's focus is on representing clients at hearings involving protests against issuing a license or accusations alleging violation of the alcoholic beverage laws. Beth regularly handles trade practice issues, including compliance with all laws in direct shipping and multistate marketing programs.



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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Barry Strike, partner in the firm, joined the firm in June 2001. He was previously a litigator at Sideman & Bancroft LLP, where he spent over four years doing commercial litigation, with an emphasis on intellectual property matters, primarily concerning trademark prosecution and disputes. Barry handles both administrative litigation matters involving alcoholic beverage law violations, corporate formation and transactional work and distribution counselling.



Admitted to bar:
1996, California, U.S. District Court (Northern and Central Districts), 1998, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Education:
James Madison University (B.A., 1983); Golden Gate University School of Law (J.D., Highest Honors, 1995).

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Kristen Techel, associate, joined the firm in November 2005. She was formerly an associate at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP, where she focused on bankruptcy and business litigation and was active in pro bono work. Kristen received an "Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service Award" for 2005 from the Bar Association of San Francisco's Volunteer Legal Services Program. At Hinman & Carmichael LLP, Kristen handles all aspects of alcohol law, focusing on administrative hearings and trade practice issues.

E-mail: ktechel@beveragelaw.com

Admitted to bar:
2003, California, U.S. District Court (Northern District),
2004, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, U.S. District Court (Southern, Central and Eastern Districts of California) 

Education:
University of California Los Angeles (B.A., 2000, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa); University of California at Berkeley - Boalt Hall (J.D., 2003).
 
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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. 

E-mail: 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.

E-mail: 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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Ginger Permillion Cava, office administrator, joined the firm in April of 1999. She has 18 years of law firm experience, five of which were spent at Pillsbury Madison & Sutro 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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Lance Grabmiller, administrative and legal assistant, spent five years in restaurant management and several years in other administrative service settings prior to joining the firm in July 2002. He is an active participant in the San Francisco Bay Area’s creative music community, performing in, presenting and organizing concerts and festivals throughout California and runs his own record label for creative electronic music.




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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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