John A. Hinman

Founder and Partner
jhinman@beveragelaw.com
Tel: 415-362-1215, Ext. 101
Fax: 415-362-1494

John has more than thirty-five years experience with all aspects of the alcoholic beverage industry, is an administrative hearing advocate, and is one of the leading alcoholic beverage trade practice, marketing, and distribution lawyers in the United States. John has published numerous articles and treatises. He has successfully represented industry members in BATF, TTB, and ABC discipline, protest, and appeal proceedings up, to and including, the California Supreme Court. John is actively involved in First Amendment and Commerce Clause litigation around the country and was a pioneer in establishing the legal framework for doing alcoholic beverage businesses using new communications technology.

Admissions
1975, California; US District Court, Northern District of California; Ninth Circuit US Court of Appeals.
2005, Supreme Court of the United States.

Education
University of California, Santa Barbara (BA, with honors, 1971)
Columbia University (JD, 1974); Phi Delta Phi (Story Inn)
College of Advocacy, University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1980)

Community and Professional Involvement
John practiced for five years as General Counsel of Sonoma Vineyards, the first publicly traded national winery. He has served on the Advisory Council to the California Senate Select Committee on California's Wine Industry and as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Wine Distribution Association. He has also drafted legislation amending various provisions of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. He currently serves on the board of directors and as general counsel of the Specialty Wine Retailers Association (specialtywineretailers.org) and the California Music and Culture Association (cmacsf.org), and on the board of directors of the Raphael House (raphaelhouse.org).

John has lectured at University of California, 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, has testified before state legislatures in California and in other states on alcohol policy matters, and is a regular participant on panels in industry seminars throughout the United States.