Matt works for business clients and entrepreneurs throughout the business cycle, which includes entity selection and formation, through acquisitions, and disposition events like sale, merger or dissolution. He has guided individuals and families on a range of business issues, and has assisted both public and privately-held companies on securities offerings and as outside general counsel on business transactions and corporate/board governance. In this regard, he has successfully negotiated acquisitions and sales (stock and asset purchases) of vineyard, winery, brewery, resort, luxury food and restaurant property and related assets, a range of debt and equity financing transactions, complex vineyard leases and grape contracts, in addition to preparing and structuring investment offering materials and advising clients on a variety of finance and business planning issues.
Representative Business Clients
Abide Napa
American Winesecrets
Arietta Winery
Barbour Vineyards
Blue Oak School
Bonny Doon Vineyard
Build Pictures
Brasswood Estate
C Casa
Child Start
Congregation Beth Shalom
Cruse Wine Company
Cunat Premium Vineyards
David Bruce Winery
Don Perico
ETTAN Restaurant
Food & Vine (Salute Santé)
Gasser Foundation
G Wine Cellars
Honey Whiskey
Hudson Ranch
Maverick Enterprises (Capsules)
Middle Path Wines
Morlet Selections
Napa General Store
Napa Valley Distillery
Popelouchum
Ramondin U.S.A.
Ram’s Gate Winery
Southside Century
Skywalker Vineyards
The Wine Thief
UCC Vineyards Group
Ultramarine Wines
Vintedge
Visit Napa Valley
Wine Opinions
Wine Spectrum
Real Property
Matt has significant experience on real property issues and works on structuring purchase and sale transactions as well as complex due diligence and title work during the acquisition phase and a range of leasing issues (commercial, industrial, office, ground/retail). Matt has guided clients on deals involving vineyard, winery, brewery, resort, restaurant property and related assets. Matt has also achieved success for multiple clients on real property sales tax issues and appeals.
Representative Real Property Clients
Blue Oak School
Brasswood Estate
Child Start
Congregation Beth Shalom
David Bruce Winery
Don Perico
ETTAN Restaurant
Gasser Foundation
Honey Whiskey
Ilsley Estate Wines & Farming
Middle Path Wines
Napa General Store
Napa Valley Ford
Ramondin U.S.A.
Southside Century
Skywalker Vineyards
UCC Vineyards Group
Alcohol Beverage/Food
Matt regularly works with wineries, vineyard owners, importers, restaurants, hotels and other business on compliance with local, state and federal alcohol beverage laws, as well as various applications to the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and the California Department of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC). Matt handles matters such as ABC license transfers and new license applications, TTB basic permit applications, custom crush contracts and alternating proprietorships, establishment of wine appellations, labeling matters, alcohol beverage franchise laws pertaining to distributor appointments and terminations and a full range of other alcohol beverage compliance matters. Matt also assists and advises gourmet and luxury food producers, restaurants and other food retailers.
Representative Alcohol Beverage/Food Clients
BRAND Napa Valley
Brasswood Estate
California Wine Festivals
Cruse Wine Company
Cunat Premium Vineyards
ETTAN Restaurant
Food & Vine (Salute Santé)
G Wine Cellars
Morlet Selection
Red Car Wine Company
Southside Century
Skywalker Vineyards
The Duke Truck
Vintedge
Land Use
Matt obtains land use entitlements for prominent North Bay clients, including winery, brewery, hotel, restaurant and mixed-use development. Matt also works with experienced planners in Napa and Sonoma Counties in order to provide maximum value to his clients.
Representative Land Use Clients
Cunat Premium Vineyards
Gasser Foundation
Middle Path Wines
Sawyer Cellars
Sbragia Family Vineyards
The Duke Truck
Music, Film, Literary and Digital Arts
Matt works with literary and music publishers, agents, managers, film directors/producers, music festivals, animation companies, video game companies, musicians/bands, artists, writers, animators, designers and others in the entertainment and digital arts sector on structuring and documenting deals, in addition to advising on various agreements in order to best monetize intellectual property assets. Matt works closely with estate planning, litigation and intellectual property colleagues in order to provide a one-stop shop for legal needs to his clients in the creative fields.
Representative Music, Film, Literary and Digital Arts Clients
BottleRock Napa Valley
Build Pictures
Darms Lane Music dba Anadel
Hoffman & Co.
Lightstream Animation
Various authors on publishing deals with Simon & Schuster, Chronicle Books