Media Mentions
2008
Marc E. Sorini was quoted on July 31 by several media outlets in stories regarding his testimony before the Nebraska Liquor Control Board. Mr. Sorini was testifying on behalf of the Flavored Malt Beverage Coalition and in support of a proposed rule to require Nebraska to follow federal alcohol beverage classification standards. His quotes appeared in the Omaha World-Herald and on KHAS-TV and Action 3 News (Nebraska).
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products, Regulatory Development - Alcohol Beverages & Products
Marc E. Sorini was featured in the May 23 issue of The Am Law Daily in an interview regarding his role as head of McDermott’s Alcohol Beverages and Products Group. When asked how he found his niche, Mr. Sorini noted, "I decided that general litigation was not right for me. Meanwhile, the craft beer movement was growing rapidly…I thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if I could have these folks as clients and immerse myself in the industry.' I started writing articles for the local brewspapers--the local beer rags--and that gave me the opportunity to actually talk to small brewery owners about their legal issues and get a practical, worms-eye view of the business." To access the full article please click here...
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products, Distribution - Alcohol Beverages & Products, Non-Beverage Alcohol, Regulatory Development - Alcohol Beverages & Products, Trial - Alcohol Beverages & Products
Frank Schoneveld and Marc Sorini were quoted in the May 20 issue of Managing Intellectual Property in an article discussing the regulatory issues that alcohol manufacturers and distributors face when importing their product into the European Union and United States. Mr. Sorini said that while many people regard the U.S. as one of the most open economies in the world, when it comes to alcohol, "The regulatory system is more complicated, more expensive and more time consuming than you could have possibly imagined." Mr. Schoneveld advised people not only to register trade marks, but also to look at getting additional protection such as protected designation, traditional specialty guaranteed and, if possible, protected geographical indication.
Frank Schoneveld, Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products, Brussels, EU Regulatory, Intellectual Property - Alcohol Beverages & Products
2007
Marc Sorini was quoted on August 13-15 in various articles and broadcasts such as the Associated Press, The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, and CBS13 etc. covering a California Board of Equalization vote on the taxation of flavored malt beverage products in an attempt to control underage drinking. Mr. Sorini represents malt beverage producers & distributors in these proceedings, where malt beverages are treated as distilled spirits as opposed to beer. "What we're talking about here...are social policy issues, certainly not something one would expect the tax board to be leading policy-making on. This is something frankly the Legislature out to be doing," Mr. Sorini said.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products, Excise Taxation - Alcohol Beverages & Products, Government Strategies, Regulatory Development - Alcohol Beverages & Products
Marc Sorini was quoted in the January 9 Beverage Daily News on the expected decision in the Costco case. The 9th Circuit Appeals Court is expected to hand down its decision by the end of 2007. Marc Sorini expects the court to uphold the Commerce Clause. Mr. Sorini notes "if you have direct-to-retail privileges in state, you have to allow it out of state." He also notes that elsewhere, retailer lawsuits over direct shipping and face-to-face requirements are "percolating."
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products
2006
Marc Sorini was quoted in the December 2006 issues of The Sacramento Bee, The Fresno Bee, and The East Bay Business Times regarding the California Board of Equalization hearing concerning the taxation of flavored malt beverages. Marc appeared at the hearing on behalf of The Flavored Malt Beverage Coalition.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products
Marc Sorini was quoted in the January 2006 issue of Modern Brewery Age in connection with its coverage of a writ petition filed against the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control seeking to force that agency to reclassify flavored malt beverages as distilled spirits. Mr. Sorini represented The Flavored Malt Beverage Coalition in those proceedings. The Coalition filed amicus briefs in support of the state in both the California Court of Appeals and the California Supreme Court, and the petition was rejected by both courts.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products
2005
Marc Sorini was quoted in October 2005 in The Salt Lake Tribune and The Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City) in connection with stories on a hearing concerning Utah's classification of flavored malt beverages. Mr. Sorini appeared on behalf of the Coalition in connection with that hearing, which was called by Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products
Marc Sorini was quoted in the July/August 2005 edition of The New Brewer , a magazine for professional brewers. In the article Marc comments on the May 16, 2005, Supreme Court decision that decreed the states of Michigan and New York violated the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution by granting in-state wineries the right to ship their products directly to consumers while denying this privilege to out-of-state wineries. Mr. Sorini's comments focus on how the Supreme Court's decision might affect small brewers.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products
2003
Marc Sorini is a named source in an article on flavored malt beverages published in the Spring 2003 edition of American Brewer. The article relies on Mr. Sorini to explain new federal policies towards the labeling of such products.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products
The March/April 2003 edition of The New Brewer, a magazine for professional brewers, quoted Marc Sorini in article on the legal and economic aspects of direct shipping beer to consumers. Mr. Sorini provided legal background for the article and is quoted on the different economics involved in the direct shipping of beer versus wine.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products
2002
The December 23, 2002 issue of Forbes quoted Marc Sorini in an article on efforts by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to change the regulations of flavored malt beverages. Mr. Sorini was quoted as counsel to Diageo, maker of the leading flavored malt beverage, Smirnoff Ice.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products, Food & Beverage
Marc Sorini was quoted by The Tennessean in a July 28 article on the impact of Tennessee's liquor laws on alcohol beverage suppliers and retailers. Discussing a number of pending lawsuits concerning the interstate sale and shipment of wine, Mr. Sorini predicted that "one of the direct-shipping cases is going to the Supreme Court."
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products, Distribution - Alcohol Beverages & Products
The July 22 issue of The Tennessean quoted Marc Sorini several times in an article on proceedings concerning the classification of flavored malt beverages under Tennessee's alcohol control laws. Mr. Sorini represents a petitioner in those proceedings, which could radically change the way flavored malt beverages are distributed and sold in Tennessee. In the article, Mr. Sorini explains that Tennessee's reclassification effort makes it unique among the states, and discusses the wholesale and retail interests at stake in the struggle over flavored malt beverage distribution.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products, Distribution - Alcohol Beverages & Products
2001
The October 2001 edition of Alcohol Issues Insights quoted from Mr. Sorini's annual Year in Review speech to the Brewers' Association of America convention.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products
Marc Sorini was quoted as an expert in beverage law in a BusinessWeek Online (March 21) article regarding wine sales via the internet.
