Overview
Alva Mather heads the Firm’s Alcohol Regulatory & Distribution Group. Alva focuses her practice on alcohol beverage regulatory and commercial matters, M&A and high stakes matters such as audits, investigations, arbitration and litigation involving alcohol beverage companies. She represents companies in the alcohol beverage industry, including brewers, distillers, wineries, importers and retailers. Additionally, she works with clients in the growing cannabis space and has in-depth knowledge of the evolving legal and regulatory issues facing this industry. Clients say that Alva “comes to the situation with clear leadership and strong knowledge of the food and beverage industry”, and she is widely recognized as the go-to lawyer for all alcohol regulatory matters.
A nationally recognized lawyer, Alva combines her extensive knowledge of the commercial and legal landscape as well as deep understanding of the beverage industry to help clients mitigate risk, respond to challenges and capture and pursue new business opportunities. She and her team represent over 30% of the largest alcohol companies in the world. Her work spans a number of traditional areas of legal practice that affect alcohol beverage and cannabis companies, including litigation, governmental investigation, commercial agreements, alcohol beverage compliance, intellectual property, trade and tax. Alva is also on the forefront of emerging trends in the alcohol industry, including alcohol delivery services, new beverage collaborations and e-commerce.
As companies look to break into or expand their footprint in the alcohol industry, they turn to Alva for her extensive experience advising clients in major transactions. Non-traditional beverage companies, large alcohol producers and private equity clients all confidently rely on her to guide them through the ever-changing regulatory landscape of alcohol production, distribution and delivery both through contemplated transactions and on a going forward basis. Alva frequently writes and speaks on alcohol and cannabis regulatory matters. During law school, Alva served as the articles editor for the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.
Results
- Assisted the fourth largest brewery in the US with its rollout of its hard seltzer brand, including TTB alcohol regulatory work and FDA expertise
- Provided guidance for a beer company on TTB rules and regulations relating to the formulation and marketing in different states for their hard seltzers and ready-mixed cocktails
- Provide the full range of corporate, commercial, regulatory and dispute resolution services for the largest family-owned winery in the US and one of the world’s largest wine companies
- Provide guidance for a liqueur producer on alcohol regulatory matters, including labeling and formula approval
- Conducted an extensive analysis of the ecommerce operations and partnerships for a major whiskey producer
- Advised a private equity firm on the $1.2 billion acquisition of the largest wine company in the Pacific Northwest and the third-largest premium wine company in the US
- Guided a Boston-based craft brewer and distributor through a dispute with another drinks company that makes sparkling hard tea and canned cocktails
- Assisted a technology platform that connects alcohol retailers with wholesalers to navigate regulatory landscape of state-by-state distribution regulations
- Represented several of the world’s largest spirits companies through the negotiation, drafting and execution of its distribution agreements for entire US market*
- Provided state-by-state and national alcohol beverage regulatory advice for major beverage suppliers, including advising on tied house considerations, marketing and advertising practices*
- Provided in depth analysis of both TTB and FDA related labeling and formula compliance
- Provided advice to an international brewer regarding opportunities to franchise in the United States
- Represented Italian based wine and spirits company in entering the US market and related national distribution agreements*
- Represented dozens of clients through the negotiation, drafting and execution of new and existing distribution agreements throughout the United States, Caribbean and overseas*
- Provided national regulatory counsel to multi-state retailers as well as software developer regarding 50-state legal treatment of digital coupon and related advertising programs*
- Provided state-by-state analysis of distillery laws and related privileges*
- Counseled numerous clients through the establishment of national licensing regimes and related compliance commitments*
- Defended numerous clients across the country before state and federal regulatory agencies regarding investigation and enforcement proceedings under state and federal alcohol codes*
- Represented numerous distributor termination actions between a national supplier and its in-state wholesalers to successful in-court and out-of-court resolutions*
- Provided analysis and counsel to software and logistics provider regarding marketing of CBD oil on website and related contractual and insurance recommendations*
- Provided analysis and counsel to US based distribution and supply company regarding legality of shipping CBD products under current federal guidance*
- Drafted national and international cannabis policies for international flavoring manufacturer*
- Provided analysis and counsel to international flavor manufacturing regarding sourcing CBD for research and development purpose*
- Provided analysis and counsel to software developer regarding providing services the participants in the cannabis industry*
- Provided analysis and counsel to pharmaceutical company regarding sourcing CBD from a non-DEA regulated facility*
- Provided analysis and counsel to CBD beverage company regarding sales and distribution within the US market*
- Represented numerous clients in seeking medical marijuana licenses in Pennsylvania*
- Represented lead underwriter in US cannabis delivery service IPO in Canada*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.
Recognitions
- Chambers USA, Nationwide Food & Beverages: Alcohol category, Band 3, 2020 and 2021
- Chambers USA, Nationwide Food & Beverages: Alcohol category, Recognized practitioner, 2018
- The Legal 500 United States in Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Actions: Consumer Products, 2019
- Rising Stars, Pennsylvania, 2008, 2013 to 2017
- Legal Intelligencer, Lawyers on the Fast Track, 2015
Credentials
Education
University of Pennsylvania Law School, JD, 2004
Northwestern University, MA, 2001
Mount Holyoke College, BA, magna cum laude, 1999
Courts/Agencies
US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
US District Court for the District of New Jersey
US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Admissions
District of Columbia
Pennsylvania
