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Warner Norcross + Judd LLP is a corporate law firm with over 230 attorneys serving clients in nine offices throughout Michigan. Among the largest law firms in Michigan, Warner works in virtually all areas of business law.

Michigan Law Firm - Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

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Judging by the popularity of Michigan craft beer, the answer is “no one.” Last year, our 357 craft breweries produced 899,792 barrels of ales, IPAs, stouts, porters and other beers – or enough to provide nearly 3.7&nbsp;gallons for every Michigander of legal drinking age.

The economic impact of all these suds? A cool $2.1 billion dollars for our state – and growing. In fact, data released in 2017 showed the&nbsp;national market for craft beer grew 22 percent from 2014 to 2016.

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Beer is increasingly big business in Michigan – and our Craft Brewery Industry Group has grown right alongside the start-ups who are now upending the industry on a national level. Many aficionados got into craft beer for the love of brewing. But the industry has reached an inflection point, and many of those early entrepreneurs are now faced with lots of choices – and lots of opportunities.

How can you get the money to expand? If you have friends who want to invest, how can you make that happen? How can you protect yourself when partnering with others? Once it's successful, how do you make the business last? How do you locate financial incentives to support growth? How do you protect your personal assets?

As you grow, how do the wage and hour laws change? What about vendor contracts, supplier issues, MiOSHA and workplace safety, noncompetes and employee benefits?

And that’s not to mention state and federal regulations, trademark issues, intellectual property protection – even labels can become a contentious issue.

That's where Warner comes in. We have assembled a team of lawyers who love craft beer and understand the industry pressures that suppliers and brewers face when it comes to starting, growing, selling or closing their business.

Our skill sets are as diverse as our tastes – and our appetite for your success is unparalleled.

Some of the areas where we often assist include:
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Agribusiness and Food

Partner

Jared T. Belka

Kurt M. Brauer

Of Counsel

John V. Byl

Emily E. Cantor

David C.C. “Dave” Eberhard

R. Scott Keller

Dennis W. Loughlin

Robert J. “Bob” Nolan

Amber M. Underhill

Senior Counsel

Lance R. Zoerhof

Dennis Loughlin discusses the craft beer industry in Crain’s Detroit Business

Warner Launches New Craft Brewery Industry Group

Michigan Liquor Control Commission Begins Spirits Buyback Program

No Shirt, No Shoes, No Mask—No Service! State of Michigan’s Current Rules on Reopening

FDA releases first two final rules under Food Safety Modernization Act

Like Hops or Barley, Profit Must be Ingredient for Brewery Success

Craft Beer Trademark Battles

Linda Paullin-Hebden Named To Crain’s Detroit Business “Notable Women Lawyers” List

Business Law Attorney Adam D. Bruski Joins Warner

Justin W. Stemple Appointed to NIA Centre Board

Warner Partner David Eberhard Among Michigan’s Go To Real Estate Lawyers

Emily Cantor Joins Grand Rapids Public Schools Foundation Board of Directors

Warner Partner John Byl Honored by Inclusion in Michigan Lawyers Weekly 2024 Hall of Fame

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Craft Brewery

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