Law firm wants to help Florida craft brewers

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The craft brewing scene is growing rapidly in Florida. I learn about new breweries seemingly on a weekly basis (there are several in the works here in Sarasota and Manatee counties). Would-be brewers face a lot of work to get the business going, and face an almost-daunting amount of regulatory paperwork.

Attorneys Michael Long, left, and Trevor Brewer of BrewerLong in Maitland, Fla. (Provided by BrewerLong)

Attorneys Michael Long, left, and Trevor Brewer of BrewerLong in Maitland, Fla. (Provided by BrewerLong)

The law firm BrewerLong in Maitland, led by attorneys Trevor Brewer and Michael Long, saw that there were not many lawyers in Florida helping craft brewers. So the firm is starting a specialty in Florida craft brewing.

"We are just getting on the bandwagon," Brewer said in a phone interview. His interest is in the organizational aspects of craft brewing, rather than the actual brewing process. He wants to help people decide if craft brewing is something they can do with their lives. "What's the time investment? What's the dollar investment?" He wants to provide services that help the brewery focus on making the beer.

Brewer said he has been practicing law for more than a decade, working with small-business owners. He's been a fan of craft beer, and got further inspiration on his daily commute. He drives past the Hourglass Brewery in Longwood, which just celebrated its first anniversary, and watched the brewpub grow. He says there are not a lot of lawyers "raising their hands" to help brewers.

"We do this all the time for other small-business owners," Brewer said of his firm's services. "This is our chance to pick an industry we actually like."

Craft brewers have the same needs as other businesses, he said, plus some complicated special needs like federal, state and local licensing. There are also legal gray areas like tasting rooms and growler sales. BrewerLong offers a fixed-fee paperwork package for breweries, Brewer said.

"We’re just really focused at this point on what does it take to get people off the ground," Brewer said.

There have been several high-profile (at least in the beer geek world) brewery trademark issues recently, like the recent logo fight between West Sixth and Magic Hat. New breweries need to be sure they aren't violating anyone else's trademarks, while establishing their own. BrewerLong can work with breweries on trademark issues, Brewer said.

BrewerLong can also work with up-and-running breweries on distribution contracts, helping brewers understand exactly what they are agreeing to when they sign on with a distributor. I know that these contracts (and Florida beer distribution law) greatly favor the distributor, so it will be good to have a lawyer on the brewer's side.

I asked if being in Maitland would prevent BrewerLong from working with breweries elsewhere in Florida. Brewer said that modern technology alleviates the need for face-to-face meetings.

"I work with many clients across the state, many of whom I’ve never sat in a room with," Brewer said.

The firm has started a craft beer Facebook page at www.facebook.com/brewerslaw and can be followed on Twitter at @BrewersLaw.

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Alan Shaw

Alan Shaw has been a fan of craft beer since the 1990s. He is partial to hops and has been an editor at the Herald-Tribune since 1997. He can be reached at (941) 361-4914, by email or mail at 1741 Main St., Sarasota, FL 34236. Follow him at @alancshaw on Twitter and on Facebook.
Last modified: September 10, 2013
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