Stephanie Meier

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Stephanie Meier is a partner in Stoel Rives’ Corporate group and focuses her practice in the area of alcohol beverage law. Stephanie advises alcohol beverage industry clients, including wineries, breweries, distilleries and retailers, on all aspects of state and federal licensing and permitting, post-licensing regulatory compliance, local and national marketing promotions, state and federal label and packaging compliance, state and federal tax issues, contracts, and distribution issues. She also represents clients outside the alcohol beverage industry with general corporate matters and mergers and acquisitions.

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Washington Wine Industry Foundation Offers Scholarships for Students Pursuing Wine-Related Studies

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in News, Washington
Stoel Rives is a proud annual sponsor of the Washington Wine Industry Foundation (and full disclosure: I am a board member) – a nonprofit, charitable organization that was founded almost twenty years ago with a goal to strengthen the future of the Washington wine industry through growth, education, and sustainability. Since 2002, the foundation has … Continue Reading

Ecology Rolls Out Washington’s First Winery General Permit to Regulate Discharges of Wastewater

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Environmental and Natural Resource Issues, State & Federal Beverage Licenses/Permits, Washington Wine Issues, Wine Law
Beginning in mid-2019, many Washington wineries will need a permit from the state Department of Ecology (“Ecology”) to discharge wastewater. Ecology issued the state’s first five-year Winery General Permit (the “permit”) on May 17, 2018, but delayed its effective date until July 1, 2019. The new permit will regulate discharges of process wastewater from wineries … Continue Reading

No Peace for Piece-Rate Pay in Washington Agriculture

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Legislation
This post was written by Adam Belzberg, Ryan Jones and Tim O’Connell for the Stoel Rives World of Employment blog. In yet another blow to agricultural employers, grab your stopwatches. In Carranza v. Dovex Fruit Co., the Washington Supreme Court has just held that agricultural employers are required to compensate piece-rate workers on a separate … Continue Reading

Washington State Liquor Control Board Kicks Off Youth Access Compliance Check Program

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Alcohol Compliance
Attention Washington state retailers: the Washington State Liquor Control Board is kicking off a youth access compliance check program this month. Here’s a guidance the WSLCB recently issued about the program. The Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) Enforcement and Education Division’s youth access compliance check program will be beginning in May 2015. The purpose … Continue Reading

Seminar on I-502 Impacts on Washington State Business and Real Estate Transactions

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Initiative 502
Stoel Rives attorneys Susan Johnson and Jim Shore will be part of the faculty for a one-day Law Seminars International conference on June 11 regarding Washington’s Initiative 502 that legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Susan will serve as co-chair of the conference, while Jim will present on I502 implications for employer policies and procedures. … Continue Reading

Video Interview: Discussing What I-502’s Rollout May Look Like for Businesses with LXBN TV

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Initiative 502
Following up on our posts on Washington Initiative 502, my colleague Claire Mitchell had the chance to speak with Colin O’Keefe of LXBN regarding the initiative and its implementation for businesses. In the brief interview, Claire explained the rulemaking by the Washington State Liquor Control Board currently underway and offered thoughts on what Washington’s marijuana industry may look like. … Continue Reading

Spirits Retailers Can Now Deliver

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Legislation
WSLCB adopted a new rule that will allow spirits retail licensees to deliver spirits to customers that place orders in person, through the mail or over the phone, fax or internet.  This rule mirrors the beer and wine delivery privileges currently held by grocery store and beer/wine speciality shop licensees.  The rule will go into effect December 8, 2012, … Continue Reading

I-1183 Upheld

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Legislation
The Washington Supreme Court has upheld I-1183.  Here is a link to the opinion, the concurrence and the dissent.  We will follow up with additional analysis, but for now, you can plan your first trip to the grocery store to purchase liquor as early as tomorrow.… Continue Reading

Washington State Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument On Constitutionality Of I-1183

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Legislation
 by Hunter Ferguson Yesterday, the Washington State Supreme Court heard oral argument in Washington Association for Substance Abuse & Violence Prevention v. State, concerning the constitutionality of I-1183. WASAVP contends that I-1183 violates Article II, § 19 of the Washington Constitution in two ways: (1) the initiative violates the “single-subject rule,” by including a $10 million … Continue Reading

Implementation of I-1183 Remains On Schedule; Washington Supreme Court Argument Set for May 17, 2012

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Alcohol and Liquor
From our colleague Hunter Ferguson:  The implementation of I-1183 remains on schedule. Last Friday, April 6, a Washington Supreme Court Commissioner issued an order denying an emergency motion for injunctive relief to halt the implementation of I-1183. The motion was filed by the plaintiffs in Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention v. State. The … Continue Reading

I-1183 Litigation Update

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Legislation
Today the Washington State Supreme Court accepted review of the challenge to I-1183.  The briefing schedule has been posted, and the arguments are set for May 17th.  We expect an opinion to be issued before the June 1st implementation date for retail spirits sales.  Our colleague Hunter O. Ferguson provided the following update: I. WASAVAP v. … Continue Reading

I-1183 Challenge Update

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Alcohol and Liquor
By Hunter O. Ferguson, Stoel Rives With a little more than two months remaining before I-1183 is scheduled to take full effect on June 1, 2012, the implementation of the initiative will turn on whether the Cowlitz County Superior Court concludes that section 302 of the initiative cannot be severed from the other provisions approved … Continue Reading

Big Developments in the Washington Wine Industry

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Washington Wine Issues
The Washington State Wine Commission hired Steve Warner as the new Executive Director. For more information on Mr. Warner’s background, and the unanimous support by the Washington wine industry, read the WSWC press release here, and the WAWGG press release here.  In other news, the Washington wine industry, including both wineries and grape growers, has made … Continue Reading

Hong Kong Continues to Foster International Wine Industry

By Stephanie Meier on Posted in Financing
Hong Kong has been making a concerted effort to promote the wine industry within its borders. The Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) began signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with wine producing regions in August of 2008 when it signed an MOU with France. This followed Hong Kong’s abolition of the wine tax, which opened … Continue Reading
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