Overview

About Craig

Craig Pacheco is an associate in Stoel Rives’ Corporate group and a member of the firm’s Agribusiness, Food & Beverage industry group. He advises both public and private company clients across a variety of industries with respect to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate reorganizations, debt and equity financing, general commercial transactions, and corporate governance matters. Craig has over ten years of alcohol beverage industry experience working on both the business side and the legal side of the industry through multiple business cycles. This experience informs Craig’s practice as he advises alcohol beverage and hospitality industry clients with respect to company formation, distribution agreements and other commercial contracts, licensing, regulatory approvals, and compliance matters.

Before joining Stoel Rives, Craig was an associate with Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP. Prior to law school, he spent several years working in corporate finance for leading companies within the alcohol beverage industry; first as Senior Financial Analyst for Diageo and then as Finance Manager for William Grant & Sons. Craig approaches every matter (regardless of size and complexity) with a business mind, genuine enthusiasm, and relentless effort to achieve the client’s objectives efficiently and effectively. He takes pride in getting the details right and guiding clients through complex transactions and regulatory matters.

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Experience

Alcohol Beverage Industry

Advise alcohol beverage industry clients with respect to licensing matters, advertising and marketing compliance and general trade practice compliance with the regulations of the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau as well as various state regulatory agencies.
Prepared multistate survey of distributor termination regulations for international wine company.
Representation of international spirits company in connection with the termination of a importing and distribution agreement, the negotiation of a new distribution agreement, and obtaining TTB importer permit.
Representation of craft brewer in connection with termination of distribution agreement and settlement negotiation.
Representation of international restaurant group in connection with the acquisition of a new restaurant brand and multistate licensing for 24 restaurant locations.
Representation of national beverage company in connection with the $20 million acquisition of winery and vineyard assets.
Representation of international drinks company in connection with the $50 million acquisition of winery and vineyard assets.
Representation of publicly traded retailer in connection with all alcohol regulatory and licensing matters for 150+ stores. Appointed managing officer (with respect to the sale of alcoholic beverages) for all of its stores in Missouri and managed communications with the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.
Representation of national restaurant chain in connection with various alcohol regulatory matters, including co-branding agreements, advertising and promotions and trade practices compliance.
Representation of West Coast regional restaurant chain with respect to various state licensing and regulatory and compliance matters in connection with a corporate restructuring and expansion into new markets.
Representation of California-based wine importer with respect to formation, licensing, labeling, and distribution agreement in connection with the launch of a new brand.
Representation of restaurant client with respect to alcohol regulatory and licensing matters in connection with its “cloud kitchen” concept, including California regulations pertaining to third-party delivery services.
Prepared analysis of regulations governing interstate shipping of alcoholic beverages for a national retailer of wine and spirits.

Food and CPG Industry

Representation of Power Brands Consulting, a leading beverage industry development and management firm, and its shareholder, with the sale of equity interests to Martin Bauer Group, a leading manufacturer and supplier of teas, extracts, and botanicals for the food, beverage, dietary supplement, and phytopharmaceutical industries.
Representation of global leader in food service and hospitality management in connection with the negotiation of several new and renewal concessions agreements with sports stadiums.
Representation of private equity investor in connection with the acquisition of a 30-unit restaurant group.
Representation of privately owned restaurant group in connection with acquisition of restaurant assets.
Representation of publicly traded international foods company in connection with its $750 million purchase of a U.S.-based contract packaging business. Managed corporate secretary function for client for two years following transaction closing.
Representation of publicly traded international foods company in connection with the $1.1 billion sale of its U.S.-based contract packaging business.
Representation of manufacturer of Italian food products in connection with the drafting and negotiation of national television and digital media advertising purchasing agreements.
Representation of Colombia-based client in connection with joint venture agreement to manufacture and export medical cannabis products. Involved coordination with local counsel in Canada, Colombia, Uruguay, and Luxembourg.

Other Corporate Transactions

Representation of renewable energy company in tax equity and related debt financing transactions for several solar energy development projects with an aggregate investment over $100 million.
Representation of energy technology and services company in connection with the $40 million sale of its directional drilling technology business.
Representation of regional landscaping company in connection with $50 million sale of its business and assets.
Representation of publicly traded insurance holding company in connection with a global restructuring that involved every aspect of its subsidiaries’ worldwide insurance operations. Led the formation of a new life insurance company licensed in 49 states and several U.S. territories and assisted with the transfer of the insurance subsidiaries’ worldwide investment portfolio, multiple asset sales, mergers and reinsurance transactions, and a comprehensive review of the holding company system’s worldwide policies and affiliate agreements.
Representation of property and casualty insurance company in connection with the acquisition of a financially distressed automobile insurance company, which required approvals from the state department of insurance and the U.S. bankruptcy court.
Representation of regional financial services company in connection with a $15 million investment in an insurance company.
Coordinated survey of laws and regulations governing parametric weather index insurance in several international jurisdictions.
Representation of global accounting firm in connection with the $10 million acquisition of a professional services company.

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Honors

Honors & Activities

Professional Honors & Activities

Included in Best Lawyers^®: Ones to Watch in America (Corporate Governance and Compliance Law), 2023
Recognized in Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Next Generation in Law” series, September 2022

Civic Activities

Board member, Washington Wine Industry Foundation, 2022
Active participant in Association for Corporate Growth Seattle Chapter Y20 Program
Fellow, World Affairs Council, Seattle WA, 2019–2020
Development Board member, SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, 2017–2019

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Insights & Presentations

“Business Lessons From the M&A Process: How to Set Yourself Up for Continued Success (or a Successful Exit),” American Craft Spirits Association Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA, July 2022
“Out of Stock: Contract Considerations During the Supply Chain Disruption” (co-author), Craft Spirit, March/April 2022
“Café Culture: Considerations for Joint Tasting Rooms and Shared Spaces” (co-author), Artisan Spirit Magazine, Summer 2021
Presenter, “From Mash to Market: A Primer on the Law of Spirits,” Young Lawyers Division Meeting, King County Bar Association, Seattle, WA, April 24, 2019