Tucker Ellis LLP is pleased to announce that Ashley Brandt has joined the firm’s Business Department as a member of its Corporate/M&A/Securities practice group in Chicago.

Mr. Brandt serves clients as outside counsel across a variety of industries, with a particular focus on alcoholic beverage-related and cannabis businesses. He counsels alcoholic beverage clients across the tiers including breweries, distilleries, wholesalers and retailers, and restaurants. He also represents dispensaries and growers in the evolving cannabis and hemp field.

“Ashley’s wide-ranging experience will be a tremendous benefit to our clients, particularly in the niche alcoholic beverages industry,” said Business Department Chair John Slagter. “He is already a great addition to our growing presence in Chicago, and we’re excited to welcome him to the firm.”

“We’re thrilled that Ashley has joined our corporate team,” said Tucker Ellis Corporate/M&A/Securities Group Chair Jayne Juvan. “We look forward to embracing his expertise as we grow not only in Chicago, but overall as a practice group.”

“We couldn’t be happier to continue to attract A+ talent like Ashley to Tucker Ellis,” said Managing Partner Joe Morford. “The significant experience he brings across industries and practice areas will benefit our Business Department, our firm, and – especially – our clients.”

Mr. Brandt assists clients in every aspect of their businesses, including entity formation, state and federal licensure and permitting, negotiating agreements with cultivators, wholesalers and distributors, branding, trademarks and trade secrets, legal compliance, alt-prop and contract brewing agreements, financing, and equipment leasing and purchasing. He also counsels food and beverage importers on import-export issues and international sourcing, licensing, and food import compliance agreements. With a passion for the cannabis and alcoholic beverages industries, Mr. Brandt regularly speaks and writes on the topic and publishes the Libation Law Blog, dedicated to legal issues in that sector. He received his law degree from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.