VP, Regulatory Counsel

Duckhorn Wine Company

About The Position

The Duckhorn Portfolio is North America's premier luxury wine company, with eleven wineries, ten state-of-the-art winemaking facilities, five tasting rooms and over 2,200 coveted acres of vineyards spanning 37 Estate properties. Established in 1976, when vintners Dan and Margaret Duckhorn founded Napa Valley's Duckhorn Vineyards, today, our portfolio features some of North America's most revered wineries, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Kosta Browne, Sonoma-Cutrer, Goldeneye, Calera, Greenwing, Paraduxx, Migration, Canvasback and Postmark. Sourcing grapes from our own Estate vineyards and fine growers in Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Anderson Valley, California's North and Central coasts, Oregon and Washington State, we offer a curated and comprehensive portfolio of acclaimed luxury wines with price points ranging from $20 to $230 across more than 15 varietals. Our wines are available throughout the United States, on five continents, and in more than 50 countries around the world. The VP, Regulatory Counsel serves as a key senior leader in the Legal department, combining high-level strategic regulatory oversight with hands-on legal counseling. This role owns the company's regulatory compliance program for alcohol beverage operations while providing practical, business-oriented legal advice on a broad range of matters in the highly regulated wine industry. The ideal candidate is a seasoned attorney with deep expertise in federal and state alcohol regulations, trade practices, distribution, and related compliance issues, who can proactively manage risk, support growth initiatives, and collaborate cross-functionally. This position directly supervises the Regulatory Compliance team.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active bar membership in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction).
Minimum of 8 years experience, including significant in-house or law firm work focused on alcohol beverage regulatory compliance.
Deep knowledge of the three-tier system, tied-house prohibitions, and state-by-state variations in alcohol law.
Demonstrated involvement in M&A transactions, preferably in the consumer goods or beverage sector, including due diligence and deal execution.
Strong business acumen with the ability to provide practical, risk-balanced advice that supports commercial objectives.
Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to distill complex regulations into clear guidance for non-lawyers.
Proactive, collaborative, and solutions-oriented mindset.
High ethical standards and sound judgment.
Demonstrated ability to plan and organize projects.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
Excellent written and oral communication skills; attention to detail and responsiveness.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word and PowerPoint.
A growth mindset and can-do attitude
Limited travel is required.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience at a winery or spirits/beverage company preferred
Managerial experience preferred

Responsibilities

Manage the team that is responsible for developing and implementing the company's comprehensive regulatory compliance program, ensuring adherence to all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing the production, importation, labeling, marketing, promotion, distribution, and sale of wine and alcoholic beverages.
Provide strategic support across the organization to enable business leaders to compliantly structure key growth and commercial initiatives.
Lead internal compliance training, audits, and monitoring programs; identify and mitigate regulatory risks across the business.
Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory agencies (TTB, FDA, state liquor authorities); respond to inquiries, audits, investigations, and enforcement actions.
Provide timely, pragmatic legal counsel to senior leadership, marketing, sales, operations, supply chain, and other teams on regulatory, compliance, and general business matters.
Review and approve marketing materials, advertising, promotions, sponsorships, events, social media, and packaging/labeling for compliance with alcohol-specific rules.
Advise on distribution agreements, supplier contracts, wholesaler relationships, and three-tier compliance issues.
Offer general in-house legal services, including advising on a wide variety of subject matters.
Support contract drafting, negotiation, and review for commercial transactions with both a business minded and regulatory lens.
Collaborate on risk assessments for new products, market expansions, acquisitions, or innovative marketing strategies.
Provide regulatory guidance on M&A activities.
Assist in structuring, negotiating, and documenting M&A transactions, ensuring compliance with alcohol-specific regulatory approvals, and integration planning.
Monitor evolving regulatory landscape (federal/state legislative changes, TTB rulings, industry guidance) and advises on impact to the business.
Lead or coordinates responses to regulatory investigations, subpoenas, notices of violation, or litigation involving compliance issues.
Work closely with marketing, sales, production, finance, and executive teams to embed compliance into business processes and support strategic growth initiatives.
Creates a workplace culture that emphasizes the mission, vision and values of Duckhorn.

Benefits

Health benefits for you and your family, including medical/dental/vision (with a competitively priced employee contribution to premium), and disability, life, & pet insurance.
Paid time off and 11 paid holidays.
401(k) plan where we invest 10% of your wages every year for your retirement at no cost to you, subject to management discretion.
A diverse team of coworkers that care about each other in a fun, exciting work environment.
A company that promotes from within, provides great training and a generous tuition reimbursement program.

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