Wine & Spirits Counsel Grounded in the Trade
Machat represents brand owners, small distributors, and start-ups in the wine and spirits industry, drawing on his personal experience growing the Vampire wine brand and placing it into nationwide distribution. He helps clients negotiate distribution agreements, navigate trademark disputes, and address the practical challenges of bringing a beverage brand to market.
Machat frequently litigates on behalf of brand owners and distributors. His firsthand knowledge of the trade helps him understand a client's business quickly, shortening the time another attorney might need to learn the industry and allowing him to represent the client more effectively.
Vampire Family Brands: The Case Study
In 1985, driving through the Nevada desert, Michael Machat envisioned a red wine brand called Vampire. The wine industry told him it was irreverent. One distributor threw him out of his office for 'spoofing the industry.'
He sold his first 500 bottles to Alice Cooper and MCA Records in London. Secured retail at Selfridges. Moved production from Algeria to France to Italy to Transylvania. Today, Vampire Family Brands includes award-winning wines (Dracula sparkling rosé, Napa Valley Pinot Noir), Belgian chocolates, and coffee. He opened and operated the Vampire Lounge & Tasting Room in Beverly Hills.
When Machat advises on supply chains, distributor negotiations, retail placement, and brand protection — he speaks from three decades of doing it himself.
Distributor Defense
In Frank-Lin Distillers Ltd. v. Megawine, Inc. (2016), a distributor and its owner were sued for over $1 million. The plaintiff tried to pierce the corporate veil through an alter-ego theory to reach the owner personally. Machat defeated the alter-ego claim, won $333,000 on a cross-complaint, and secured $160,000 in attorney's fees.
Active Brand Protection
Machat actively protects his client's intellectual property rights and strictly enforces compliance through legal action. Machat has successfully secured settlements against numerous Fortune 500 companies including Treasury Wine Estates, The Hershey Company, Taco Bell, Applebee's, Haribo, Martha Stewart, Williams Sonoma and more—resulting in these entities stopping the use of his client's brand names.