A longtime former general counsel of one of the wine business’ most influential policy groups, and the industry’s lead lawyer in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that transformed direct-to-consumer alcohol shipping, has joined a Napa-based law firm.
Tracy Genesen joins Dickenson Peatman and Fogarty in January 2026, in the Napa-based law firm’s Alcohol Beverage Law and Compliance practice group. Genesen was once a longtime general counsel for Wine Institute and led the wine industry’s legal team leading to the landmark 2005 U.S. Supreme Court case on interstate direct shipping of wine to consumers. (Courtesy: Dickenson Peatman and Fogarty)
Tracy Genesen, who at one time served for eight years as vice president and general counsel of Wine Institute, has joined Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty (DP&F) as part of its Alcohol Beverage Law and Compliance practice group, the firm announced Tuesday. Two decades ago while in private practice, she led the wine industry’s legal team in the 2005 Granholm v. Heald case that struck down discriminatory state laws and paved the way for wineries — and eventually other alcohol producers — to ship directly to consumers nationwide.
DP&F said Genesen will advise clients across the wine, spirits and ready-to-drink (RTD) sectors on navigating the complexities of alcohol beverage regulation, including advertising and marketing, e-commerce, distributor relationships, international trade and climate-related regulatory challenges.
“We are thrilled to have Tracy join our team and further expand our deep bench of attorneys with expertise in the alcohol beverage space,” said managing partner John Trinidad in the news release. “She has been at the forefront of the key legal and policy issues—both domestic and international — that alcohol beverage businesses face.”
DP&F partner Bahaneh Hobel, who leads the firm’s alcohol beverage practice, said Genesen’s background strengthens the firm’s ability to advise clients ranging from startups to multinational producers.
“Her extensive, practical experience aligns seamlessly with our practice,” Hobel said, citing Genesen’s work on sophisticated marketing initiatives and new business strategies in a heavily regulated environment.
Genesen was at Wine Institute from 2016 to 2024. It represents roughly 85% of U.S. wine production and 90% of U.S. wine exports. After leaving, she joined Gallo as associate general counsel, advising the company’s U.S. spirits, malt beverage and RTD businesses.
Earlier in her career, she was general counsel of Edrington Americas and a partner at law firms Reed Smith LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
In addition to her legal practice, Genesen lectures at the UC Berkeley School of Law, teaching a wine law course with Trinidad, and has held faculty or guest lecturer roles at UC Davis, Stanford, Harvard and international institutions in France.
“I am privileged to join the exceptional legal team at DP&F,” Genesen said in the announcement. “I look forward to serving as a strategic business partner and practical risk management advisor to firm clients.”
DP&F covers a range of business and commercial law, including wine, alcohol regulation, intellectual property, real estate, labor and land use.
Jeff Quackenbush joined North Bay Business Journal in May 1999. He covers primarily wine, construction and real estate. Reach him at jeff@nbbj.news or 707-521-4256.
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