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Isabelle Cunningham, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP Photo

Isabelle R. Cunningham

Associate / Boston

Overview

Isabelle R. Cunningham is an associate in Nutter’s Corporate Department and a member of the Alcohol group and the Food and Beverage group. She concentrates her practice on alcohol and non-alcohol beverage regulatory matters, including wholesaler relations/distribution agreement negotiations, franchise law, tied house law, and alcohol and non-alcohol beverage formulation, labeling, and advertising matters. Isabelle is well-versed in the complexities of food and beverage law, including Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Clients engage Isabelle for legal counsel on a wide range of commercial agreements concerning alcohol, including production and supply agreements, distribution agreements, and marketing and sponsorship contracts, to ensure compliance with state and federal alcoholic beverage laws. She often advises on regulatory compliance issues with investments in alcohol companies or cross-tiered business relationships such as trademark or data licensing agreements.

A major focus of Isabelle’s practice is product launches, particularly new and innovative products in the beer, wine, spirits, or non-alcohol beverage categories. Isabelle advises on the product formulation and label review, helps secure pre-market regulatory approvals, and provides marketing, promotion, and advertising guidance.

Isabelle’s clients benefit from her experience as in-house counsel at the Boston Beer Company, where she advised senior leadership on alcohol beverage franchise law, contract law, trade practice issues, and various other regulatory matters. Isabelle assisted a senior leadership team managing Boston Beer’s merger with Dogfish Head, one of the largest craft brewery mergers in the United States, including national wholesaler consolidation efforts. Additionally, she negotiated contracts in connection with distribution, sponsorship, marketing, and creative services.

Prior to joining Nutter, Isabelle was an associate in the Alcohol Regulatory & Distribution group at an international law firm. Earlier in her career, she gained legal experience as a law clerk at the ACLU of Missouri and as a legal intern at Ocean Spray Cranberries.

Experience

Experience

  • Night Shift Brewing

    Nutter advised Night Shift Brewing in connection with its agreement to be acquired by Hendler Family Brewing Company (HFB). Night Shift will be joining an impressive portfolio of local craft brands including Jack’s Abby and Wormtown to create the largest producer of craft beer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 

News & Insights

Publications

Education & Admissions

Education

Northeastern University School of Law, J.D.
University of Missouri, B.A.

Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • Missouri

Industry Expertise

Isabelle assisted a senior leadership team managing Boston Beer’s merger with Dogfish Head, one of the largest craft brewery mergers in the United States, including national wholesaler consolidation efforts.

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