Jesse D. Lyon

Partner

Nationwide Co-chair, Food + Beverage and Agriculture Practice; Chair, Portland Corporate and Business Transactions Practice

Member, Executive Committee

T 503.778.5268 Portland

T 206.622.3150 Seattle

Don't confuse "lawyers who are foodies" with experienced "food business lawyers."

Jesse Lyon helps food, beverage, alcohol, and agriculture companies find and realize business opportunities and solve complex challenges. With firsthand experience on his family's farm, advanced degrees in agricultural economics, and a deeply focused legal career spanning over 20 years, his exceptional knowledge helps food, beverage, and agriculture clients thrive. He helps alcohol beverage businesses grow through strategic and practical counsel, particularly with regard to multi-state distribution and tied house laws.

Jesse has guided food & bev companies of all sizes, and their investors, as they navigate this industry. Jesse spends most of his days advising emerging companies, middle market and family-owned businesses, and established global brands about strategically important decisions and transformational transactions including crop production and ingredient sourcing, manufacturing, supply chain relationships, wholesale and consumer products branding and distribution models, brand and plant variety intellectual property strategies, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions, and other strategic agreements.

Practice Highlights

Agriculture

Represented Scenic Fruit Company in its strategic acquisition of RainSweet Growers.

Food

Represented Oatly USA in its sale of manufacturing facilities, and strategic co-packing alliance with Ya YA Foods.

Alcoholic beverages

Represented Domaine Roy et Fils in the sale of its winery business to Italian wine-dynasty Marchesi de' Frescobaldi.

Representative Agriculture Experience

Agriculture Capital

Represented AC in the acquisitions of Cal Valley Citrus (vertically integrated citrus production and packing) and of Columbine Vineyard (vertically integrated table grape production and packing).

Agriculture Capital

Represented AC in the acquisition of California-based table grape grower, Columbine Vineyards.

Agriculture Capital

Represented AC in the acquisition of Suntreat, TreeSource, and Griffith Farms assets.

Agriculture Capital

Represented ACM in the acquisition and development of Silver Mountain Packing operations and various associated Oregon blueberry farms.

Agriculture Capital

Principal outside counsel, including in supply chain and strategic matters.

Representative Food Experience

Brazi Bites

Represented Brazi Bites in strategic alliance for manufacturing and distribution solutions.

Brazi Bites

Represented frozen snack company, Brazi Bites, in its investment transaction with San Francisco Equity Partners.

Dave's Killer Bread

Provided advice in growth phase to provide North America ingredient sourcing, contract baking, and distribution counseling, including agreement structuring, strategy, and negotiations. Represented client in a large investment from the Goode Partners private equity firm and a large infusion of term debt from BMO. Ongoing work as principal outside counsel in support of rapid growth, including nationwide manufacturing and distribution initiatives. Represented AVB, Inc. (d/b/a Dave's Killer Bread) and its shareholders in a 100 percent stock sale to Flowers Foods, Inc.

Fever-Tree

Represented Fever-Tree, an international non-alcoholic beverage company, in U.S. distribution and regulatory matters.

Firestone Pacific Foods

Principal outside counsel, including in supply chain and strategic matters.

Representative Alcohol Experience

Abeja Inn & Winery

Represented Abeja LLC in the sale of a majority interest in the Abeja Inn and Abeja Winery in Walla Walla, Washington.

Abita Brewing Company

Represented founders as beverage counsel in sale transaction with Enjoy Beer LLC.

Alambic Inc.

Represented California brandy producer Alambic Inc. in its sale of the Germain-Robin brandy business to E. & J. Gallo Winery.

Ares Management Corporation

Represented private equity firm Ares Management Corporation in the acquisition of Cooper's Hawk, a winery and restaurant chain.

Banfi Wines

Represented Banfi Wines in a strategic transaction to exit distribution partnership with Riunite.

Admitted to Practice

Oregon, 1998
Washington, 2007

Education

J.D., George Mason University, Antonin Scalia Law School, 1998, with high honors
- Articles Editor, George Mason Law Review
- Kleinfeld Fellow of the Food and Drug Law Institute
M.S., Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, 1995
B.S., Agricultural Economics, Washington State University, 1992, cum laude
- Harry S. Truman Scholar

Memberships & Affiliations

- Executive Committee, Davis Wright Tremaine
- Founder and Host, Farm to Label, Davis Wright Tremaine event, 2013-present
- Davis Wright Tremaine Executive Committee, 2016-present
- Davis Wright Tremaine Share Committee, 2013-2016
- Adjunct Instructor, Washington State University Carson College of Business, Wine Business Certificate, "Wine Business Law and Compliance" course, 2018-2019
- Board of Directors, Zenger Farm, 2012-2018
- Principal Outside Counsel, Oregon Winegrowers Association
- Advisory Committee, School of Hospitality Business Management, Washington State University
- National Board of Advisors, College of Business, Washington State University
- Steering Committee, Northwest Agribusiness Executive Seminar
- Past President, Agricultural Law Section, Oregon State Bar

Professional Recognition

- Named as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" by Chambers USA in Food & Beverages: Alcohol (Nationwide), 2010-2024; Corporate/M&A (Oregon), 2011-2014, 2018-2024; Named a "Recognised Practitioner" for Corporate/M&A, 2019
- Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Mergers & Acquisitions by Best Lawyers, 2020-present
- Selected to "Oregon Super Lawyers," Thomson Reuters, 2012-2022
- Industry Partner Award, Oregon Wine Industry, 2006
- Named as one of the "Forty Under 40," Portland Business Journal, 2004