Max S. Fujii

Max Fujii counsels non-retail and retail alcohol and food businesses on a variety of corporate and regulatory matters, including procurement and maintenance of state and federal liquor licenses, alcohol beverage-related corporate transactions, and analysis on issues relating to restrictions and privileges of license types, tied house compliance, alcohol delivery services, and more.

In 2022 and 2023, Max was named a Sacramento Magazine “Top Lawyer.” He is an active member of Stoel Rives’ Agribusiness Industry Group and also serves on the firm’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Education

University of California, Davis School of Law, J.D., 2020; Order of the Coif; Dean’s Merit Scholarship; King Hall Academic Excellence Scholarship; Excellence in Legal Research and Writing Award

San José State University, B.A., English, Concentration: Creative Writing, 2015, cum laude; Editor/Sales Representative, Reed Magazine

Admissions

California

Representative Alcohol Beverage Regulatory and Corporate Work

Non-Retail Work – Wineries, Distilleries, Breweries, Brewpubs

• Regularly obtain federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) permits on behalf of alcohol supplier clients.
• Regularly advise and coordinate TTB and state filings required by changes of ownership or operations.
• Regularly advise on TTB compliance, including labeling, bond requirements, and tied house issues.
• Advise one of the world’s largest breweries on a variety of trade practice and marketing issues across multiple states, including issues regarding distributor franchise laws, tied house restrictions, special events, tribal laws, and provided analysis on proposed legislation.
• Led a multi-state survey of direct-to-consumer shipping laws and bottle bills in furtherance of a client’s new alcohol beverage product launch.
• Provided analysis of California tied-house issues for potential expansion of client operating a chain of brewpubs, breweries, music venues, historic hotels, and theater pubs.
• Served as second-chair attorney in connection with three successful buy-side winery asset purchase transactions for Ackley Brands Ltd., involving both corporate and alcohol beverage regulatory work.
• Provided analysis of novel tied-house issues in Washington for one of the world’s largest beverage producers.

Retail Work

• Regularly manage the process for obtaining liquor licenses and other required filings in California, Washington and Oregon on behalf of retailers.
• Regularly advise clients on the procedures for reporting changes of ownership or governance structure in connection with state and federal liquor licenses.
• Coordinated the transfer of multiple California liquor licenses on behalf of a major golf course management company.
• Provided 50-state sales and licensing analysis of low-proof alcohol for one of the world’s largest e-commerce retailers.
• Advise third-party alcohol and food delivery company on third-party delivery permit privileges and restrictions across numerous states.
• Draft private label agreements and provide related advice for one of the world's largest big-box retailers.
• Drafted Washington sports entertainment facility consolidated operating plan for major college university.
• Assisted in multi-state analysis of restrictions relating to cannabidiol-infused products.
• Assisted in alcohol licensing and regulatory matters in Washington and Oregon for a multibillion-dollar instant delivery retailer of alcohol, food, and other consumer goods.

Insights & Presentations

• “Attention Wine Shippers! California’s Bottle Bill Now Applies to Wine” (co-author), Stoel Rives LLP legal alert, January 29, 2024
• “Cheers to a New Year: California’s New Alcoholic Beverage Laws for 2022” (co-author), Stoel Rives LLP Alcoholic Beverages Law blog, January 7, 2022

• Listed in Sactown Magazine’s Top Lawyers, 2024
• Listed in Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers, 2022–present
• Witkin Award Recipient (highest class grade) in Civil Procedure, Legal Research and Writing II, Business Associations, and Will and Trust Drafting and Administration

Professional

• Stoel Rives’ Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, Member
• Schwartz-Levi Inn of Court Student former Member