Brian Simas
Lecturer, Wine Business
Office: Building 74M, Room A116
Phone: 805-756-7308
Email: bfsimas@calpoly.edu
Office Hours: Current Quarter
Education
BS in WVIT | Wine Business| Cal Poly SLO, 2006
BS in AGB | Finance | Cal Poly SLO, 2006
JD | Pepperdine School of Law, 2009
Certificate, Entrepreneurship and the Law| Pepperdine School of Law, 2009
Work Experience
’04-’05 | Cumberland, Coates & Duenow |SLO | Law Clerk
‘05 | Per Bacco Cellars |SLO | Production Intern
’05-’06 | Taste SLO |SLO | Shift Manager
‘07 | District Attorney’s Office |Los Angeles | Legal Intern
’07-’09 | Barrel Malibu Wine Bar |Malibu | Wine and Beer Specialist
’09-Current | Kirk & Simas |Santa Maria | Attorney
’13-Current | Pepperdine University School of Law |Malibu | Adjunct Professor
Industry Volunteer/Service
Vice Chair – SB Vintners & Winery Regulations Committee
Director – La Cuadrilla Foundation
Director – Allan Hancock College Viticulture & Enology Foundation
Wine Law Practices
Counsel to industry stakeholders throughout the state of California, including large and small scale wineries, vineyards, private equity holding companies, opportunity funds, distributors, brokers, custom crush facilities, fulfillment centers, vineyard managers, labor contractors, winemakers, sommeliers, wine industry associations, online retailers, brick and mortar bottles shops, and wine bars.
Particular focus in:
Wine Licensing and Compliance
Operating Entity Selection and Formation
Industry Transactions and Finance
Industry Contracts
Vineyard/Winery Purchase and Sale
Land Use
Succession Planning
Collections
Classes Taught at Cal Poly
WVIT 423 Wine Law and Compliance