Jennifer Morgan practices in regulatory and administrative law. She focuses her practice in alcoholic beverage distribution and regulation and regularly represents suppliers, importers, wineries, breweries, distilleries, brokers, wholesalers and retail permittees before the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) Commission, including matters involving supplier-wholesaler relationships; beer and wine distribution agreements; brand distribution disputes; distribution and sub-distribution contracts; trade practice investigations; requests for exemption; and compliance proceedings. Jennifer assists and advises clients in obtaining ABC permits and represents clients in drafting distribution agreements, sub-distribution agreements, franchise agreements, alternating proprietorships and other contracts. She assists and advises clients in obtaining permits, drafting agreements and advertising for beer and wine festivals in North Carolina. She also assists clients with questions regarding advertising, labeling and other trade practice matters involving alcoholic beverages.
She is a contributing author to Williams Mullen's Alcoholic Beverage Law Blog.
Jennifer Morgan practices in regulatory and administrative law. She focuses her practice in alcoholic beverage distribution and regulation and regularly represents suppliers, importers, wineries, breweries, distilleries, brokers, wholesalers and retail permittees before the North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control (“ABC”) Commission, including matters involving supplier-wholesaler relationships; beer and wine distribution agreements; brand distribution disputes; distribution and sub-distribution contracts; trade practice investigations; requests for exemption; and compliance proceedings. Jennifer assists and advises clients in obtaining ABC permits and represents clients in drafting distribution agreements, sub-distribution agreements, franchise agreements, alternating proprietorships and other contracts. She assists and advises clients in obtaining permits, drafting agreements and advertising for beer and wine festivals in North Carolina. She assists clients with questions regarding advertising, labeling and other trade practice matters involving alcoholic beverages.
Jennifer also advises clients on utilities law and the representation of businesses and municipalities in various regulatory proceedings before the North Carolina Utilities Commission, including matters involving applications for and transfers of Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity; applications for rate increases; and renewable energy, including representation of solar power producers in rulemaking proceedings, representation of wastewater and sewer utilities in regulatory compliance matters and representation of municipalities involving public utility issues.
Clients include commercial real estate developers, property owners, homeowners associations, manufacturers, banks, utilities and municipalities. Representative cases include the representation of a solar power producer in a rulemaking proceeding implementing new North Carolina renewable energy laws; the representation of a municipality before the North Carolina Utilities Commission and in appellate litigation involving the siting of electric transmission lines; the representation of a wastewater sewer utility in an abandonment proceeding before the North Carolina Utilities Commission; and the representation of a utility regarding the applicability of renewable energy credits.
Jennifer is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Administrative/Regulatory Law (2019-present), and she has been listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers for Administrative Law (2013-present) and in Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite” Young Guns (under 40) section (2018-present). In 2018, the Triangle Business Journal named her to its annual "40 Under 40" list.
Jennifer is licensed to practice in North Carolina. She has served as chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Administrative Law Section; is a past secretary of the Wake County Bar Association and the Tenth Judicial District Bar; and is a past president of the Wake County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.
Jennifer earned her Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from North Carolina State University, where she was a Park Scholar and was elected Student Body Chief Justice. She earned her law degree with honors from Campbell University, where she was a merit scholarship recipient. In law school, she was selected as a comments editor of the Campbell Law Review, was a member of the National Trial Team for two years and served as a student law clerk to the Honorable Alan Thornburg at the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Representative Experience
ABC Regulation
- Represented winery in a precedential case involving the North Carolina Wine Distribution Agreements Act over a winery’s primary American source rights to a wine brand.
- Represented suppliers in investigations by the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the North Carolina ABC Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding suppliers’ activities with local ABC boards in North Carolina.
- Represented numerous wineries and wholesalers in disputes relating to termination of distribution agreements and/or dual designation of territories.
- Represented a supplier in connection with the termination of a distributor.
- Represented wineries and wholesalers in disputes involving the North Carolina Wine Distribution Agreements Act.
- Represented breweries and wholesalers in disputes involving the North Carolina Beer Franchise Law.
- Represented suppliers and wholesalers regarding terminations, cancellations, and non-renewals of distribution agreements.
- Represented suppliers and wholesalers regarding drafting and modifications of distribution agreements.
- Represented numerous wineries, wholesalers and retailers in obtaining ABC permits.
- Advised North Carolina wholesaler on issues involving the transfer of wine business under North Carolina Wine Distribution Agreements Act.
- Advised suppliers and wholesalers regarding asset purchase agreements and statutory approvals and objections to transfers of business.
- Represented brewery/restaurant in exemption request from tied house statutes and regulations.
- Represented winery in exemption request from tied house statutes and cooperative advertising regulations.
- Represented winery in obtaining licensure approvals, labeling approvals and brand registration reports.
- Reviewed statutory language for proposed changes to the North Carolina Wine Distribution Agreements Act.
Utilities Regulation
- Represented utilities, businesses and municipalities in various regulatory proceedings before the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
- Represented municipality in Superior Court and appellate litigation before the North Carolina Court of Appeals involving electric transmission lines dispute.
- Represented business in regulatory proceedings at the North Carolina Utilities Commission over ownership of wastewater pump station.
- Represented wastewater sewer utility in abandonment proceeding before the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
- Advised utility regarding renewable energy credits and matters involving renewable energy for a declaratory ruling request.
- Advised various utilities, businesses and municipalities in matters related to statutory and regulatory compliance.
Representative Experience
ABC Regulation
- Represented winery in a precedential case involving the North Carolina Wine Distribution Agreements Act over a winery’s primary American source rights to a wine brand.
- Represented suppliers in investigations by the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the North Carolina ABC Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding suppliers’ activities with local ABC boards in North Carolina.
- Represented numerous wineries and wholesalers in disputes relating to termination of distribution agreements and/or dual designation of territories.
- Represented a supplier in connection with the termination of a distributor.
- Represented wineries and wholesalers in disputes involving the North Carolina Wine Distribution Agreements Act.
- Represented breweries and wholesalers in disputes involving the North Carolina Beer Franchise Law.
- Represented suppliers and wholesalers regarding terminations, cancellations, and non-renewals of distribution agreements.
- Represented suppliers and wholesalers regarding drafting and modifications of distribution agreements.
- Represented numerous wineries, wholesalers and retailers in obtaining ABC permits.
- Advised North Carolina wholesaler on issues involving the transfer of wine business under North Carolina Wine Distribution Agreements Act.
- Advised suppliers and wholesalers regarding asset purchase agreements and statutory approvals and objections to transfers of business.
- Represented brewery/restaurant in exemption request from tied house statutes and regulations.
- Represented winery in exemption request from tied house statutes and cooperative advertising regulations.
- Represented winery in obtaining licensure approvals, labeling approvals and brand registration reports.
- Reviewed statutory language for proposed changes to the North Carolina Wine Distribution Agreements Act.
Utilities Regulation
- Represented utilities, businesses and municipalities in various regulatory proceedings before the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
- Represented municipality in Superior Court and appellate litigation before the North Carolina Court of Appeals involving electric transmission lines dispute.
- Represented business in regulatory proceedings at the North Carolina Utilities Commission over ownership of wastewater pump station.
- Represented wastewater sewer utility in abandonment proceeding before the North Carolina Utilities Commission.
- Advised utility regarding renewable energy credits and matters involving renewable energy for a declaratory ruling request.
- Advised various utilities, businesses and municipalities in matters related to statutory and regulatory compliance.
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08.17.2023
131 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2024 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®
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08.15.2023
Jennifer Morgan Discusses Pending North Carolina ABC Legislation on 919 Vice Podcast
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04.13.2023
Williams Mullen Represent C-Store Franchise in Sale to PMG
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01.18.2023
15 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2023 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden and Kapp Named to Top List
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08.18.2022
123 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2023 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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07.08.2022
Modernization of N.C. Alcohol Laws During 2022 Legislative Short Session
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01.18.2022
16 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2022 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Johnson, Kapp and Scott Named to Top List
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08.23.2021
124 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2022 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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08.12.2021
Proposed North Carolina Common Area Entertainment Permit Rules
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01.14.2021
17 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2021 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Camden, Kapp, Scott and Johnson Named to Top Lists
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12.10.2020
Governor Cooper Issues "Modified Stay at Home" Order Effective December 11th
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09.25.2020
Proposed North Carolina “Come to Rest” Rules
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08.20.2020
116 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2021 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©; Most Total Lawyers in Virginia
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02.03.2020
Williams Mullen Announces Election of Seven New Partners - Feb, 2020
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01.02.2020
13 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2020 ‘Legal Elite’
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08.15.2019
119 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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08.07.2019
North Carolina Distillery and ABC Modernization Bill Signed into Law
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04.15.2019
25 Proposed Changes to N.C. ABC Laws Brewing in 2019
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02.05.2019
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers List; Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Scott Named to Top Lists
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01.02.2019
13 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2019 ‘Legal Elite’; Keith Kapp and Elizabeth Scott Inducted Into Hall of Fame
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08.15.2018
110 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in Latest Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
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08.13.2018
N.C. Utilities Commission Extends Tranche 1 CPRE RFP Deadline; Schedules Interconnection Standard Hearing
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06.29.2018
Jennifer Morgan Named to Triangle Business Journal's 2018 "40 Under 40" List
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06.28.2018
North Carolina Utilities Commission Approves Duke Energy’s Pro Forma PPA for Tranche 1 CPRE RFP Solicitation
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06.19.2018
What’s Brewing – 2018 Changes to North Carolina ABC Laws
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04.24.2018
Gene Chianelli and Jennifer Morgan: Tax Reform Act Lowering Hospitality Industry's Alcohol Costs
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04.18.2018
Duke Energy CPRE Program – Tranche 1 RFP Solicitation Update
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02.28.2018
Duke Energy’s CPRE Program Approved (with Modifications) for First Solicitation under H.B. 589
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01.25.2018
9 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers for 2018; 3 Included in Rising Stars List
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01.05.2018
Carolina Journal Quotes Recent ABC Law Blog Post On Tax Changes in Article on North Carolina Craft Alcohol Producers
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01.03.2018
11 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Business North Carolina’s 2018 ‘Legal Elite’
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12.28.2017
New Tax Bill Includes Significant Changes to Federal Alcohol Excise Taxes
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10.10.2017
North Carolina Passes Senate Bill 155 To Make Various Changes to Alcoholic Beverage Laws
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04.06.2017
Economic and Job Growth for NC Distilleries – House Bill 460 / Senate Bill 155
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04.06.2017
North Carolina ABC Omnibus Legislation – House Bill 500
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04.05.2017
Other North Carolina Alcohol Bills
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02.01.2017
10 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to the 2017 North Carolina Super Lawyers List
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07.06.2016
North Carolina Legislature Adjourns for 2016 with No Major Changes to ABC Laws
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06.09.2016
Proposed New North Carolina Law Would Allow Distilleries to Sell Direct to Consumers Outside the State at the Distiller’s Price
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06.08.2016
New Law Allows North Carolina Wine Shippers To File Excise Tax Reports Annually Rather Than Monthly
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06.08.2016
Proposed New North Carolina Law Would Modify Annual Permit Registration Fees for Beer and Wine
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05.26.2016
Jennifer Morgan Participates on Panel at ABC Town Hall
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04.19.2016
North Carolina ABC Commission To Hold Meetings to Discuss Rule Revisions
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06.25.2015
NC ABC Law Changes, How Will This Impact Your Business?
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03.02.2015
NC Bills To Allow Direct Sales by Distilleries and Expansion of Liquor Products to Festivals and Trade Shows
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01.21.2015
Williams Mullen North Carolina Attorneys Named 2015 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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09.25.2014
North Carolina ABC Legislative Wrap-Up 2014
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01.31.2014
Williams Mullen North Carolina Attorneys Named 2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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06.18.2013
Growler Sales Now Permitted in North Carolina
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05.17.2013
Proposed Legislation to Expand Growler Sales in North Carolina