Max Anthony So
Max So focuses his practice on corporate and administrative/regulatory matters. He counsels businesses on how to comply with and thrive within federal, state, and local regulatory schemes governing industries such as marketing, online retailing, consumer financial services, and other industries governed by agencies such as the FTC, FDA, ATF, ABC, TTB, and CFPB, among others.
Max has advised national and regional manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of controlled goods such as alcohol, tobacco and nicotine, firearms, medical devices, and consumer financial products on all aspects of regulatory compliance including advertising, marketing, and sales; as well as businesses that face adverse action from administrative agencies. He has also advised on transactions on both proactively identifying and avoiding regulatory obstacles and on responding to agency scrutiny that may hamper the completion of a deal.
Max previously served as a judicial law clerk with the Honorable Judge Eric M. Davis for the Complex Commercial Litigation Division of The Superior Court of Delaware.
Max received his Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he graduated magna cum laude and served as the Vice-President of Fundraising for the Public Interest Law Students Association. Max earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Ursinus College.
- Washington and Lee University School of Law (J.D.), 2020
- Ursinus College (B.A.), 2012
Professional Affiliations
- National Asian Pacific American Bar Association - Member
- Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Virginia - Member
- Richmond Bar Association – Pro Bono Committee to my Professional Affiliations
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia Bar
- Virginia State Bar
Experience
- Assisted restaurants, entertainment venues, breweries and other retailers and manufacturers with obtaining Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC) licenses for novel business types.
- Represented ABC licensees in enforcement actions.
- Analyzed state, local, and foreign regulations on the marketing, import, distribution, and retail sale of tobacco and nicotine products.
- Represented client through all stages of Federal Trade Commission investigation leading to voluntary closing of investigation.
- Advised on marketing campaigns promoted through social media including sweepstakes, contests, and rewards programs.
- Represented nonprofit in promoter deal to host ABC-regulated event, including negotiating terms of Services Agreement.
- Advised online e-commerce platforms and retailers on website terms and conditions, as well as operational compliance.
- Drafted product warnings to comply with regulations and limit manufacturer liability.
- Advised online wholesaler marketplace on compliance with firearms import regulations.
- Provided compliance training to tobacco wholesaler as part of the Compliance Monitor’s duties pursuant to a settlement with the City of New York.
- Advised regional bank on consumer financial product regulations including maximum interest rates and required disclosures for community association lending program.
