Photo of Chris Hermann

Chris Hermann is the founding chair of Stoel Rives' Brewery, Winery, and Distillery group and a former co-chair of the firm's Beverage and Hospitality group. He has worked with Northwest breweries, wineries, vineyards, and distilleries for many years. Chris has particular experience with transactions involving the purchase, sale, and LLC formation of breweries, wineries, vineyards, and distilleries, preparing and prosecuting trademark applications, obtaining water rights and land use permits and approvals, advising owners on employment and termination agreements, and drafting and negotiating grape purchase contracts, vineyard leases and custom crush, joint proprietorship, vineyard development and maintenance, and bottling and distribution agreements. Since 2013, Chris has been listed by Chambers USA as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" (Nationwide) in the Food & Beverages: Alcohol practice area.

Click here for Chris Hermann's full bio.

This post was guest authored by Stoel Rives summer associate Nina Neff.

Because of the increasing frequency of significant, often multimillion-dollar, environmental claims against businesses and individuals under environmental statutes such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, it is important for any potentially liable entity to fully explore how the costs may be shifted in whole or in part to others. Washington insurance law has traditionally been highly favorable to policyholders, broadly interpreting the insurer’s duty to defend so that remedial investigation costs are covered under the insurer’s duty to defend. Washington’s law has had important benefits for individuals and public and private entities, who without insurance coverage may be bankrupted by cleanup liability, and has also benefited taxpayers and the general public by promoting prompt cleanups.
Continue Reading Could voluntarily performing environmental cleanup threaten insurance coverage?