Farris was pleased to host the 2025 AIDV Wine Law Conference at our Vancouver office on June 12^th. The conference brought together leading voices in the wine industry, covering trends in trade, regulation, business and tourism outlooks, public health, and wine culture in both the Canadian and international contexts. Farris lawyer, Megan O’Neill, who sits on the Canadian Board of Directors of AIDV, chaired a panel discussion on internal and international barriers to wine trade, featuring Jeff Guignard, the newly appointed CEO of Wine Growers British Columbia. Other highlights of this year’s conference included a presentation by Adam Beak, Head of BMO’s Wine & Spirits Division, speaking to the findings of BMO’s second annual Wine Market. David Hume, Deputy Minister and General Manager of the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch and Erin McEwen, Assistant Deputy Minister and Chief Administrative Officer of the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, also presented on recent regulatory developments impacting the sector.

Al Hudec is a prominent legal advisor to the BC wine industry, who handles purchase and sale transactions and regulatory matters. With 40 years of experience, he is an expert in M&A, corporate governance, and securities, focusing on North American resource industries and cross-border transactions, including commercial transactions involving Indigenous peoples.

Megan is a solicitor in Farris’ Corporate Commercial group. She practices in a wide range of areas and specializes in the liquor and hospitality industries. Her practice is driven through a genuine passion for the wine industry and a commitment to helping clients thrive in a heavily regulated space.