John is a founding partner (1991) of Hinman & Carmichael, LLP. John has been advising and representing alcoholic beverage industry clients (producer, importer, wholesaler and retail) since 1984 in all phases of industry regulation, including trade practice, distribution and importation, product fulfillment, retail licensing and production. John is a specialist in alcohol regulation in California, and throughout the United States, is a regular speaker and panelist at alcoholic beverage industry conferences throughout the US and has provided testimony in legislative and administrative proceedings in California, New York, New Jersey and Tennessee.  John represent clients before the TTB, the California ABC and the counterpart agencies of other states. 

John is also a seasoned administrative hearing practitioner who has defended over 200 administrative accusations and hearings (both TTB and ABC) during the last 25 plus years and has taken industry cases as far as the California Supreme Court.  The subject matter of the cases include sales to minors (including aggravated cases, and second and third strike cases), disorderly houses and law enforcement problem premises, entertainment violations and First Amendment cases, tied house violations, protests of new on-sale and off-sale licenses and violation of condition cases.