Jessica M. Brown

Jessica M. "Jessie" Brown is a seasoned attorney with nationally recognized experience in food and beverage litigation, alcohol beverage regulatory compliance and Alaska regulatory and litigation matters. With a client base ranging from startups to multinational brands, she is a trusted advisor and go-to resource for companies navigating complex retail licensing and consumer protection defense. She acts as transactional counsel for mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and divestitures of retail operations and licenses – including highly regulated products such as alcohol, tobacco, gaming, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program California/Electronic Benefits Transfer (SNAP/EBT) and lottery – and represents those clients in agency reporting, promotional and advertising compliance, and defense against enforcement actions and consumer litigation threats, including Proposition 65, California's Unfair Competition Law (UCL), Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), False Advertising Law (FAL) and New York's General Business Law (GBL). Her industry acumen is reflected in her work with leading convenience store and gas station chains, where she has grown relationships from one-off licensing projects to long-term strategic counsel. She also has significant experience in tequila compliance in Mexico and the U.S., as well as defending tequila manufacturers, importers and retailers in litigation.

Ms. Brown is also the firm's sole Alaska-licensed attorney, serving Alaska Native Corporations, Tribes, mining companies, cruise lines, retail chains and adventure lodges. In addition to alcohol beverage advice, she provides wrap-around counsel to these clients on Alaska-specific state and local matters, as well as federal agency interface on federally funded projects, projects spanning federal lands or federally licensed matters specific to Alaska. She is well versed in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), and has significant experience in telecommunications infrastructure projects in Alaska.

Beyond her billable work, Ms. Brown is an active leader in the firm's pro bono projects, community service work, Food & Beverage Litigation Team and Women's Initiative. She has authored influential industry blog content, led pro bono rulemaking efforts for the Alaska Bar and graded the Alaska Bar exam every year for a decade. As a mother of two and a breast cancer survivor, Ms. Brown brings resilience, empathy and strategic vision to her practice and leadership. She delivers results for clients while fostering a collaborative, inclusive culture.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Ms. Brown served as a judicial clerk for the Alaska Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. While in law school, she was a Supreme Court of California judicial intern and served in the French-speaking appellate chamber of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.