GrayRobinson Welcomes Alcohol Industry Veteran Regulator David Bateman

Bateman brings more than 40 years of federal alcohol regulatory service and experience to GR’s national Alcohol Industry Team.

MIAMI, FL – Jan. 23, 2014 – GrayRobinson , P.A. welcomes veteran alcohol industry regulator David Bateman  as the newest member of the firm’s national  Alcohol Industry Team. Bateman brings more than four decades of federal regulatory service and experience with him during a time of growth and expansion for the firm’s alcohol practice. Bateman possesses a wealth of institutional knowledge from his work with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), where he was the federal government's authority on distilled spirits matters for the past decade and was also a certified fraud examiner.

"With the recent regulatory interest in spirits and the increasing demand from our new and existing clients, hiring an experienced and well-respected voice in the regulatory circuit was an easy decision," said GrayRobinson President and Managing Director  Byrd F. "Biff" Marshall, Jr. "His extensive industry knowledge will be an invaluable asset to the firm and its clients."

Bateman began his career in 1974 when he joined the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he became familiar with operations at Schlitz, Pabst and Miller Brewing Company. He later served as a special inspector in Kansas City, Missouri where he devoted much of his time to investigating potential violations of the Federal Alcohol Administration (FAA) Act, and as a special operations inspector where he led several key investigations in the fields of FAA, Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collections and diversion of alcohol and tobacco products.

In 2001, as ATF transitioned into the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Bateman was appointed as TTB’s Distilled Spirits Industry Analyst, advising the agency, state and local governments in any and all matters relating to distilled spirits. He was also the agency’s point person responsible for maintaining contact with all phases of spirits-related regulatory activity, assisting in preparation of proposed legislation, identifying industry changes, assessing trends and current statistical results, and providing efficiency of service through attendance at seminars and industry meetings. Bateman served in that capacity for more than ten years before retiring from public service in December of 2011.

Bateman will be the latest addition to a team of over 20 lawyers, former regulators and licensing specialists who focus their professional skills on serving the legal and compliance needs of alcohol industry members throughout North America.

"Dave enjoys a stellar reputation among regulators and industry members alike," said Richard M. Blau, head of GrayRobinson’s Alcohol Industry Team. "Within TTB, Dave was the go-to guy for spirits issues for over a decade. The private sector respects Dave’s 40-plus years of federal regulatory experience, as well as his extensive institutional knowledge and strong professional relationships. Dave will be a tremendous addition to what is already a deep bench of professionals comprising GrayRobinson’s national Alcohol Industry Team." 

GrayRobinson also announced that two of its consultants, Tony Haynes and Tom Busey, were leaving the firm to pursue other opportunities. In announcing their departure, firm managing director Biff Marshall noted that "both Tony and Tom were longtime members of our Alcohol Industry Team, and we wish them well."