Monthly Feature: Get to Know... Jennifer Tsyn
April 1, 2020
Jennifer Tsyn knows a lot about beer and wine. The business end of it, that is. Her diverse law practice includes, among other things, a niche in liquor licensing. Jennifer has represented hotels, restaurants, sports and performing arts arenas, colleges and universities, bars and other businesses in obtaining liquor licenses and permits. She provides valuable counsel to the entrepreneurs launching breweries, wineries and other craft endeavors. She also advises her clients on corporate matters, real estate matters, mergers and acquisitions, and commercial lending matters.
“There’s been a huge rise in craft manufacturing and entrepreneurial endeavors. I do a significant amount of liquor licensing work for the manufacturers as well as for the retail and hospitality sectors, all of which have significant federal and state regulations.
“Quite a bit of what I do is to help entrepreneurs set up and make changes as they grow, such as introduce a new product and bring in new investors. How do you structure a transaction when you have a liquor license? What do you have to tell the regulatory agencies? What are the rules? Common matters include clients wanting to transition beyond a one person enterprise. They’re looking for ways to have a life outside their business by bringing on more help, for example, or are planning to bring their children or other family members into the business.”
An undergraduate degree in psychology helps Jennifer understand her clients’ objectives and tactfully guide them along the best path to reach their goals. “Any practice that deals with regulatory issues requires both patience and experience to help the client get through what can be a daunting, frustrating process. Many of New York’s rules are antiquated, dating from the end of Prohibition and just don’t fit the way things are done today. The New York State Liquor Authority is facing a huge backlog, in part because of the growth of the industry and in part because of the lack of adequate staff to keep up with demand. It’s tough for startups of any type and when you can’t sell alcohol it’s a huge loss, as alcohol is a big revenue driver for restaurants and other businesses. I do everything that I can to move the process along, which requires doing everything right the first time.”
She joined Bond right out of law school. “I knew that I didn’t want to be a litigator, or do family or criminal work, so I appreciated being able to rotate through the different practice areas at Bond, which helped me find my niche. I like that my work has me tackling different issues every day.” She’s also found Bond to be a good place as a working mom, offering the flexibility to do her best on and off the job.
Outside of her work with Bond, Jennifer dedicates her time to her family—her husband, 14-year old daughter and their two dogs. Jennifer and her daughter volunteer together at their local humane society.
Jennifer is the first lawyer in her family; her mother is a nurse, and her father is a police officer. When Jennifer first informed them of her plan to go to law school, her parents’ good natured reaction, based on their history of debating with her was, “We’ve been telling you for years that you should be a lawyer.”
