B.A. Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley

J.D. Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley Executive Editor, Technology Law Journal

Joined Firm: 2004

Practice Areas: Business Law, Wine Law, Real Estate, Employment, Litigation, and Writs and Appeals.

"I believe there are two kinds of attorneys; those who create problems and those who solve problems. I am in the business of solving problems. I cannot do that without being absolutely frank and honest with my clients."

Lloyd Llewelyn's attitude about the practice of law, his experience and his practice place him among the preeminent business attorneys in the Napa Valley.

Lloyd graduated with honors from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. He then earned his J.D. from the Boalt Hall School of Law at Berkeley. Lloyd began his practice in 2001, working with the appellate, intellectual property litigation and commercial litigation groups in the San Francisco office of one of the largest law firms in the world. There, Lloyd gained invaluable experience representing local and multi-national corporations alike in complex litigation involving claims in the millions of dollars.

With that experience, Lloyd joined Coombs & Dunlap in 2004 where he applies his skills in civil litigation to the disputes of the Napa Valley. His litigation experience includes a wide range of cases involving: complex vineyard lease and real property purchase contract disputes; real property partition, boundary and easement disputes; trademark infringement and trade secret misappropriation; vineyard-product defect; tort defense; and continued appellate work.

As Lloyd has gained the trust of Napa Valley business owners, they have turned to him for help with their non-litigation corporate matters as well. From these experiences, Lloyd has developed a significant corporate transactional practice. He currently serves as General Counsel for a Napa winery with annual revenues of in excess of $6,000,000. Lloyd’s biology degree makes him particularly well-suited to understand the nuances of grape growing and winemaking – something that is difficult for most people outside of the wine business to understand. Lloyd's experience spans the breadth of Napa Valley winery and corporate legal affairs and includes:

• Corporate and Limited Liability Company formation, counseling on corporate formalities, and the winding down and dissolution of corporate entities;
• California ABC and U.S. TTB regulatory compliance across the licensing spectrum: winery; restaurant; distilled spirits plants; and, 50-state and international export;
• Negotiating and drafting complex contracts including commercial and vineyard lease agreements, vendor agreements, services provision contracts, and product sales and distribution agreements;
• Trademark registration, and trademark and trade secret protection counseling;
• Auditing corporate insurance needs and reviewing commercial insurance policies; and
• Employment matters.

In addition to winery clients, Lloyd counsels corporate clients engaged in all areas of business in the Napa Valley including winery vendors and service providers, vineyard owners and management companies, food service and hospitality companies, and software and internet service providers.

Outside of the practicing law, Lloyd enjoys spending time with his family, preparing and eating food and playing music. He is the drummer in the critically-acclaimed rock duo Lloyd's Garage, and a budding jazz pianist.