Elizabeth A. DeConti - Attorney at Law

Elizabeth A. DeConti Attorney At Law

Elizabeth A. DeConti - Attorney at Law

Regulated Products Deputy Section Chair

elizabeth.deconti@gray-robinson.com

T 813.273.5000
F 813.273.5145
D 813.273.5159
 Tampa 101 East Kennedy Blvd. Suite 4000 Tampa, Florida 33602

Focus

Renowned alcohol beverage and food lawyer representing clients both nationally and internationally. Sought after for core sector strengths in litigation, regulatory compliance, and promotional issues. 

Elizabeth DeConti serves as a trusted advisor to clients in the ever-evolving alcohol beverage and food sectors. For more than 25 years, she has helped clients navigate all aspects of alcohol beverage and food law regulation, licensing, compliance, and promotion. Representing clients in front of state and federal courts and administrative agencies, Elizabeth’s expertise is centered on the rules, regulations, trends, and business best practices governing the marketing, sale, and consumption of malt beverages, wine, distilled spirits, and other regulated products. Her clients include major alcohol suppliers, wholesalers, national chain retailers, marketing companies, and other members of the hospitality industry.

Elizabeth’s litigation work for alcohol and food industry members includes complex commercial disputes, franchise, administrative law, and intellectual property matters. Her sector-specific litigation experience strengthens her ability to create clear, concise, and protective contracts related to advertising, distribution, importation, and related industry issues. In addition to her litigation services, Elizabeth has built a national reputation alongside clients in the area of alcohol-focused advertising and promotions, with a particular expertise in regulatory compliance issues associated with software development and digital and social media. She is a sought after advisor on the intersection of state and federal alcohol regulations and Federal Trade Commission regulations involving sweepstakes, contests, and other games. Elizabeth also manages large-scale liquor license transactions for the firm’s supplier and retailer clients.

A worldly and seasoned advisor, Elizabeth is fluent in French and Italian and advises European clients on international and domestic matters. Her international experience includes negotiation, sale, and purchase of Italian wineries, liaising with Italian law firms on litigation matters pending in Italy and the United States, representation of several German breweries, and advising and counseling foreign entities seeking to export products from Western Europe into the U.S. She frequently teams with GrayRobinson colleagues in the corporate, tax, and intellectual property practices to provide comprehensive advisory services for alcohol beverage and food law clients.

  • Recognition
    • Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award, 2022
    • Best Lawyers in America, Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2019-2024
    • Chambers USA, Food and Beverages: Alcohol, 2011-2017, 2021-2024
    • Florida Trend, Legal Elite, Government and Administrative, 2021
    • Florida Trend, Legal Elite NOTABLE - Women Leaders in Law, 2024
    • AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell

  • Insights
    • “The Mechanics of Interim Management Agreements for Alcohol Beverage & Food Service in Hotel and Restaurant Chain Acquisitions,” The Hospitality Law Conference, October 9, 2024
    • "Guidelines for the Proper Role of Third Party Marketing Companies," The Hospitality Law Conference, April 23, 2024
    • “Crypto, NFT’s, and Alcohol in the Metaverse,” Hospitality Law Conference, May 9, 2023
    • Co-panelist, “Metaverse, NFT’s, & Crypto Revisited,” National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) 30th Annual Legal Symposium, March 15, 2023
    • “National Overview of Server Ages and Function,” Hospitality Lawyer, May 31, 2022
    • “Legal Issues in the Post-COVID World,” Very Important Beverage Executives Conference (VIBE) Conference, 2021
    • “Expanding Businesses Around the Globe with Judith D. Pryor, Board of Directors, EXIM,” Women of the Vine and Spirits Leadership Series C-Suite Insights, April 27, 2021
    • Co-Author, “The Rise of E-sports and the Fall of Illegal Sports Betting: How They are Related and Why it Matters,” GrayRobinson Insights, January 2021
    • “How to Manage the Licensing Process in a Large-Scale Acquisition,” The Virtual Hospitality Law Conference: Quick Service + Fast Casual, February 24, 2021
    • “Which Liquor License is Right?” Southern Beverage Journal, Florida Edition, September 2020
    • “Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew About My Liquor Licensed Premises,” Hospitality Lawyer, August 27, 2020
    • “How Suppliers Can Support Bartenders and Sommeliers Who are in Need of Funds Today,” Women of the Vine and Spirits Live Chat, August 26, 2020
    • “Top Ten Things I Wish I Knew About My Liquor Licensed Premises,” The Virtual Hospitality Law Conference, June 30, 2020
    • Panelist, “Are Hospitality Businesses Ready for State Emergency Orders to be Lifted?,” COVID-19 Conversations Webinar Series, June 10, 2020
    • “Transfer of Property Needing Continuous Operation,” 32nd Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, May 14, 2020
    • “Top Ten Things I Wish I Knew About My Liquor Licensed Premises,” The Hospitality Law Conference: Series 2.0, April 22, 2020
    • “Lending a Helping Hand – What Distilleries Should Know in Order to Legally and Responsibly Produce Hand Sanitizer,” Women of the Vine and Spirits Webinar, April 9, 2020
    • “Extensions of Credit and Product Returns During the COVID-19 Crisis,” Women of the Vine and Spirits Webinar, April 2, 2020
    • “COVID-19’s Impact on Extensions of Credit and Returns in the Alcohol Beverage Industry,” Hospitality Lawyer, March 28, 2020
    • “Alcohol Advertising In Digital Media,” Women of the Vine and Spirits Webinar, February 4, 2020
    • “Unforeseeable Consequences: What’s Your Liability?” Southern Beverage Journal, Florida Edition, October 2019
    • “Compliance Update: TTB Enforcement and Related Matters,” HospitalityLawyer.com, October 2019
    • “Product Liability and Tainted Product,” National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) 26th Annual Legal Symposium, March 18, 2019
    • “Trade Practice Compliance in an Active Enforcement Climate,” Very Important Beverage Executives Conference (VIBE), February 26, 2019
    • “Liquor Licensing for Hotel and Restaurant Acquisitions,” Hospitality Law Conference, October 3, 2018
    • Panelist: “How Alcohol Beverage Companies Stand Out in 2018: Digital Brand Promotion Challenges Within the Regulatory Framework”, Federal Bar Association Annual Meeting and Convention, September 13, 2018
    • “Alcohol Advertising in the Digital Age,” Hospitality Law Conference, April 12, 2018
    • “Engaging Guests Through Online Sweepstakes,” Hospitality Law Conference, January 11, 2018
    • “The Future of Sports Gambling in the Hospitality Industry,” Hotel Executive, December 2018

  • Affiliations
    • Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys
    • American Bar Association
    • The Connecticut Bar
    • Federal Bar Association
    • Hillsborough County Bar Association
    • Women of the Vine and Spirits
    • Sacred Heart Church, Parishioner
    • United States Tennis Association (“USTA”) Florida Section Foundation, President
    • Yale Club of Tampa Bay, President, 2017-2019
    • Yale Class of 1993, Co-President, 2018-2023

  • Credentials
    • J.D., University of Miami School of Law, 1996, cum laude
      • Harvey T. Reid Scholar
    • B.A., Yale University, 1993, cum laude, with Distinction

  • Admissions
    • Connecticut
    • Florida
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
    • U.S. District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida
    • U.S. Supreme Court 

  • Languages
    • Italian
    • French