Derek is a leader in Alcoholic Beverage Law, Real Estate Development, and Zoning and Land Use. He has extensive experience with craft breweries ranging in size from small startups to those with international distribution. His practice includes representation of craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries in a wide range of permitting, regulatory, and trade issues.
Additionally, Derek has experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including depositions, hearings, mediations, arbitrations, jury trials, and appeals. He advises clients and litigates cases involving all forms of commercial, business, development, and real property disputes in state and federal courts. He has litigated numerous matters concerning land use issues at the trial and appellate levels. Derek also has experience litigating corporate and partnership disputes before the North Carolina Business Court. He routinely appears in front of city and county governmental bodies.
Derek also works with other regulated industries, including the hemp and CBD markets, both in North Carolina and beyond. He regularly partners with hemp farmers, processors, extractors, product manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, and retailers to address their unique legal needs. Derek also assists indirect industry participants, including brokers, consultants, marketing agencies, lenders and financial institutions, and other suppliers and vendors in this quickly changing market space.
AWARDS:
• AV® Preeminent Rated since 2010
• "Lawyer of the Year," Best Lawyers, 2015, 2020
• The Best Lawyers in America, 2010-2022
• "Super Lawyer," North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2010-2011, 2019-2021
• "Rising Star," North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2009-2011
• The Business Journal of the Triad, 40 Leaders Under Forty Award, 2005
• "Legal Elite," Business North Carolina, Young Guns 2007-2008, Real Estate 2010-2013, Litigation 2022
ARTICLES:
• Mountain Xpress, "Brewery Attorney Derek Allen considers Asheville's beverage industry in 2019," December 31, 2019
PODCASTS:
• Craft Beer Professionals, "Rapid Fire Legal," March 7, 2022
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:
• North Carolina State Bar
• Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Leadership Asheville Alumnus, Class XXIX
• Asheville Brewers Alliance , Board Member
• Asheville Buncombe Regional Sports Commission, Board Member 2012-2018
• Buncombe Bar
• Brewers Association Associate Member
• Community Associations Institute
• Diana Wortham Theatre, President 2019, Member, Board of Directors
• LEAF, President 2018-2019, Member, Board of Directors
• North Carolina Bar Association
• Committee: Arts, Entertainment & Sports Law Committee, Former Chair
• Sections: Litigation; Zoning, Planning and Land Use, Former Council Member
• North Carolina Craft Museum, Board Member
• North Carolina Creditors Bar Association
• North Carolina Economic Developers Association
• The University of North Carolina at Asheville Foundation Board, Member, Executive Committee
• United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, Member, Board of Directors
• Western North Carolina Green Building Council, Board Membe
