Marbet Lewis is a Partner in the Miami office of Shutts & Bowen LLP, where she is Co-Chair of the Alcohol & Regulated Industries Practice Group.
Since 2004, Marbet has focused her practice on the laws governing the alcohol industry and the manufacture, importation and sale of alcohol beverage products. She represents clients in all aspects of alcohol and business licensing; alcohol licensee mergers and acquisitions; negotiation of asset purchase agreements and required alcohol use provisions; license transfers and licensing due diligence; trade practices; alcohol product advertising; and regulatory compliance guidance. Marbet’s experience also includes enforcement action defense and administrative litigation; zoning and land use due diligence and approval processes; and state and local government regulatory compliance, which includes drafting municipal code ordinances and amendments as well as assisting with redistricting and development of entertainment overlay districts.
Additionally, Marbet assists clients with business permitting, including obtaining business tax receipts, building permitting, certificates of use and occupancy and other related operational permits. She represents various entertainment, hospitality, and alcohol industry clients during the zoning approval process, including representation before zoning boards for approval of variances, special exceptions and use of nonconformity issues, as well as representation for zoning appeals cases. She has assisted with transfer of business and operational permits required as part of large asset acquisition transactions and merger of national retailers including hotels and entertainment venues.
Marbet works with domestic and foreign suppliers, wholesalers, manufacturers and a broad range of retailers, including nightclubs, bars, movie theater operators, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and pharmacy chains.
Credentials
Education
- Thomas University School of Law, J.D., cum laude
- Florida International University, B.A., Political Science, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Florida
Languages
- Spanish
Professional and Civic
- Cuban American Bar Association (CABA), Member
- National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA), Member
- National Association of Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Attorneys (NAABLA), Member
- National Association of Licensing & Compliance Professionals (NALCP), Member
- National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA), Member
- The Florida Bar, Administrative Law Section, Member
- The Florida Bar, City, County, and Local Government, Member
- Women of Vine & Spirits, Brand Ambassador
News & Insights
Presentations
- Panel Moderator, “AI Revolution: What are the Regulatory Implications of Creating a ‘Smart’ Alcohol Beverage Industry?”, National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA), June 18, 2024
- Featured Speaker, "Episode 86 with Marbet Lewis," Bar Hacks Podcast, December 15, 2022
- Panel Moderator, “Trending Topics on Breaking Barriers to Industry Recovery,” National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals (NALCP) Conference, September 23, 2022
- Speaker, "WOTVS Live Chat: Social Media 101: Learn about the Do’s and Don’ts of Advertising Alcohol Products on Social Media and Email Marketing," Women of the Vine & Spirits, August 16, 2022
- Speaker, "Working Parents & Work-Life Balance," Women of the Vine & Spirits, July 13, 2022
- Presenter, "NCSLA 2022 Annual Virtual Conference, Session #5: Mystery Marketplace -- The Variations of U.S. Alc.," NCSLA, June 2022
- Speaker, "Alcohol Beverage Law 2022: Specific Alcohol Industry Issues and Trends," Practising Law Institute (IPL), May 2022
- Host, "Working Mothers Group Live Chat," Women of the Vine & Spirits, July 15, 2021
- Speaker, "Breaking Barriers: DE&I Leadership Series - CM Only," Women of the Vine & Spirits, June 16, 2021
- Hosted the Working Mother’s Networking Lounge During the Women of the Vine & Spirits CONNECT event, March 8, 2021
- Interviewed Marilee Kicks, Owner/Founder of BuzzBallz during a "C-Suite Insights Live Chat", Hosted by Women of the Vine & Spirits, March 2, 2021
- Featured Guest at the St. Thomas University Law School Dean's Virtual Honors Ceremony, February 9, 2021
- Hosted Webinar on "A COVID-19 Time Capsule: Emergency Order Impacts on the Alcohol Industry," Women of the Vine & Spirits, December 1, 2020
- Radio Interview on "Spiritus Law’s Expertise in the Hospitality and Entertainment Industries," BizTalk Radio, October 23, 2020
- TV Interview on Segment Titled "Miami-Dade Restaurant Owners Prepare For Indoor Dining Restrictions," CBS4 News Miami, July 8, 2020
- TV Interview on Segment Titled "Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez to Close Restaurant Dining Rooms; Delivery & Takeout Still Allowed," Channel 7 News Miami, July 6, 2020
- TV Interview on Segment Titled "Restaurants Reopening During Pandemic Have To Walk A Fine Line," CBS4 News Miami, June 23, 2020
- Live TV Interview on Segment Titled "Coronavirus Interview: Food & Beverage Attorney Marbet Lewis," CBS4 News Miami, May 14, 2020
- Presentation on "Social Media Alcohol Advertising Compliance & Best Practices," Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, May 12, 2020
- Presentation on “Let’s Get Social! Compliance & Best Practice Tips for Marketing Alcohol on Social Media,” Women of the Vine & Spirits, December 10, 2019
- Panelist, NCSLA Northern/Southern 2019 Regional Conference, October 21, 2019
- Presentation on “Tiny but Mighty! Standing out in the Legal Crowd & Adding Value to Your Services,” St. Thomas Law School’s Solo & Small Firm Practice Program CLE Series, September 19, 2019
- Presentation of “Fostering Diversity & Inclusion Award” to Martin Voke - Vice President/Deputy General Counsel/Assistant Secretary for Bacardi North America, 3rd Annual CEO & General Counsel Gala, April 15, 2019
- Presentation on “Control from a Different Angle,” NCSLA, Northern/Southern Regional Conference, 2014
- Presentation on “The Do’s and Don’ts of Mixing Movies and Mixology,” National Association of Concessionaires Show East Conference, October 21-24, 2013
- Presentation on “Be in Control! Don’t Let Your Alcohol Retail Business Control You,” Atlantic City Nightclub & Bar Convention, October 2008
- Presentation on “Party On! How to Keep Your Party Profitable, Safe and Legal,” Nightclub & Bar Beverage Retailer, October 9-11, 2006
Publications
- Quoted, 3 Big Picture Trends Set to Drive Business in 2023, CO, March 28, 2023
- Q&A, "The Widening Reach of AI", Craft Spirits Magazine March/April Issue, March 22, 2023
- Quoted, "SunnyD Unveils Alcohol Version" CSP, March 20, 2023
- Authored, "Article 4: Social Media Advertising Guidelines Create a Web of Prohibited Practices" PLI Chronicle, February 22, 2023
- Quoted, "Why a Luxe S.F. Retirement Community is Using Robots to Serve Dinner" San Francisco Chronicle, February 14, 2023
- Quoted, "How the new generation of AI will impact the restaurant industry," Nation's Restaurant News, February 9, 2023
- Quoted, "Different Strokes: Amid Changing Tastes, Innovation is One Way Out of the Rough for Golf in Florida," Florida Trend Magazine, February 3, 2023
- Quoted, "Offering Beer, Wine and Liquor To-Go," Pizza Today, February 1, 2023
- Quoted, " "Distressed Deals, QSR Buys May Drive 2023 Restaurant M&A," Restaurant Dive Magazine, January 4, 2023
- “Increased Demand and Limited Supply: Ongoing Supply Chain Disruptions in Alcohol Production, Distribution, and Retail Industries Add to Inflation Stress,” PLI Chronicle, August 24, 2022
- Quoted, “Developers Are Upping Their Game on Amenities to Stay Competitive in South Florida,” Daily Business Review, July 18, 2022
- Quoted, “Florida Boutique Rejects Seniority in Favor of Merit-Based Pay,” Law360 Pulse, June 15, 2022
- Quoted, “This Law Firm is Ditching Partner and Associate Titles. Will it Improve Team Culture?" Daily Business Review, July 11, 2022
- Quoted, “How 6 Months of Client Nonpayment Made Spiritus Law Better,” Daily Business Review, April 14, 2022
- Quoted, “We’re in For a Rough Ride’: How Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine is Affecting South Florida Real Estate,” Daily Business Review, March 4, 2022
- Quoted, “How the War in Ukraine is Affecting the Bar Industry,” Bar Business Magazine, March 3, 2022
- "Liquor Licensing 101 for Restaurants in Recovery," Bar Business Magazine, November 18, 2021
- "Liquor Licensing 101 for Restaurants in Recovery," Modern Restaurant Management, October 19, 2021
- Q&A, "Marbet Lewis of Spiritus Law: “Endurance,” Thrive Global, October 28, 2021
- Quoted, "The 5 Things You Need To Become A Top Lawyer In Your Specific Field of Law," Authority Magazine, October 26, 2021
- "The Road Toward Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Alcohol Industry," PLI Chronicle: Insights and Perspectives for the Legal Community, June 21 2021
- Q&A "Distinguished Leaders: Alcohol Attorney Marbet Lewis Guided Hospitality Industry Through Turbulent Year," Daily Business Review, June 1, 2021
- "NATIONWIDE: An Introduction to Food & Beverages: Alcohol," Chambers & Partners USA, 2021
- Quoted in "Restaurant Roundup: Como Como debuts at the Moxy; Tap 42 to expand in Q4," South Florida Business Journal, May 31, 2021
- Quoted in "To-Go Cocktails Will Stick Around in at Least 20 States After the Pandemic," CNBC, May 28, 2021
- "Lessons from the Pandemic and the Road Forward for Hospitality," Modern Restaurant Management, May 25, 2021
- "Cocktails-to-Go Legislation Supports Recovery, Innovation for Struggling Restaurant Industry," Daily Business Review, April 21, 2021
- "More Permanent Regulatory Flexibility Required to Revive Hospitality’s Long-Term Survival," Modern Restaurant Management, May 20, 2020
- Quoted in "'Another avenue to succeed': To-go cocktails become permanent in Florida," South Florida Business Journal, May 14, 2021
- Quoted in "Why the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Will Work Better Than the PPP," Globe St., May 12, 2021
- Q&A on "The Restaurant Revitalization Fund is Off to a Busy Start," Full Service Restaurant Magazine, May 4, 2021
- Featured in "DBR Announces Florida Legal Awards Honorees," Daily Business Review, March 26, 2021
- "Last Call? How will the On-Premise Hospitality Retail Industry Survive Post-Social Distancing," Food & Beverage Magazine, May 2020
- "COVID-19 Stimulus Not Enough To Revitalize Alcohol Industry," Law360, March 31, 2020
- Quoted in "Cheers! South Florida Lawyers Predict That Night Life Will Revive Hospitality Sector," The Daily Business Review, November 30, 2020
- Quoted in “Tootsie’s Strip Club Breaks Curfew — and Starts a COVID Bar Brawl," Miami New Times, October 20, 2020
- Quoted in “Retail’s Reopening Rollercoaster: ‘Confusion and Hesitation and Fear'," The Real Deal, October 13, 2020
- Quoted in "What South Florida Businesses Should Know About COVID-19 Liability as Florida Reopens," South Florida Business Journal, October 5, 2020
- Quoted in "Southwest Florida Bars Prepare to Reopen Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, But Will People Return?," Naples Daily News, September 11, 2020
- Quoted in "Miami-Dade Restaurants Should Avoid These Pitfalls as They Reopen Dining Rooms, Experts Say," South Florida Business Journal, August 28, 2020
- Quoted in "To-Go Drinks an Elixir for Public, a Lifeline for Business," The Associated Press, August 24, 2020
- Quoted in "Miami-Dade Restaurants, Gyms Closing Again Under New Order Targeting COVID Surge," The Miami Herald, July 6, 2020
- Quoted in "Bars Ordered to Stop Serving Alcohol as Cases Spike," MyPanHandle.com, June 27, 2020
- Quoted in "Bars Ordered to Stop Serving Alcohol as Cases Spike," The Hernando Sun, June 26, 2020
- Quoted in "'It Wasn't Unexpected': Attorneys Assess COVID-19 Business Penalties," The Daily Business Review, June 24, 2020
- Quoted in "Fla. Leveraging Liquor Licenses To Enforce COVID-19 Rules," Law360, June 23, 2020
- Quoted in "Restaurants At Crossroads Of Trying To Stay Within COVID-Related Rules And Trying To Stay In Business," CBS4 News Miami, June 23, 2020
- Quoted in "Local Attorney Offers Tips for Restaurants to Prevent Shutdowns," South Florida Business Journal, June 23, 2020
- Quoted in "Rebuilding America: As Brevard Restaurants Come Back Online, What Does the Future Hold?," Florida Today, May 25, 2020
- "Special Social Media and Digital Guidelines for Advertising Alcohol," South Florida Business Journal, May 8, 2020
- Quoted in "City Governments Across the Space Coast Relax Regulations to Help Restaurants Re-Open," Florida Today, May 8, 2020
- "St. Patrick’s Day Ends with Dimmed Lights. What Should Business Owners Do Now?," The Daily Business Review, March 18, 2020
- Quoted in “Recession, Technological Change Top of Mind in Law Firm Leader Outlook,” The Daily Business Review, November 12,2019
- "As Hurricane Dorian Threatens the Southeast Coast, Spiritus Law is Focused on Guiding Clients Through the Storm,” LinkedIn, August 29, 2019
- “It's About Owning What Diversity and Inclusion Should Mean and Do for Us and Clients,” The Daily Business Review, July 1, 2019
- Quoted in “NY Bill Would Make Marijuana Drug Tests a Thing of the Past,” Law Enforcement Today, April 23, 2019
- Quoted in “Cannabis Infused Booze – The Next Problem for Police,” Law Enforcement Today, February 19, 2019
- Quoted in "How to Open a Bar or Club,” SmallBusiness.com, December 21, 2018
- “Will Riders Need to Sober Up for Uber?,” Cheers Magazine, September 15, 2018
- Featured in “Alcohol Lawyer Marbet Lewis Toasts a 'Roller Coaster' Career,” The Daily Business Review, October 19, 2018
- Quoted in “Is This the Summer of Spiked Seltzer?,” TheStreet, June 25, 2018
- “Pay-to-Play Schemes to Receive More Scrutiny from Department of Treasury,” FSR Magazine, April 2018
- Profiled in “Marbet Lewis: Advice from a Lawyer in the Liquor Industry,” sheBOOM Where Women Connect & Prosper, March 29, 2018
- “Tied-House Laws,” Retail & Food Best Practices, March 23, 2018
- “Reclining Seats and Premium Cocktails: New Obstacles for the Remodeled Movie-Theater Industry,” Sound & Picture, March 22, 2018
- Profiled in “Talk of the Town,” Law Magazine, February 20, 2018
- “LewisFox Partner Marbet Lewis Named Brand Ambassador for Women of the Vine & Spirits,” South Florida citybizlist, January 18, 2018
- “Pay to Play,” Artisan Spirit Magazine, Fall 2017
- “Three-Tier System Think Piece: Let’s Steer Away from Post-Prohibition Fears and Reconsider our Regulatory Schemes,” Craft Brewing Business, July 17, 2017
- Commented on “With Whole Foods, Amazon Gets a Lot of Beer, and Headaches,” Bloomberg Law, Antitrust & Trade Report, July 2017
- Commented on “Obama Administration Eases Shipping, Cargo Transit Restrictions,” Cuba Standard.com, October 2016
- “Alcohol Industry Consolidation and Regulatory Concerns,” Financier Worldwide, July 2016
News & Speaking Engagements
Practice Areas
Accolades
- Food & Beverages: Alcohol, Chambers & Partners, USA, 2019-2024
- Food & Beverage Law, Best Lawyers in America, 2020-2022, 2025
- Distinguished Leader, Daily Business Review, 2021
- Top Lawyer, South Florida Legal Guide, 2021
- Top Attorney, Administrative Law, Super Lawyers, 2021
- Florida Trailblazer, Daily Business Review, 2019
- Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2024
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2017-2018
- Outstanding Lawyers of South Florida, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s 40 Under 40, 2017