29 Jan 2026
ArentFox Schiff Bolsters Alcohol Beverage Regulatory Capabilities With Addition of Four-Person Team
"ArentFox Schiff adds Nichole Shustack, Michael Rudy, Isabelle Cunningham and Helen Plunkett to its Food, Drug, Medical Device & Cosmetic practice to strengthen its alcohol beverage regulatory capabilities."
Nichole D. Shustack joins ArentFox Schiff as a Partner in Washington, D.C. She counsels public and private companies on day-to-day operations and growth strategies, including compliance with federal and state regulations, trade practices, commercial agreements, distribution matters and coordination of actual and potential recalls. Nichole leverages nearly a decade of in-house experience at the Boston Beer Company to provide practical, business-oriented guidance on regulatory challenges related to alcohol production, distribution and delivery, and also represents brands marketing ancillary or cross-category products and platforms, including hemp and cannabis products and retailer operations technologies. Her client work spans premium liquor and beer brands, craft brewers and distillers, family wineries, national and international manufacturers and brand owners, importers, wholesalers, major retailers, e-commerce and media platforms, non-traditional beverage companies, startups and third-party unlicensed companies. Nichole joins ArentFox Schiff from Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP, where she led the Alcohol group and co-led the Food and Beverage Group. She is recognized in Chambers USA 2025.
Michael Rudy joins ArentFox Schiff as Counsel in New York. He has more than 20 years of experience providing legal and business guidance within the alcohol beverage industry on matters including corporate governance, multi-jurisdictional compliance, litigation management, distribution strategies and merger and acquisition activity. Mike draws on an in-house counsel background and approaches legal and compliance issues through a commercial lens to help clients navigate complex market dynamics, maintain trade practice compliance and execute growth strategies.
Isabelle R. Cunningham joins as a Senior Associate in Boston. She focuses on alcohol and food and beverage regulatory matters, with particular emphasis on new and innovative products, and is well-versed in Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. Isabelle serves as strategic regulatory counsel to manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers; previously she served as in-house counsel at a multi-billion-dollar beverage company, advising senior leadership on compliance with alcohol franchise, contract and trade practice laws and negotiating contracts across business functions. Isabelle joins ArentFox Schiff from Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP, and is recognized in Chambers USA 2025.
Helen C. Plunkett joins ArentFox Schiff as Director of Alcohol Regulatory & Corporate Administration in Washington, D.C. She manages end-to-end support for alcohol beverage clients and corporate organizations across regulatory, governance and compliance matters, overseeing the full lifecycle of alcohol regulatory compliance processes, including preparation and submission of state and federal alcohol beverage licenses, permits and brand registrations and ongoing reporting obligations. In addition to regulatory work, Helen provides integrated corporate governance and compliance support for public and private companies, including board and committee administration, equity management and SEC reporting. Having worked both in-house and in corporate law, she brings practical insight into the legal support businesses require. Helen joins ArentFox Schiff from Nutter, McClennen & Fish, LLP.