Norris McLaughlin & Marcus

Theodore J. Zeller III, a member of the firm, has extensive experience in liquor law, commercial transactions, real estate transactions, and litigation.

In the area of liquor law, Ted was lead counsel in a beer rights case brought against the world’s largest brewers and is now General Counsel to D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc.

Ted’s lobbying efforts helped change the public venue law under the Pennsylvania liquor code. This change has helped firm clients to obtain licenses under statute instead of on the open market at extraordinary expense. In 2010, Ted testified before the Senate Law and Justice Committee on behalf of Yuengling Brewery, with regards to House Bill 291, which addresses the distribution of brewed beverages in Pennsylvania.

In 2011, Ted authored portions of two different bills which were enacted into law. The bills helped small brewers by allowing more efficient and cost effective brand registration and altered the package laws for brewery licenses. He also appeared before the House Liquor Committee with the Brewers of Pennsylvania in the Privatization Hearings.

Ted counsels clients regularly on the acquisition of liquor licenses and coordinates liquor license transactions with other practice areas such as real estate, business law, financing, tax law, and litigation. Known throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Ted also represents beer interests on a national level and advises breweries and wholesalers on state regulatory matters involving beer distribution and franchise laws.

Throughout his career, Ted has tried cases in county and federal court, including jury trials and hundreds of cases before arbitration panels, district justices and administrative law judges.