San Francisco, Calif.—Tracy Genesen is the new vice president and general counsel of the Wine Institute. Genesen replaces Wendell Lee who is retiring after working with the institute for 35 years.

According to an institute statement, Genesen is currently general counsel to Edrington Americas, the North American arm of a Scotland-based distilled spirits producer. Formerly a partner in two major law firms with a specialized wine, beer and spirits practice, Genesen has directed a variety of complex multi-district federal court litigations that focused on constitutional law matters and challenges to state alcohol regulatory statutes. Genesen also helped create and implement the American wine industry's litigation strategy for the U.S. Supreme Court Case of Granholm v. Heald regarding direct-to-consumer shipping.