The Duckhorn Portfolio Finalizes Executive Leadership Team with Adam Copley Named Chief Legal Officer
The Duckhorn Portfolio, widely recognized as North America’s leading luxury wine company, has announced the appointment of Adam Copley as its new Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and General Counsel, effective February 2, 2026. Copley will assume responsibility for overseeing the company’s legal strategy and governance framework, succeeding Catherine Sullivan, who has served as Interim General Counsel since May 2025. Sullivan will remain with the organization in her role as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Business Affairs, ensuring leadership continuity and ongoing legal oversight.
This leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment for The Duckhorn Portfolio, as the company celebrates its 50th anniversary and continues to expand its presence in the premium and luxury wine market. The appointment signals Duckhorn’s commitment to strengthening its executive leadership team while reinforcing its focus on long-term growth, regulatory excellence, brand expansion, and disciplined mergers and acquisitions.
A Strategic Leadership Addition with Deep Industry Experience
Adam Copley brings more than a decade of legal, corporate, and operational leadership experience within the wine and beverage industry, positioning him as a strong strategic fit for Duckhorn’s evolving business priorities. Most recently, he served as General Counsel and Head of Human Resources at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, one of the largest premium wine companies in the United States.
In that role, Copley played a central part in guiding the company’s legal strategy across a broad range of corporate functions. He provided legal counsel on strategic partnerships, brand development initiatives, commercial contracts, marketing operations, and corporate governance matters, while also overseeing regulatory compliance in a highly regulated industry. His work extended across intellectual property protection, alcohol beverage trade practice compliance, employment law, and risk management — all areas that align closely with Duckhorn’s business model and expansion strategy.
Beyond legal operations, Copley’s experience managing human resources gave him an additional perspective on talent development, organizational culture, workforce strategy, and leadership planning — critical components as Duckhorn continues to scale its business and attract top-tier talent in a competitive industry.
M&A Leadership and Corporate Growth Expertise
A defining aspect of Copley’s career has been his leadership in mergers and acquisitions. During his tenure at Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, he played a key role in multiple acquisition initiatives, overseeing legal due diligence, deal structuring, negotiation processes, and post-acquisition integration. His ability to align legal frameworks with commercial objectives helped ensure seamless transitions and value creation from newly acquired brands and assets.
His experience in post-merger integration — a critical but often complex phase in corporate expansion — will be especially valuable as Duckhorn continues to pursue strategic acquisitions to enhance its portfolio of premium winery brands.
Prior to joining Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, Copley worked as a Corporate Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, a leading law firm known for advising high-growth and public companies. In that role, he specialized in corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, capital markets activity, and advising public companies on governance and compliance requirements. This foundation strengthened his understanding of financial structuring, investor relations, regulatory obligations, and complex transactional frameworks.
Role and Responsibilities at The Duckhorn Portfolio
In his new role, Copley will lead Duckhorn’s Legal department and oversee all legal and regulatory matters across the organization. His responsibilities will include guiding mergers and acquisitions, ensuring compliance with alcohol beverage regulations and trade practices, managing intellectual property assets, and strengthening the company’s risk management strategy.
He will also play a key role in shaping Duckhorn’s broader corporate governance policies, ensuring regulatory integrity across multiple jurisdictions, and supporting business units as the company continues to innovate, launch new products, expand into new markets, and refine its brand portfolio. The legal function at Duckhorn is integral to safeguarding brand reputation, protecting proprietary winemaking practices, managing distribution relationships, and maintaining compliance in an industry subject to complex federal, state, and international regulations.
Leadership Endorsement and Vision for the Future
Robert Hanson, Chief Executive Officer of The Duckhorn Portfolio, expressed strong confidence in Copley’s appointment and highlighted the strategic importance of the move.
“As The Duckhorn Portfolio celebrates our 50th anniversary this year, we are honored to welcome Adam to our leadership team,” Hanson said. “Our goal is to be the undisputed leader in American luxury wine, with a curated, comprehensive portfolio of growing and profitable winery brands. We are achieving this vision through organic growth and innovation, as well as strategic acquisitions.”
Hanson emphasized that Copley’s proven track record in mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, and brand development will be a significant asset as Duckhorn accelerates execution of its long-term growth plan.
“Adam’s experience as a long-tenured general counsel with a proven track record across M&A, brand development, and corporate strategy makes him an invaluable addition to our executive team as we continue to expand our footprint in luxury wine,” Hanson added.
Copley’s Perspective on Joining Duckhorn
Copley expressed enthusiasm about joining The Duckhorn Portfolio and contributing to its legacy of excellence in winemaking and brand leadership.
“I’m honored to join The Duckhorn Portfolio as Chief Legal Officer,” he said. “The company’s five-decade legacy of winemaking excellence, paired with its curated portfolio of world-class brands, creates a distinctive foundation for future growth.” He also highlighted his intention to support Duckhorn’s strategic priorities and reinforce its culture of high performance. “I look forward to leveraging my experience to advance the company’s strategic initiatives, strengthen its legal and governance framework, and contribute to its culture of innovation, excellence, and operational discipline,” Copley added.
Strengthening Duckhorn’s Position in the Luxury Wine Market
The Duckhorn Portfolio has built a reputation as one of the most prestigious names in American luxury wine, with a portfolio that includes multiple high-end winery brands across key wine regions. The company’s strategy focuses on premiumization, brand storytelling, disciplined pricing, and expanding its presence in both domestic and international markets.
As consumer demand increasingly shifts toward premium and ultra-premium wine offerings, Duckhorn continues to invest in brand building, experiential marketing, sustainability initiatives, and strategic acquisitions to maintain competitive differentiation. Copley’s appointment reflects Duckhorn’s broader effort to align legal leadership with business strategy, ensuring that regulatory excellence, brand protection, and transactional expertise remain central to its growth trajectory.
Continuity with Catherine Sullivan’s Ongoing Role
While stepping down from her interim role, Catherine Sullivan will continue to serve as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Business Affairs. Her continued involvement ensures institutional knowledge retention, stability in legal operations, and ongoing support for business units across the company.
Sullivan’s leadership during the transition period since May 2025 has been instrumental in maintaining operational continuity, and her ongoing presence provides a strong foundation for collaboration with Copley as he assumes his new responsibilities.
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