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Melani brings a rare combination to alcohol law: sharp regulatory insight and real-world industry experience.
She leads SKJ’s licensing practice and is the calm in the regulatory storm. Melani guides clients through everything from multistate licensing and tied-house compliance to high-stakes restructurings. Her clients range from small businesses opening their first location to national companies navigating complex M&A.
Before becoming a lawyer, Melani studied viticulture and worked in top San Francisco restaurants—giving her a firsthand perspective on how the alcohol industry operates, both in theory and in practice.
Earlier in her legal career, she co-founded a specialty firm serving California’s hospitality industry. That hands-on experience still shapes her approach today: practical, thoughtful, and grounded in the realities of the industry. Melani is now a trusted advisor to alcohol businesses ready to launch, scale, or navigate change with confidence.
She also speaks regularly on topics like licensing strategy and trade practices, and is known for bringing clarity to complex issues without overcomplicating the conversation.
When she’s not talking alcohol law, you’ll find Melani chasing fresh powder on her snowboard, exploring the ocean by kayak, SUP or snorkel, traveling, beach-hopping with her dog, or tracking down the best restaurants and dive bars wherever she goes.
- Founding Partner, Bonnheim & Johns – Hospitality & Beverage Law
- J.D., Golden Gate University School of Law, 2011 (Editor-in-Chief, Law Review)
- B.A., San Francisco State University, 2007 (Cum Laude)
- Ethics in the Age of #MeToo” – National Conference of State Liquor Administrators
- “Overview of ABC License Types and Privileges” – Women Wine Lawyers CLE, Napa
- “Retailer Role in Tied House and Trade Practice Matters” – NALCP Annual Conference
- “Key Legal Issues When Representing Bars and Restaurants” – Attorney Action Club
