Troutman Sanders tobacco team partner Bryan Haynes was interviewed for a May 22nd Tampa Bay Times article titled “U.S. fans of Cuban cigars still have long wait before they can be sold here.” The report describes trials and tribulations facing Cuban manufacturers of premium cigars in light of the new deeming regulations published by the FDA on May 10, 2016.

The Tobacco Team recently published an article in Smokeshop Magazine entitled “Design Patents Build Strong, Valuable Brands.”  The article discusses the strategic use of intellectual property rights as a competitive advantage in the marketplace, and particularly the previously-overlooked design patent.  A design patent protects the look and feel of an

An article by the Troutman Sanders Tobacco practice appears in the February issue of Smokeshop Magazine. The article, titled “Pennsylvania’s Legal Battle Over MSA Payments Keeps Twisting” discusses the ongoing battle between Pennsylvania and major tobacco manufacturers regarding disputed 2003 Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) escrow payments.

An article by the Troutman Sanders Tobacco practice appears in the December issue of Smokeshop Magazine. The article, titled “Hey Legislators: Vaping Products Don’t Belong in the MSA!” discusses the “longshot” bid by congressmen to have e-cigarettes included in the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”).