Protecting the Food or Agri-Business: Managing Contracts, Trademarks and Non-Disclosure Agreements

 Cari Rincker is the owner of Rincker Law, PLLC, a national general practice law firm concentrating in food and agriculture law. She is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington D.C. She is currently the Chair of the American Bar Association’s General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division’s Agriculture Law Committee and serves on the New York State Bar Association’s Agriculture & Rural Issues Committee. She is a prolific writer and blogger on a myriad of food and agriculture law topics and has been recognized as an author of a Top 100 Blawg from the American Bar Association. She recently co-authored a book with Pat Dillon titled “Field Manual: Legal Guide for New York Farmers & Food Entrepreneurs.”

Cari’s passion for agriculture issues is deeply rooted. She grew up on a seedstock Simmental cattle operation in Shelbyville, Illinois where she spent significant time working on her family’s farm. Cari went on to receive her Associate in Agriculture Science from Lake Land College and Bachelors of Science from Texas A & M University, where she had a successful career livestock judging at the collegiate level. Afterwards, Cari went back home to the University of Illinois to complete her Masters of Science in Ruminant Nutrition. Due to her passion for agriculture law and policy, Cari decided to complete her Juris Doctor from Pace University, School of Law, in White Plains, New York. At Pace, Cari completed certificates in both Environmental Law and International Law.

Cari continues to have her boots planted firmly in agriculture –she enjoys judging livestock shows around the country and is the co-owner of Rincker Cattle Co., a SimAngus operation in Shelbyville, Illinois. She is the Past-President and Founding Member of New York Agri-Women, a Director for the New York Simmental Association, and Past-Secretary of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Young Producers' Council. Cari is a recognized leader in the agriculture industry and the recipient of the 2012 Outstanding Early Career Award from Texas A & M University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award from Lake Land College, the 2010 Vision Award from American Agri-Women and has been twice selected by the livestock industry as the “Best Agriculture Lawyer” in the Best of the Barns Competition.