Rippling, Deel Hire New Lawyers as Legal Spy Battle Escalates
Multibillion-dollar human resources and payroll startups Rippling and Deel Inc. have both hired new top lawyers as they ramp up their high-drama legal battle against each other.
Rippling is bringing on Chris Handman, previously at Snap Inc., as its general counsel, Rippling Chief Executive Officer Parker Conrad said in a social media post Wednesday. Vanessa Wu, Rippling's former general counsel, has been named senior counsel and will remain at the company.
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Forbes
12 minutes ago
- Forbes
Icons Of Whiskey: Jacob Beam's Bourbon Dynasty
The Beam range of American whiskeys Photo, courtesy James B Beam Distilling Company Jacob Beam, the founder of what eventually became the James B. Beam Distilling Company, stands as a legendary figure in American whiskey history. His spirit of persistence and craftsmanship continues to shape the bourbon industry today. Now owned by Suntory Global Spirits, Jim Beam remains one of the most recognized names in whiskey worldwide. Below is a closer look at Jacob Beam, an Icon of Whiskey, and the distilling empire he built. Jacob Beam, founder of the Beam whiskey dynasty Photo, courtesy James B Beam Distilling Company Jacob Beam was born on February 9, 1760, to Nicolaus and Margaretha Boehm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The Boehms were German immigrants with deep farming roots who later anglicized their name to Beam. Growing up on the family farm, Jacob developed a strong work ethic and a keen understanding of farming—skills that would serve him well when he began making whiskey. In the 1780s, Jacob moved to Kentucky, settling near Hardin's Creek in what is now Hardin County. There, he set up a farm and a gristmill. Kentucky's fertile soil, plentiful corn, and easy access to the Ohio River made it a perfect place to distill whiskey. Jacob later moved to Bardstown, which was fast becoming a center for distilling—a reputation it still holds today. Although the Beam family lived in Bardstown, they never operated a distillery there. In 1854, the original distillery was relocated to nearby Nelson County, capitalizing on new railroad connections. After Prohibition, the distillery was rebuilt in Clermont, where it remains to this day. Jacob Beam began distilling whiskey in 1795. His early product—a corn-based whiskey—laid the groundwork for what would become bourbon. Initially, the whiskey was for local sale, but demand quickly grew as its quality was recognized. By the early 1800s, he was selling his whiskey as "Old Jake Beam Sour Mash." That brand would eventually evolve into the Jim Beam known today. Jacob Beam's Impact on Bourbon Jacob's success rested on careful craftsmanship. He blended corn, rye, and barley malt to produce whiskey that was smoother and sweeter than many local spirits of the time. That mash bill eventually became the template for bourbon. He aged it in charred oak barrels—a practice that would become standard for bourbon makers everywhere. His focus on refining recipes and scaling up production while maintaining high quality set the Beam family on a steady path to success. Some of Beam's Master Distillers over the company's history Photo, courtesy Jim Beam/Whiskey University Generations of Beam Distillers When Jacob Beam died in 1834, his son David Beam took over. David expanded operations and eventually handed the reins to his son, David B. Beam, who moved the distillery to Nelson County to benefit from rail shipping. That move helped Old Tub, a Beam whiskey, become one of the first nationally known bourbon brands. Eventually, David B. Beam's son, James Beauregard Beam—Jacob's great-grandson—rebranded the whiskey under his name, 'Jim Beam,' honoring the family legacy and ushering in a new era of recognition. When Prohibition struck in 1920, production halted, although limited sales of 'medicinal whiskey' were allowed to continue. Although the Beam distillery didn't have one of the original medicinal whiskey permits, the government later granted a license as supplies dwindled. Operating under the American Medicinal Spirits name, the Beam family continued limited production, preserving their whiskey-making know-how through the dry years. After Prohibition ended in 1933, James B. Beam rebuilt the distillery in Clermont, not far from his Bardstown home. By the 1940s, the brand had experienced rapid growth and established a global presence. In 1945, the company was acquired by Harry Blum, a Chicago-based spirits merchant. It was later sold, in 1967, to American Tobacco, which subsequently changed its name to American Brands in 1969 and later to Fortune Brands. In 1987, the Jim Beam acquired National Distillers, In 2011, Fortune Brands spun off its spirits business as a separate publicly traded company called Beam Inc. The company focused entirely on the whiskey and spirits portfolio, including Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Knob Creek, and other brands. In 2014, Beam Inc. was acquired by Japan's Suntory Holdings for $16 billion—one of the biggest deals in spirits industry history. The company has had nine Master Distillers over its history: Jacob Beam (1795–1834), David Beam (1834–1854), David M. Beam (1854–1894), James B. Beam (1894–1947), T. Jeremiah Beam (1946–1977), Fred Booker Noe II 1960s–1992, Jerry Dalton (1998–2007), Fred Noe (2007–present), and Freddie Noe (2022–present, as co-Master Distillers). The James B Beam Distilling Company Photo, courtesy James B Beam Distilling Company The Role of the Noe Family The Noes are an old Kentucky family with deep roots in the same region where the Beam family settled. They were farmers and distillers, and over generations, they intermarried with the Beam family. The most famous Noe connection is through Booker Noe (Frederick Booker Noe II), one of the legendary master distillers in modern bourbon history. Jim Beam's daughter, Margaret Beam Noe, married into the Noe family. Her son, Booker Noe, was Jim Beam's grandson. He carried both family lines and became the 6th-generation master distiller. Booker's son, Fred Noe, and his grandson Freddie Noe are the current master distillers at Jim Beam. As Beam descendants, they've continued the family's role in running and shaping Jim Beam's distilling operations for the past century. The Noe name is as central to Beam's distilling legacy as the Beam name itself. Booker's Bourbon, named for Booker Noe, is part of this family's innovative imprint on the modern bourbon world. Beam Distilling Today Now under Suntory Global Spirits, the company still honors the values Jacob Beam instilled: quality, innovation, and true bourbon craftsmanship. Beam Suntory owns a portfolio that includes Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Knob Creek, and other iconic names. Today, Jim Beam remains one of the best-selling bourbons in the world—a testament to the vision Jacob Beam sparked in the late 1700s along Hardin's Creek. Jacob Beam's legacy as a trailblazer of American bourbon endures, making him a true Icon of Whiskey. Though ownership has changed hands over the years, the commitment to craft, quality, and family tradition he began remains the backbone of Beam's success and a cornerstone of the whiskey world. The Icons of Whiskey is an ongoing series that highlights the leading historical personalities in the whiskey industry worldwide. More From Forbes Forbes America's Top Bourbon, According To The International Wine & Spirit Competition By Joseph V Micallef Forbes America's Best Bourbon, According To The American Distilling Institute By Joseph V Micallef Forbes The Top Bourbons From The 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition By Joseph V Micallef
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Redfin Veteran Launches Startup To Unlock Thousands In Monthly Savings Saying The Goal Is 'To Make Assumable Loans Just Another Financing Type'
A former Redfin (NASDAQ:RDFN) management lead and founder of a Credit Karma-acquired startup has launched RetroRate, a California-based proptech company aiming to bring assumable mortgages into the mainstream. On June 9, RetroRate announced both its official launch and a $2.2 million seed round led by Swift Ventures, with additional backing from Eniac, Cooley Ventures, Keshif Ventures, Interlock Capital, Launch Factory, and Arkus Nexus. Andy Taylor, who previously led product at Redfin and founded the mortgage startup Approved before its 2018 acquisition by Credit Karma, told Real Estate News that RetroRate was inspired by mortgage trend data he analyzed while overseeing rate tables during his time at Credit Karma. Don't Miss: Maker of the $60,000 foldable home has 3 factory buildings, 600+ houses built, and big plans to solve housing — Peter Thiel turned $1,700 into $5 billion—now accredited investors are eyeing this software company with similar breakout potential. Learn how you can Real Estate News says that while analyzing rate data in 2020 and 2021, Taylor discovered assumable loans, an option that allows buyers to take over a seller's mortgage rate and balance, which he had never encountered despite working in the industry since 2009. 'I've been in the business since 2009, and I had never heard about assumable loans,' Taylor told Real Estate News. 'It was almost shocking.' Assumable mortgages are typically linked to government-backed loans such as the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the U.S. Department of Agriculture programs and can save buyers hundreds or thousands of dollars monthly compared to new loans at current interest rates, Real Estate News says. According to Taylor, RetroRate's analysis of multiple listing service and property data suggests that between 20% and 25% of homes listed for sale today may have an assumable mortgage attached. Despite the prevalence, Real Estate News says that buyers and agents rarely pursue these deals due to outdated, paper-based processes and the lack of centralized digital tools. Trending: Maximize saving for your retirement and cut down on taxes: . RetroRate provides a proprietary, searchable database of homes with assumable mortgages, both on and off market, and ranks them by financial appeal. Buyers pay a 1% fee at closing to access the service, which Taylor described as a "supercharged rate buy-down" with a much shorter payback period. "Our goal is to make assumable loans just another financing type, like a 30-year fixed or a 5/1 [adjustable-rate mortgage]," Taylor told Real Estate News. "We don't want agents to become experts in this process—we want to be the ones that make it easy for them." RetroRate concluded its beta phase in June after working with agents across 10 states including California, Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. The company launched its assumable loan platform in those same markets, which were chosen based on the volume of assumable mortgage inventory and affordability challenges, Real Estate News the benefits are clear, the process remains cumbersome. Taylor told Real Estate News that some deals require buyers to make large cash payments to cover the gap between home value and mortgage balance, and lender reviews can extend timelines beyond that of conventional financing. Taylor acknowledged these issues but sees them as indicators of a system overdue for modernization, Real Estate News says, believing that automation and digital tools can reduce friction significantly. Taylor emphasized that RetroRate is built to thrive regardless of interest rate movement. With the majority of U.S. homeowners still holding mortgages below current market rates, he expects older loans to remain attractive for years, Real Estate News reports. "There is always going to be someone out there who's got that better rate," Taylor told Real Estate News. "RetroRate is not about one narrow trend. It's about restoring affordability and creating liquidity. That's a mission we can build on no matter what rates do." Read Next: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they're on pace — Image: Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? This article Redfin Veteran Launches Startup To Unlock Thousands In Monthly Savings Saying The Goal Is 'To Make Assumable Loans Just Another Financing Type' originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
