Hospitality
FLB Law’s Hospitality Practice represents restaurants of all sizes, from small, local family-owned establishments to mid- and large-size regional and national companies, such as bartaco, Barcelona Wine Bar, Hawkers Asian Street Food, and Sixty Vines. Clients look to us to help negotiate favorable lease terms that will allow them to grow regionally or nationally, and to establish companywide business practices to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations.
We understand how meaningful the customer experience is to restaurants, and as such the firm draws on its extensive complement of services to provide integrated solutions to meet our clients’ needs, from transactional matters and site development to operational concerns. These include business formation, real estate acquisition, lease negotiation, development, zoning, land use, vendor agreements, employee contracts, hiring practices, tax law, and more.
Additionally, we know the importance of building and maintaining a strong, consistent brand. FLB Law’s Hospitality Practice works with national restaurant groups, helping them adhere to brand guidelines in all facets of their operations from real estate/leasing to vendor and employee agreements, and everything in between.
Financial & Corporate Transactions
Whether an organization is a start-up opening its first establishment or a mature company that requires access to capital, FLB Law Corporate & Business Transactions Practice assists with securing and completing financial transactions of all kinds including construction, mezzanine, permanent and bridge loans, as well as lines of credit.
Real Estate and Zoning
FLB Law attorneys draw on their decades of experience with the design, development and construction of restaurants and other hospitality-related properties throughout the country to deliver a streamlined process to our clients. We adhere to industry best practices, keeping in mind our clients’ unique business concerns, to create and negotiate customized agreements related to leasing, development and the design of projects of varied sizes and complexity. We also work with clients on land use and zoning permits and regularly appear before boards and commissions to advocate on our clients’ behalf to achieve their objectives within the local laws and regulations and when necessary, seek amendments to accommodate their needs and the needs of the greater community.
Business Operations
FLB Law attorneys often serve as general counsel and business advisors to assist hospitality clients with day-to-day operations. We regularly support restaurant operations with drafting and negotiating management and employee contracts and vendor and supplier agreements, always adhering to brand guidelines. More recently, we’ve been retained to develop and implement COVID-19-related protocols for employees and patrons.
Additionally, with the proliferation of food delivery services, ghost kitchens and other forms of ancillary operations have become more prevalent. FLB Law attorneys understand this growing phenomena and work with clients to determine if and how to integrate these into their operation.
Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution
Our vast experience serving hospitality clients enables us to develop best practices that promote thriving businesses and mitigate litigation. If litigation does arise, our attorneys defend matters including general liability, premises liability/slip and falls, dram shop/liquor liability, wage and hour, workers’ compensation, sexual harassment, discrimination, and accessibility defense under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We also represent clients in contract disputes with vendors, suppliers, employees, contractors, landlords, and others and work to resolve matters quickly and favorably to minimize legal costs and negative publicity. No matter what the situation, the attorneys at FLB Law have the experience and skills necessary to protect our clients’ best interests.
Government Regulations
Our hospitality lawyers have extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations governing the hospitality industry. We guide our clients through the legal and regulatory landscape that affect their businesses, including workers’ compensation and disability laws, wage and hour laws, and other state and federal employment laws and regulations.