Hospitality Law Services
In the hospitality industry, top-notch service and
exceeding customer expectations means everything.
Our hospitality law practice group understands and
aims to exceed expectations.
At Mandelbaum Barrett PC, we take pride in being the premier hospitality law firm in the Tri-State area for bars, restaurants, hotels, chefs, and all food and beverage outlets. Our experienced team provides comprehensive legal services to a diverse range of clients, including first-time entrepreneurs, multi-unit operators, hotel F&B management groups, general managers, chefs, developers, and all other industry folks.
Led by Robert C. Scrivo and Damian P. Conforti, our hospitality law services group is comprised of skilled attorneys who have extensive knowledge of the unique needs of businesses in the hospitality industry.
Our attorneys have a keen understanding of the challenges facing businesses in this dynamic industry and work tirelessly to provide cost-effective, practical, and efficient legal services that exceed our clients’ expectations. We work closely with our clients to develop personalized legal strategies that meet their specific needs.
Our clients include chefs, restaurateurs, hotels, private clubs, investors, and franchises, as well as distributors, importers, and manufacturers of spirits, wine, and beer.
Our team offers guidance and representation in a range of areas critical to success in the hospitality industry, including hospitality and alcoholic beverage industry, corporate and business law, intellectual property law, real estate, zoning, and environmental law, and labor and employment law. Our clients consistently draw upon our experience and expertise in these areas, and we are dedicated to helping them achieve their business goals.
Corporate & Business Law:
- Negotiation of contracts and financial participation: shareholder, investor, and limited liability company (LLC) agreements; license agreements – restaurants and hotels, management agreements – restaurants and hotels; publishing agreements (cookbooks, hotel histories, and photographic collections); franchise agreements, vendor, production, and supply agreements
- Business transactions: partnership formations, acquisitions, financing, banking
- Acquisition, sale, or transfer of businesses and business assets
Hospitality & Beverage Industry:
- Consultation on hospitality concepts and models
- Selection of viable location
- Structure and formation of business
- Obtain all necessary licenses and permits, including liquor licenses issued by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, cabaret permits, sidewalk cafe permits, and Food Establishment permits
- Representation before local Community Boards, towns and villages, and the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Board
- Defense of Alcoholic Beverage Controls Laws, Rules, and Regulations
- Obtain wholesale and importer permits and register alcoholic beverage labels with the US Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau
Intellectual Property Law:
- Trademark and trade name investigation, registration, and defense
- Copyright protection of logos and menus
- Trade secret protection of brands and proprietary products
Real Estate, Zoning, and Environmental Law:
- Local, state, and federal land use and zoning ordinances, including building code and sanitation requirements.
- Commercial leasing and real estate acquisition
- Landlord/tenant disputes
- Premises liability
Labor & Employment Law:
- Employment contracts and agreements, including non-compete agreements, and employee disputes
- Federal and state law compliance and defense, including employment law litigation, wage and hour litigation, labor relations and labor litigation, and management compliance training.
- We take pride in providing top-notch legal services that go above and beyond our clients’ expectations. Whether you’re a first-time entrepreneur or a multi-unit operator, our team is committed to helping you achieve success in the highly competitive world of hospitality. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business thrive.
Mandelbaum Barrett PC Attorneys Named to Morris & Essex Magazines “Top Lawyers” List
March 6, 2023
Congratulations to 8 Mandelbaum Barrett PC Partners who were named by the magazine on their Top Lawyers 2023 list! The publication, which will appear in print in June 2023, looked at attorneys across more than 30 specialties, using DataJoe Research. They facilitated an online peer-vote process and created a Top Morris & Essex County Lawyer […]
Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s Hospitality Law Group Attends the New Jersey Restaurant Association Annual Membership Dinner
December 9, 2022
Held at the Hilton in East Brunswick, Damian P. Conforti, Robert C. Scrivo, Gary S. Young and Joel G. MacMull attended the Annual Membership dinner hosted by the NJRHA, where the Firm was once again a Michelin Star sponsor for the organization. Gary Young, general outside counsel for the NJRHA since 1996, met with board […]
NYC’s Move to Keep Outdoor Dining, With Winter Rules
August 10, 2023
Partner in the Commercial Litigation & White Collar and Criminal Defense Group, Chris Zona, and Co-Chair of the Hospitality Services Practice Group, Damian Conforti, discuss NYC’s recent decision to continue outdoor dining, complying with winter rules.
Controversial California Law is Pushed Forward Despite Referendum Pause
January 13, 2023
The Fast-Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (FAST) was signed into law in California on September 5, 2022. The 10-member council, including union activists, is authorized to set minimum wages and other working conditions for non-unionized fast-food workers. Non-unionized employers face an immediate minimum wage increase to an unprecedented $22/hour and exposure to lawsuits. The law has raised constitutional concerns and will likely face legal challenges. Mandelbaum Barrett PC is ready to review the implications of FAST for the New Jersey Hospitality Industry.
Mandelbaum Barrett PC’s Hospitality Law Group Attends the New Jersey Restaurant Association Annual Membership Dinner
December 9, 2022
Held at the Hilton in East Brunswick, Damian P. Conforti, Robert C. Scrivo, Gary S. Young and Joel G. MacMull attended the Annual Membership dinner hosted by the NJRHA, where the Firm was once again a Michelin Star sponsor for the organization. Gary Young, general outside counsel for the NJRHA since 1996, met with board […]
Restaurants and Those in the Hospitality Business Should Not Rely on Faulty Understandings of Wage & Hour Laws
November 2, 2022
Employers in the restaurant and hospitality industries must be aware of the risks associated with tip pooling. Non-compliance with wage and hour laws can result in significant financial penalties. Key areas to pay attention to include properly informing employees, correctly implementing tip pooling, and paying overtime to tipped employees. By understanding and adhering to the law, employers can mitigate the risks associated with tip pooling practices.
Deal Alert: Mandelbaum Barrett PC represented a major real estate developer in the consolidation and refinancing of 7 separate loans secured by 7 shopping malls
May 19, 2022
Deal Alert: Mandelbaum Barrett PC represented a major real estate developer in the consolidation and refinancing of 7 separate loans secured by 7 shopping malls into a $75,000,000 loan that allowed the borrowers to reduce its other obligations and provide it with additional funds for future acquisitions and renovations for its ongoing projects. The team […]
