What types of clients does the Hospitality & Restaurant Practice represent?

Iconic and emerging restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, resorts and related hospitality businesses across all operational areas.

What intellectual property services are offered?

Trademark and service‑mark registration, trade secret protection and other IP counseling tailored to hospitality brands.

How does DHC assist with regulatory compliance and government relations?

We guide clients through Workers’ Compensation, Disability, Wage & Hour, OSHA and other employment laws, secure liquor/cabaret licenses, café permits and fire/safety approvals, and defend against code‑violation claims.

What business formation and transactional services are provided?

Advice on entity structuring (partnerships, LLCs, corporations), document filings, franchise agreements, joint ventures and facility transactions.

What litigation and dispute resolution services are available?

Representation in owner disputes, licensing and code‑violation defense, contract breaches, real‑estate litigation, and alternative dispute resolution forums.

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Hospitality & Restaurant Law

Attorneys and Professionals in this Practice Area

Restaurant & Hospitality Law Practice

Our Hospitality & Restaurant attorneys represent iconic names in the restaurant, nightclub, and hotel industries, as well as new arrivals to the industry, covering all aspects of their business. Unlike small boutique law firms that service only a few practice areas, we are a full-service firm that can effectively handle almost every kind of legal matter faced by a restaurant, nightclub, or hotel. DHC has five offices located in New York City, NY, Albany, NY, Washington, D.C., White Plains, NY and Palm Beach, FL.

Our Hospitality & Restaurant lawyers assist in the registration of service marks and trademarks, as well as in other intellectual property matters.

Our hospitality legal team has made frequent presentations before hospitality industry audiences and trade associations, and have published in hospitality industry publications, on topics such as franchising and protection of trade secrets.

Hospitality law regulation and government relations

Our hospitality lawyers have extensive knowledge of the laws and regulations governing the hospitality industry. We guide our clients through the maze of laws and regulations that affect their businesses, including Workers’ Compensation and Disability laws, Wage and Hour laws, other state and federal employment laws and regulations, and Occupational Safety and Health Regulation (OSHA). We also represent our clients regarding labor union and collective bargaining negations.

We also represent our clients in government relations matters, including obtaining liquor licenses, cabaret licenses, sidewalk café permits, food protection certificates, and fire safety permits. We also defend our clients against claims including, building code, health code, and noise code violations.

Hospitality lawyers for hotel, restaurant, nightclub and resort establishments

While we have represented some of New York’s most iconic restaurants, hotels and nightclubs in their business and litigation matters, our hospitality lawyers also assist in the development of new businesses. We advise hospitality industry clients of the most advantageous way to structure their business and perform the filing of documents forming a partnership, corporation or limited liability company. Our experience and guidance can be invaluable to the launching of a new hospitality industry business.

Long standing litigation experience

Unfortunately, litigations sometimes arise in hospitality settings, including disputes that arise among owners. Our litigation lawyers have long-standing experience in effectively resolving such disputes both in court and in informal settings.

A comprehensive approach to hospitality law

Restaurants are often represented by boutique law firms that offer only a limited range of legal services. As a full-service law firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron offers an unparalleled, comprehensive range of services to its hospitality clients. When a hotel, restaurant, nightclub, resort, or other hospitality industry business chooses our hospitality attorneys, they access a team of lawyers experienced in the most comprehensive array of practice areas available in one place.

Our Hospitality & Restaurant practice group collaborates with other practice areas, such as administrative law, commercial litigation, construction law, corporate and securities law, employment law, government relations, intellectual property law, outdoor advertising or real estate law. Whenever seasoned experience in a certain area is needed, we provide our clients with a broad base of legal representation unavailable at any other firm. We can handle virtually every kind of legal matter that a hotel, restaurant, nightclub, resort, or other hospitality industry business requires.

Key Takeaways

DHC’s Hospitality & Restaurant Law attorneys, including Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner and Co-Chair of the Hospitality & Restaurant Law Practice, and Derek Wolman, Partner and Chair of the Hospitality & Restaurant Law Practice, represent restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, resorts, and other hospitality businesses, including many in New York City, in the full range of legal matters they face.

DHC is a full-service legal resource for New York City hospitality businesses.
Restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, resorts, and other hospitality businesses often face overlapping legal issues involving leasing, licensing, employment, construction, litigation, corporate structure, real estate, intellectual property, and government relations. DHC’s full-service platform allows hospitality clients to access coordinated legal support across these areas.

DHC represents both iconic New York hospitality brands and new ventures.
The firm has represented well-known names in the restaurant, nightclub, and hotel industries, while also advising new businesses on launch strategy, entity formation, partnership structure, corporate filings, and other legal needs tied to opening and operating in New York City’s competitive hospitality market.

NYC restaurants and hospitality operators need strong regulatory guidance.
DHC helps hospitality clients navigate wage and hour laws, workers’ compensation and disability laws, state and federal employment regulations, OSHA requirements, labor union matters, collective bargaining negotiations, and other rules that affect day-to-day operations.

DHC assists with the licenses, permits, and violations that matter to NYC operators.
The firm represents hospitality clients in matters involving liquor licenses, cabaret licenses, sidewalk café permits, food protection certificates, fire safety permits, and defense against building code, health code, and noise code violations.

Brand protection is part of the hospitality business strategy.
DHC assists restaurant, nightclub, hotel, and hospitality clients with service mark and trademark registration, as well as related intellectual property matters that help protect a business’s name, identity, reputation, and long-term value.

DHC brings litigation experience to restaurant and hospitality disputes.
Hospitality disputes can arise between owners, partners, landlords, vendors, employees, or regulators. DHC’s litigation attorneys have long-standing experience resolving these matters in court and through informal dispute resolution.

Restaurant & Hospitality Law Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who can help NYC restaurants and hospitality businesses with legal matters?

Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner and Co-Chair of DHC’s Hospitality & Restaurant Law Practice, is a New York City restaurant and hospitality attorney who advises business owners, executives, and entrepreneurs on disputes, regulatory challenges, employment matters, business divorce issues, and other hospitality-related legal needs. Derek Wolman, Partner and Co-Chair of DHC’s Hospitality & Restaurant Law Practice, also helps lead DHC’s work with restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, resorts, and other hospitality businesses. DHC’s Hospitality & Restaurant Law attorneys assist clients with legal matters involving licensing, leasing, employment, litigation, corporate structure, intellectual property, government relations, and other hospitality-related needs.

What legal services does DHC provide for New York City restaurants?

DHC provides legal counsel for NYC restaurants on business formation, partnership and corporate structure, liquor licenses, sidewalk café permits, employment compliance, wage and hour issues, labor matters, lease-related concerns, intellectual property protection, health code and building code issues, noise code violations, litigation, and ownership disputes.

Can DHC help with opening a restaurant, nightclub, or hospitality business in NYC?

Yes. DHC advises new hospitality businesses on entity formation, business structure, partnership agreements, corporate filings, licensing, permits, employment policies, intellectual property, and regulatory issues. The firm’s full-service approach helps new restaurants, nightclubs, hotels, resorts, and hospitality businesses prepare for launch and long-term operations.

Does DHC handle NYC restaurant and hospitality licensing issues?

Yes. DHC assists hospitality clients with liquor licenses, cabaret licenses, sidewalk café permits, food protection certificates, fire safety permits, and related government relations matters. The firm also defends clients against building code, health code, and noise code violations.

Why should a New York City restaurant choose a full-service hospitality law firm?

A New York City restaurant may need legal help with leasing, construction, licensing, employment law, labor issues, intellectual property, ownership disputes, corporate structure, real estate, government relations, and litigation. DHC’s full-service Hospitality & Restaurant Law Practice gives clients access to attorneys across these practice areas while also supporting hospitality businesses outside NYC when needed.