Practices & Industries

Hospitality

We provide sophisticated legal advice and business counsel to a wide range of lodging, restaurant, bar, and food-service industry clients.

With our extensive experience working closely with all industry segments, Bernkopf is often the counsel of choice for leaders in the hospitality network. We regularly work with new and existing owners, operators, franchisees, syndicators, investors, chefs, lenders, landlords, and vendors and suppliers in all aspects of the hospitality industry.

Many of our clients have been fixtures in the hospitality industry for multiple generations, particularly those across New England. Other clients include national chains with facilities throughout the United States, including leaders entering the New England market.

Our expertise includes:

  • Acquisitions and sales
  • Development and construction
  • Permitting
  • Leasing, including ground leases
  • Choice and organization of the business entity
  • Opening new restaurants and hotels
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Joint ventures
  • Strategic planning and repositioning
  • Equity placement
  • Institutional and private financing
  • Franchise agreements
  • Hotel- and facilities-management agreements
  • Meal-delivery agreements
  • Purchasing, leasing, and financing of furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E)
  • Liquor, common victualler, and entertainment licenses
  • Environmental matters
  • Labor and employment
  • Executive compensation
  • Succession planning
  • Litigation