Hospitality Law
SBBK’s Hospitality group works with owners, operators, developers, landlords, lenders, investors, manufacturers and suppliers of hospitality establishments, including restaurants, banquet halls, convention centers, taverns, night clubs, bars and hotels. We work to protect the profitability of our hospitality clients by preventing setbacks that can lead to costly delayed openings, lost profits, prolonged closures, expensive fines, personal liability and litigation.
Our partnership includes a former restaurant owner, Jerome S. Schain, and a former head chef, Richard G. Golab, combining legal expertise with a unique understanding of day to day restaurant operations, management and challenges. Patrick T. Brankin has also successfully obtained licenses and has litigated issues for many top operators in Illinois. Members of our hospitality group have also served in local government or currently serve as general counsel or special counsel to municipalities and counties throughout Illinois, offering a deep understanding of government and regulatory processes that impact a hospitality business – key to successfully resolving permitting, entitlement, zoning, liquor licensing, occupancy certificates, code violations and compliance issues.
The SBBK hospitality group works with clients to deliver desired outcomes in matters related to:
- Liquor license applications, compliance, violations and City of Chicago and State of Illinois “holds”
- Business licensing
- Corporate matters, including new ventures, the sale and acquisition of a hospitality business and succession plans.
- Real estate matters including leasing, sales and acquisitions
- Landlord/tenant disputes and lease termination negotiations
- Loan documentation for borrowers and lenders, including equipment financing
- Land use and zoning approvals
- Special use permits for drive-through windows
- Building code violations or health code violations
- Obtaining permits for signage, overhangs or patios
- Real Estate Taxes
- ADA compliance issues
- Parking, loading entitlements or valet approvals
- State and local tax, including sales tax audits
- Employee/Employer contract negotiations and disputes
- Government relations and Lobbying
- Litigation issues
We are members of the Illinois Restaurant Association and Food Services Professionals Network (FSPN).
