Hospitality businesses run on thin margins and long-term commitments.
A franchise agreement or a supplier contract can shape the business for a decade, and a dispute between owners can threaten it overnight. We help owners get those commitments right and resolve disputes when they come up.
How We Help Hospitality Businesses
Formation and Investors
Entities and owner agreements for new concepts, including investor terms for restaurant groups.
Vendor and Supply Contracts
Food, beverage, equipment and service agreements.
Franchise Agreements
Review and negotiation of restaurant and hotel franchise agreements for franchisees.
Buying and Selling Locations
Purchases and sales of restaurants, hotels and venues, including the lease assignment and the permit issues that affect timing.
Event and Management Agreements
Event, catering, sponsorship and hotel management agreements.
Owner and Vendor Disputes
Disagreements among owners and with vendors, landlords or customers, from the first demand letter through mediation or trial.
Who We Work With
Disputes
When a dispute arises with a landlord, vendor, partner or customer, our litigation team works toward an efficient resolution, through negotiation or mediation where possible and in court when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question that isn't answered here? Call us at (817) 631-8842 or send a message.
Ask a QuestionWhat happens to a restaurant's lease when the business is sold?
The buyer usually takes over the lease by assignment, and most restaurant leases require the landlord's consent first. Landlords often ask for the buyer's financial information and a new personal guaranty, and the seller's owners will usually ask to be released from theirs. We bring the landlord in early so the assignment doesn't hold up the closing.
Does a liquor permit transfer when a restaurant is sold?
Generally, no. In Texas, a buyer usually needs to obtain its own TABC permit or license, which takes time and can affect the closing date. We plan the timing of a sale around the permitting process.
How should restaurant owners and investors split ownership?
It depends on who contributes cash, who runs the business and how profits will be paid out. Many restaurant groups return investors' capital before profits are shared, with the operators holding management control. A clear company agreement sets those terms before the doors open.
Our Practice Areas
- Business AcquisitionsWe represent buyers and sellers of Texas businesses, from the first letter of intent through closing and the handoff that follows.Learn More
- Startups, Entity Formation, and Venture CapitalWe help founders and owners form the right entity, set clear ownership terms, raise capital and keep their companies in good order as they grow.Learn More
- Business Counsel and ContractsWe act as outside counsel for established companies and handle the contracts a business signs every week, from vendor and customer agreements to franchise documents.Learn More
- Commercial Litigation and Dispute ResolutionWe resolve business disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration and trial, with a plan built around what the client needs from the outcome.Learn More
Request a Consultation
Initial consultations are held by Zoom and typically last 20 to 30 minutes.