Maine’s hospitality industry is thriving. With the continued growth of hotels, restaurants, breweries and distilleries across the state, the attorneys at Perkins Thompson are ready, willing and able to assist the hospitality industry with its legal needs including entity formation, acquisition of real estate, lease negotiations, construction contracts, permitting and licensing, financing, trademarks, succession planning, employment issues, and disputes.
The firm’s Hospitality Practice Group is comprised of experienced attorneys who provide their clients with excellent, innovative, and cost effective representation. Perkins Thompson prides itself on delivering results on challenging projects as well as a high level of personal attention to all of its clients.
SERVICES PROVIDED
- Startup structuring (entity selection, organization, and capitalization)
- Zoning and land use regulations
- Legislative and regulatory guidance
- Securities offerings (Regulation D and other federal exemptions; state blue sky compliance)
- Federal and state liquor licensing compliance
- Liquor labeling and formula approvals with federal and state regulators
- Contract brewing/distilling agreements and alternating proprietorship agreements
- Trademarks, licensing, trade secrets and related intellectual property issues
- Equity incentive plans
- Owner agreements
- Employment agreements, handbooks, and labor issues
- Taxation
- Real estate
- Confidentiality agreements
- Distribution agreements and terminations
- Mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures
- General counsel services
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Matters that we have recently handled include:
- Negotiated an extensive ground lease and construction loan for a 105 room hotel
- Assisted in the licensing of the first “Dual Liquor License” issued by the State of Maine
- Drafted an employee handbook for a brewery and tasting room
- Assisted a distillery with Regulation D exemption filing with the Security and Exchange Commission
- Advised an inn in regards to Americans with Disabilities Act compliance for a swimming pool and sidewalks
- Drafted a tip pooling policy for tipped employees
- Negotiated a distribution agreement on behalf of a brewery client
- Represented a restaurant in responding to a complaint of harassment
- Provided sexual harassment training to a variety of hospitality clients