LEGAL ASSISTANCE AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!

Our Legal Partners

Rudolph Friedmann serves businesses, organizations, and individuals across Greater Boston and New England, combining big-firm expertise with the personal attention of a smaller practice. With deep roots in the hospitality industry, we’ve advised some of Greater Boston’s most iconic restaurants and hotels and understand their unique legal and business challenges. Rudolph Friedmann counsels its hospitality clients on issues relating to business formation, real estate, leasing, licensing, construction, employment, wage and hour/tip compliance, intellectual property and trademark matters, vendor contracts, franchising, shareholder and business disputes, and insurance and liability issues, and its attorneys hold leadership roles with the Massachusetts Restaurant Association.

Visit the Rudolph Friedmann LLP website to learn more.

In the highly competitive hospitality industry, delivering outstanding customer service is essential—but so is partnering with experienced legal counsel to keep your restaurant or hotel running smoothly and profitably. Whether you’re a chef/restaurant owner, investor, or entrepreneur launching a new venture, Rudolph Friedmann LLP understands the unique challenges you face and offers comprehensive legal guidance tailored specifically to the hospitality industry.

We combine deep industry knowledge with practical, business-focused advice. Our goal is to help you concentrate on your business, protect your investments, avoid costly legal pitfalls, and achieve sustainable growth.

Our Hospitality Legal Services Include:

• Business Formation & Corporate Governance
  Entity creation (LLCs, partnerships, corporations), structuring, bylaw and governance

• Franchise & Licensing Matters
  Franchise agreements, food safety permits, entertainment licensing, liquor licensing and regulatory compliance

• Real Estate Transactions
  Commercial leases, purchases, financing, zoning and land use, landlord-tenant matters

• Construction Law
  Construction of restaurants including negotiating agreements with contractors

• Employment Law
  Hiring and termination, employment contracts, wage and hour compliance, tip compliance, drafting employee manuals and defense of employment related legal claims (i.e., sexual harassment, discrimination, retaliation, wage act violations, etc.)

• Intellectual Property Protection
  Trademark and copyright registration, trade secret safeguarding and infringement disputes

• Business Disputes & Litigation
  Contract disputes, shareholder and partnership conflicts, breach of fiduciary duty claims

• Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Sales
  Negotiation and documentation of purchases, sales and business reorganizations

• Insurance & Liability
  Premises liability, personal injury and insurance claim matters

Our team stays actively engaged in Massachusetts’ hospitality community to anticipate and address emerging industry trends and regulatory changes. Rudolph Friedmann is also a founding member of an international association of more than 200 top-rated independent law firms across the globe. This allows the firm to offer its clients the personal service of a local law firm and the global connections of an international firm, helping hospitality clients meet the challenges of expansion beyond Massachusetts.

Whether you’re opening your first restaurant, expanding a portfolio or navigating complex legal challenges, Rudolph Friedmann LLP provides the trusted counsel and personalized service you need to thrive. We take the time to understand your business, goals and vision—developing tailored legal strategies that protect your interests and position you for lasting success.

Visit the Rudolph Friedmann LLP website to learn more.

Who We Are

Founded in 1998 by a creative group of lawyers with differing, yet compatible, areas of expertise, MQMH provides successful client representation in the following areas of business and government:

• • Land use development before state and local administrative authorities; planning, zoning, permitting and licensing, and before public officials and community interest groups.

• • Alcoholic beverage and entertainment sector representation of wholesalers, suppliers and on-premise and off-premise licensees before state and federal administrative authorities.

• • Sports and entertainment facility licensing and entitlements for development, expansion and operation of stadiums, theaters and other venues.

• • Public/private partnerships, government procurement and business-to-business ventures in real estate development and general business.

• • Transportation and energy sector development strategies, LEED and TOD real estate ventures

• • State and Local legislative and administrative initiatives in life sciences, biotechnology, transportation, energy, liquor and real estate.

• • Wireless telecommunications siting, zoning, permitting and leasing for commercial carriers before municipalities throughout Massachusetts.

• • Real estate acquisition, finance, commercial lending, foreclosure and bankruptcy.

• • Office, retail and residential leasing and formation of corporate structures, partnerships and realty trusts.

Our Practice

• • We are committed to the highest standards of competence and professionalism.

• • When engaged by a client, we tailor our approach to meeting their specific needs and addressing the matter at-hand. Pin-point analysis and practical advice is the hallmark of our strategic representation.

• • We advise on and handle the practical and legal aspects of government and business. We place a particular premium on our ability to identify and translate our clients’ goals and objectives into clearly defined results.

An attorney for more than thirty years and General Counsel for The Massachusetts Restaurant Association he has represented members of the hospitality industry including regional food service companies, multi-unit owner/ operators, large and small independent restaurants and hotels in connection with legal issues, many unique to the restaurant industry. Those issues include:

• • Labor and Employment

• • Compliance with State/ Federal regulations

• • Wage and Hour matters regarding tips, tip pooling, overtime requirements and exemptions

• • Contracts including leases and food management agreements

• • Discrimination claims based on age and other protected status

• • Disputes regarding ownership or right(s) to control or manage a business

• • Liability claims, including liquor liability

John works collaboratively with clients counselling them to (i) manage their expectations (ii) audit their employment practices (iii) take corrective action to mitigate potential liability (iv} insure compliance and (v) meet their goals efficiently and for as reasonable cost as possible. He regularly communicates with clients about the status and reasons for each step in the legal process so they are able to make informed business decisions based on his counsel and advice that will affect the outcome and impact on their business.

While the vast majority of legal matters are resolved without litigation, if necessary, John has extensive experience litigating insured and uninsured liability, labor, business and other matters before State and Federal Courts and administrative agencies

He offers years of experience serving the restaurant industry snd striving for excellence. You are welcome to contact John to discuss your particular issue and options to resolve it.