Tourism and recreation are increasingly strong and important economic forces in West Virginia (WV) and Pennsylvania (PA). As traditional industrial economic activity has diminished, the hospitality industry has been on the rise. This includes everything from restaurants and hotels to golf courses, casinos, ski resorts, theaters, and other recreational and cultural activities that appeal to just about anyone. And backing up all that activity are the many and ever-changing laws that govern business operations, which must be applied to the hospitality industry. If you’re in the market for a top-notch hospitality attorney, Hendrickson & Long’s hospitality attorneys can meet your needs.

The Key Phases of a Hospitality Business

Hospitality businesses have three key phases:

• Development and acquisition
• Operation and management
• Ongoing financing

A hospitality attorney from Hendrickson & Long can help hospitality-based businesses operate legally and avoid unnecessary problems in each of these phases. Our legal team has extensive experience advising clients on how to proceed generally, as well as representing clients in litigation, negotiations, permitting, and other necessary aspects of development, operation, and financial viability.

The Role of a Hospitality Attorney in Acquisition and Development

A Hendrickson & Long hospitality attorney can guide clients through the essentials of getting started, such as financing, land acquisition, permitting, contracts, franchising, and other issues that depend on the particular type of hospitality endeavor. Our firm can serve in an advisory role or as an active participant in negotiations, contract execution, and even litigation if that became necessary during this initial stage. We can help with legal issues like these:

• Representing clients in the acquisition and development of hotels and other hospitality concerns
• Structuring management and development companies
• Negotiating franchise agreements
• Resolving construction, real estate, and franchise disputes
• Facilitating loan closing, including Small Business Administration, conventional and commercial loans
• Deal structuring and negotiation
• Zoning and land use
• Permitting

How Legal Counsel Can Help During the Operation of a Hospitality Business

The operation of a hospitality business has many facets that mandate awareness of, and adherence to, legal requirements. Some may be specific to a hospitality concern and others to business operation generally. These include employment law, environmental standards, contracts, franchising, and taxation. A Hendrickson & Long hospitality attorney can help clients in areas like these:

• Drafting and negotiating management agreements
• Resolving partnership and shareholder disputes
• Tax planning and tax appeals
• Service contracts
• Liquor licensing
• Restaurant leases and management agreements
• Landlord-tenant matters
• Employment and labor issues

Financial Viability and Your Hospitality Attorney

As with any business, hospitality concerns must remain financially stable to weather the ups and downs of economic cycles that drive consumer choices and, ultimately, business revenue. This requires staying up-to-date with financial options and being proactive about maintaining financial viability. Your hospitality attorney from Hendrickson & Long can help you with these kinds of tough situations:

• Restructuring and workouts with lenders
• Foreclosures
• Note purchase transactions
• Bankruptcy

Hendrickson & Long’s hospitality attorneys are in tune with the dynamics of the hospitality industry. We pride ourselves on being able to help businesses start up and remain viable over the long haul. We have helped many hospitality business clients do just that.  Our law office, located in Charleston, WV, also serves clients in Pennsylvania (PA). Contact us today to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced hospitality attorney.