Joseph Diego Taylor is a business, corporate, and employment attorney who helps restaurant owners, hospitality groups, and entrepreneurs structure, protect, and grow their businesses. Joseph serves as Senior Counsel at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP. He works alongside
Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner and Chair of the
Hospitality & Restaurant Law Group, at DHC’s
New York City office, helping clients mitigate risk, prevent disputes, and support long-term growth.
With a background deeply rooted in business operations, deal structuring, and risk management, Joseph provides legal guidance that is proactive, practical, and tailored to the restaurant and hospitality industry.
Practice Groups
- Hospitality & Restaurant Law
- Commercial Litigation
- Employment Law
- Corporate & Securities Law
- Administrative Law
Practice Focus
Corporate Formation, Transactions & Structuring
- Corporate Formation & Entity Structuring – Advising restaurant groups, franchise operators, and hospitality businesses on LLC, S-Corp, and partnership structures that protect assets and optimize tax efficiency.
- Operating, Shareholder & Partnership Agreements – Drafting clear, enforceable agreements that align with ownership interests, capital contributions, and succession planning to prevent disputes.
- Joint Venture & Management Agreements – Structuring agreements that govern profit-sharing, responsibilities, and investment relationships between restaurant groups, investors, and operating partners.
- Licensing, Supplier & Vendor Agreements – Negotiating favorable terms with landlords, distributors, suppliers, and brand partners to ensure compliance and profitability.
- Franchise & Expansion Strategies – Advising on multi-unit expansion, licensing models, and franchise agreements to scale businesses while minimizing legal risks.
Litigation & Risk Mitigation
- Business Divorce & Ownership Disputes – Resolving conflicts between partners, shareholders, and investors, whether through negotiation, buyouts, or litigation.
- Employment Litigation & Compliance – Defending businesses in wage & hour claims, discrimination cases, and regulatory audits, while advising on proactive compliance strategies.
- Regulatory Compliance & Licensing – Helping restaurants navigate licensing, regulations, and employment laws to ensure seamless operations.
- Commercial Lease & Real Estate Disputes – Protecting restaurants and hospitality businesses in lease negotiations, landlord-tenant disputes, and real estate transactions.
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York
Education
- New York Law School – J.D. (2015)
- East Carolina University – B.A. (2009)
Memberships in Bar & Trade Associations
- New York State Bar Association
- New York City Hospitality Alliance
Awards & Honors
- Chambers & Partners – Spotlight New York: Commercial Litigation (2025)
- Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars – Employment Litigation Defense (2020 to Present)
Client Experience
- Hospitality & Restaurant Industry – Representing clients in employment disputes, business transactions, and regulatory compliance.
- Business Litigation – Handling corporate breakups, partnership disputes, and commercial litigation.
- Business Owners & Entrepreneurs – Helping structure businesses to minimize legal risk and optimize growth opportunities.
Representative Matters
- Successfully defended a professional liability claim against an architect and obtained a judgment in their favor regarding outstanding invoices.
- Obtained a favorable settlement for a multinational construction company in a high-value case involving multiple plaintiffs injured by an explosion during construction operations.
- Secured the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking substantial damages against a client by demonstrating that arbitration was a mandatory condition precedent to commencing litigation according to the contract.
- Successfully appealed a judgment against the owner of a high-profile hospitality brand by establishing that it violated both contractual provisions and common law rules relating to acceleration and offset of future rent payments.
- Obtained a favorable buy-out of a co-owner of a distillery that included ownership of certain trademarks following a contentious break up between the owners.
- Secured summary judgment in a commercial landlord-tenant case by proving the anti-subrogation clause in the lease barred the action.
- Successfully averted a hostile takeover of a high-value cooperative property in Manhattan.
- Obtained an emergency restraining order against a former contractor on behalf of a prominent national service provider by demonstrating the falsehoods and damage resulting from the ex-contractor’s attempts to misappropriate clients and employees.
- Secured dismissal of a state wage and hour lawsuit by demonstrating that the complaint was based on facts previously refuted in a prior federal case.
- Successfully drafted Master SaaS and Services Agreement and Statements of Work for an insurance focused technology company.
- Obtained dismissal of a lawsuit by demonstrating the association between the plaintiffs and the fraudulent law firm they employed to coerce my client into a settlement.
- Secured the disqualification of an opposing law firm based on the witness-advocate rule.
- Advised a multi-location hospitality company on licensing and regulatory issues for outdoor dining to ensure compliance and boost revenue.
Types of Clients I Work With
- Restaurant & Hospitality Businesses and Groups
- Restaurant & Hospitality Management Groups
- Restaurant & Hospitality Investors
- Foodservice Distribution Companies
- General Contractors and Sub-Contractors
- Business Owners, Entrepreneurs & Executives
- Small and Mid-sized Corporations & Startups
- Commercial Real Estate Investors & Developers
- Tech Startups and Corporations
How My Work Benefits Clients
- Proactive Legal Strategies: I help businesses avoid costly litigation through proactive compliance and risk management.
- Stronger Business Foundations – I ensure my clients have the right business structure, contracts, and agreements to protect their assets and prevent disputes before they happen.
- Aggressive Litigation & Defense: When litigation is unavoidable, I ensure my clients are in the strongest possible position, fighting to protect their interests.
- Negotiating Favorable Deals: From investor agreements to supplier contracts, I help businesses maximize leverage and secure their interests in every transaction.
