DHC Defeats MCA Funders in Bankruptcy Court

DHC Defeats MCA Funders in Bankruptcy Court By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law A Major Victory for Restaurants Drowning in Merchant Cash Advance Debt FIGURE 1: Case Victory Summary If your restaurant is carrying merchant cash advance debt with triple-digit implied interest rates, pay attention. Our bankruptcy team just secured a major […]
Bridging Black History and Irish History Months – A Celebration of Community

Bridging Black History and Irish History Months – A Celebration of Community March 4, 2026 – Keith Wright of Wright Strategies, LLC and DHC’s Sean Crowley, Arthur Goldstein, and Andreas Koutsoudakis attended the Brehon Law Society/Irish African Diaspora Luncheon yesterday, an event celebrating the shared histories and enduring connections between Black and Irish communities. The […]
Don’t Pierce the Veil

Don’t Pierce the Veil By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law Corporate Formalities Every New York Restaurant Owner Must Respect Forming an LLC or corporation is step one. Step two—the one many restaurant owners skip—is actually treating the company like a separate legal person. If you don’t, a court can “pierce the corporate […]
Chapter 11 and Wage Claims, Part 3: Personal Liability & Claim Priority—The Piece Most Owners Miss

Chapter 11 and Wage Claims, Part 3: Personal Liability & Claim Priority—The Piece Most Owners Miss By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law In Parts 1 and 2, we covered the bar date strategy and the three resolution pathways. But here’s the critical piece many owners miss: the business’s Chapter 11 discharge does […]
Chapter 11 and Wage Claims, Part 2: Resolution Pathways—Three Ways to Emerge Clean

Chapter 11 and Wage Claims, Part 2: Resolution Pathways—Three Ways to Emerge Clean By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law In Part 1, we discussed how the bar date creates finality by cutting off claims from employees who don’t file by the deadline. But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. This article […]
Chapter 11 and Wage Claims – Part 1: The Bar Date Strategy—Creating Finality for Your Entire Workforce

Chapter 11 and Wage Claims, Part 1: The Bar Date Strategy—Creating Finality for Your Entire Workforce By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law For New York restaurant owners drowning in wage and hour claims, Chapter 11 bankruptcy offers something that out-of-court settlements rarely can: finality. I’ve seen restaurant owners pay six figures to […]
Protecting Your Personal Assets from Wage & Hour Liability

Protecting Your Personal Assets from Wage & Hour Liability By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law Why Your LLC or Corporation Won’t Save You—And What Will If you own and operate a restaurant in New York, your LLC or corporation does not protect your personal assets from wage and hour claims. This is […]
How Chapter 11 Can Resolve Your Personal Guarantees and EIDL Loans

How Chapter 11 Can Resolve Your Personal Guarantees and EIDL Loans By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law A Practical Playbook for NYC Restaurant Owners Seeking Relief If you’re a restaurant owner in New York carrying COVID-era EIDL debt and personal guarantees that feel impossible to pay, I have good news: there are […]
Building a Bulletproof Entity Structure for Your Multi-Unit Restaurant Group

Building a Bulletproof Entity Structure for Your Multi-Unit Restaurant Group By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law A Practical Framework for NYC Restaurant Owners Growing a restaurant group in New York isn’t just about finding the next great location or perfecting your menu. It’s about building a legal foundation that protects what you’ve […]
Workout, Wind-Down, or Chapter 11: Choosing the Right Restructuring Path for New York Restaurants

Workout, Wind-Down, or Chapter 11: Choosing the Right Restructuring Path for New York Restaurants By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law When your restaurant is struggling, it’s natural to ask: “Do I really need to file bankruptcy?” The honest answer is – not always, but it’s often times either the best (and only) […]