The New Reality for NYC Hotels: Pricing, Licensing, Politics, and a $40 Million Warning
The New Reality for NYC Hotels: Pricing, Licensing, Politics, and a $40 Million Warning By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law Since January 2026, four major regulatory developments have landed on New York City hotel operators in rapid succession. Individually, each represents a significant compliance obligation. Together, they represent a systemic shift in […]
Good Guy Guarantees and Personal Guarantees
Good Guy Guarantees and Personal Guarantees By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law How to Limit Your Personal Risk in NYC Restaurant Leases Most NYC restaurant leases come with a catch: the landlord wants you, not just your LLC, on the hook. I’ve seen restaurant owners sign personal guarantees without fully understanding what […]
Base Rent, Percentage Rent, and “Additional Rent”
Base Rent, Percentage Rent, and “Additional Rent” By Andreas Koutsoudakis, Partner | Hospitality and Restaurant Law Understanding the True Cost of Your NYC Restaurant Lease When someone asks, “What’s your rent?” most restaurant owners quote the base number. In New York City, that’s only one piece of the puzzle. I’ve watched owners sign leases thinking […]
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 […]
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 […]
Home Rule vs. State Authority: Three Long Island Towns Take on New York’s Cannabis Control Board
Home Rule vs. State Authority: Three Long Island Towns Take on New York’s Cannabis Control Board Over Local Zoning Rights By Nicholas T. Terzulli, Partner | Cannabis Law Practice Key Takeaways: The Towns of Southampton, Riverhead, and Brookhaven filed a joint lawsuit in Albany County Supreme Court on February 6, 2026, challenging the New York […]
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 […]