Restaurant Law Blog

Dealing with Coronavirus Uncertainty in Your Restaurant Lease

The ongoing health crisis, restaurant shutdown, and general economic uncertainty have made these unprecedented times for the hospitality industry.  Many restaurants may close forever, and many others that were in development may never open in the first place.  That being the case, it is understandable that many restaurant owners have halted expansion plans, and many […]

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COVID-19 Shutdown: Default Provisions and Restaurant Leases

With April 1 approaching, and April rents coming due, many restaurants are contemplating simply not paying rent, thinking that with courts being closed there is little landlords can do in response.  Before even considering this, however, it is critical that tenants understand the default provisions in their leases.  Here are some key questions to answer: […]

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The COVID-19 Coronavirus and Key Restaurant Lease Terms

No industry has been more broadly and significantly affected by the current COVID-19 health crisis than the nation’s restaurants.  The most common, and in many cases, most pressing question we have been getting from our restaurant clients is “What does my lease say about this?”  The answer has been pretty much universal:  “Nothing.”  This is […]

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ALERT: Governor’s Order Extends Maryland Liquor License Expiration Dates

For restaurants across the State of Maryland, Spring is liquor license renewal season.  As with many things we have all grown accustomed to, however, it looks like the renewal season may be postponed.  Late last week, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order extending all state license expiration dates that would have otherwise occurred during […]

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Washington DC Liquor Licensing: The Role of ANCs

For clients of ours applying for liquor licenses in the District of Columbia, especially for the first time, one of the more confusing things is the role of the District’s Advisory Neighborhood Commissions, or ANCs as they are commonly known.  ANCs are quasi-governmental bodies, made up of residents of the District’s neighborhoods, who are tasked […]

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Game Changer? Future of Maryland Liquor License Residency Laws in Doubt

For our clients seeking a liquor license in Maryland, one of the most common hurdles is the legal requirement that at least one of the applicants reside in Maryland or, in many cases, the particular county in which the license is sought.  For out-of-state operators, even those from neighboring D.C. and Virginia, we often must […]

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Maryland Liquor Licensing and Choice of Restaurant Lease Entity – Making the Pieces Fit

Here at The Morris Law Firm, we are big advocates of our restaurant clients not doing things piecemeal when it comes to opening their new locations.  For example, we think it is big mistake to pick a location, set up a new business entity, negotiate and sign a lease, and then think about liquor licensing.  We […]

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LLC or Corporation? How the Choice Can Effect your Maryland Liquor License.

One of the key questions we are often asked by startup restaurant businesses is what type of business entity the founders should form – a corporation or a limited liability company. There are multiple factors that go into the corporation vs. LLC decision, of course — taxation, management, liability protection, investment structure, etc.   But […]

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