Food & Beverage

Those operating in the food and beverage sector – from manufacturers, distributors and importers to restaurateurs, franchisors and bar owners – are presented with a unique set of challenges. Their fiercely competitive industry is atypically margin-sensitive, dependent on strategic partnerships for capital and logistical support, and is increasingly bound to an evolving matrix of policy changes on everything from employment to product liability law.

The CSG Food & Beverage Team brings a meaningful understanding of the industry and draws from the firm’s considerable cross-functional experience to deliver innovative legal solutions and strategies that help clients protect, defend and expand their businesses. This collaborative approach gives us broad insight and regularly leads to swift and successful results for our distinguished client roster – which includes some of the most highly acclaimed restaurants, bars, nightclubs, chefs, hotels and Fortune 500 companies.

Corporate, Transactional and Distribution Support

• Mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and debt and equity financing transactions
• Strategic and private equity transactions – representing acquirers, sellers and targets, lenders, financial advisors and investment banks
• Tax structuring and other tax matters
• Purchase and sale of financially distressed businesses
• Equipment lease agreements
• Co-development, collaboration, manufacturing, supply and distribution agreements
• Franchising

Intellectual Property

• Patent, trademark and copyright clearance, prosecution and licensing
• Intellectual property litigation and disputes

Employment

• Anti-harassment policies
• Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Labor, Department of Health and Internal Revenue Service audits and investigations
• Immigration law
• Restrictive covenants, trade secret protection and unfair competition
• Wage and hour law

Product Liability and Consumer Fraud

• Alleged food and beverage contamination
• Consumer class actions
• Labeling claims
• Dispute resolution and litigation
• Settlement valuations and judgements

Liquor Licensing

• Purchase, sale, renewal and transfer of licenses and permits
• Expansions of licensed premises and reporting obligations related to changes in corporate structure
• Compliance and trade practice guidance
• Alcoholic Beverage Control violations at municipal and state levels

Real Estate

• Asset acquisition, sale, financing, leasing and management
• Negotiation of development, acquisition and sale agreements
• Drafting and negotiating leases and obtaining financing
• Land use and zoning approvals
• Due diligence investigation
• Negotiation of design, engineering and construction contracts

Environmental

• Industrial crisis management
• Regulatory support and product liability risk assessments
• Environmental dispute resolution
• Environmental due diligence and remediation