Our Communications, Media & Information Technologies (CMIT) lawyers regularly advise hospitality industry clients on a wide range of issues, including trademark/trade name registration and litigation, advertising issues (e.g., review of ad copy for legal issues, defense of ad-related litigation), and content-related work (e.g., reviewing content of in-house publications and trade magazines for legal problems) and defending against content-related claims.

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The Employee Benefits Section helps clients to assure that their retirement and welfare plans are in compliance with the complex laws governing the field. Examples of our experience in the hospitality industry range from designing and drafting an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) for a large restaurant chain, or preparing 401(k) and welfare plans for a regional restaurant group, or creating executive deferred compensation plans for a national coffee retailer. We also offer assistance with day to day compliance matters like Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) disputes, reviewing qualified domestic relations orders, and correcting benefit plan operational problems.

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Labor-intensive hospitality employers are confronted daily with a wide variety of challenging employment and labor issues, particularly given the constantly changing federal and state laws and regulations. The 50 attorneys of Davis Wright Tremaine's Employer Services Group understand the hospitality industry and its needs and regularly assist hospitality employers in successfully navigating their way through these minefields. Our focus is on avoiding problems where possible through preventive strategies and programs and resolving those issues which inevitably do arise as quickly, efficiently and economically as possible. We help hospitality employers with matters involving labor and employment, (including defending against claims of discrimination, harassment and wrongful discharge) as well as counseling employers on issues as diverse as employee leave issues, union avoidance and employee handbooks and policies.

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With a host of complex federal and state environmental laws to deal with, hospitality industry clients can depend upon Davis Wright Tremaine's Environmental Group lawyers to provide sound guidance. Whether it's securing regulatory permits for development, performing pre-acquisition environmental site assessments, securing water rights for new golf courses or resort landscaping, or providing regulatory compliance audits, DWT's Environmental Law expertise is a valuable resource for hospitality industry clients.

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Davis Wright Tremaine's Food & Agriculture lawyers work with the hospitality industry on a variety of matters, including negotiating strategic supply relationships with raw product and ingredient suppliers, advising regarding food safety and merchandising regulations, and implementing co-branding programs with food and beverage manufacturers.

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Davis Wright Tremaine's experienced immigration legal team has regularly advised hospitality industry businesses on a wide variety of immigration matters, assisting for over 20 years. We have helped businesses obtain visas for their employees (particularly for foreign-food chefs and cooks and hotel or restaurant managers), counseled on immigration compliance issues (particularly regarding form I-9 compliance), and assisted businesses and individuals apply for U.S. citizenship.

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Intellectual Property (IP) is a rapidly developing and important area of law. With the growth of the Internet, the globalization of trade, and the growing significance of technology, no modern hospitality industry business can afford to ignore this issue. From trademark and trade name clearance, protection and licensing, trade dress (the layout, appearance, and look and feel of a place of business) identification and protection, to trade secret protection, DWT's IP lawyers offer practical guidance for your intellectual property interests.

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DWT's International Section has represented hospitality industry clients on the international scene for many years. We handle a wide range of international legal issues, including the establishment of company branches and subsidiaries, the formation of international joint ventures, foreign investment in U.S. real estate, international financing, international trade, maritime law, international tax, technology transfers, transnational litigation, and other related matters.

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With over 155 litigators in eight offices across the United States, DWT regularly advises a variety of clients within the hospitality industry - from small, locally-owned taverns to large, multi-national corporations. From general litigation (plaintiff or defendant) in all types of business disputes to defending clients in state lottery or state liquor commission claims, DWT litigators take an intelligent approach to litigation. Our goal is to solve client problems as quickly and economically as possible, always with an eye toward fulfilling our clients' objectives.

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Davis Wright Tremaine's Real Property Group handles a variety of real estate, land use and construction issues for hospitality industry clients. Whether it's acquiring and developing restaurant and hotel properties, leasing for restaurants and bars, or land use advice related to the location of restaurants and hotels, DWT's Real Property lawyers offer down-to-earth and practical guidance.

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CenturyPacific, L.P.
CenturyPacific, L.P. and Managing Director, Steven L. Wood, have been a long-term strategic alliance partner with DWT. CenturyPacific offers a full range of real estate services, including real estate investment banking, consulting and development management.

visit CenturyPacific L.P. website