Restaurant

The passion, creativity, cooking and service expertise that go into any restaurant are only part of its success. Especially in today’s rapidly evolving environment, there are so many legal issues that pervade restaurant ownership and management.

Without question, having access to a firm with proven expertise and ability to provide full service legal and business advice to its restaurant clients is the best way to address them.

From fast food to fine dining, independent concept or franchise, Taylor English’s decades of industry and operational experience with restaurants, franchises and service industries helps clients to:

  • Manage labor and employment issues
  • Comply with state and federal laws
  • Navigate alcohol licensing and permitting
  • Negotiate real estate contracts, leases and related matters
  • Implement technology resources and cyber security protocols
  • Develop roadmaps for both immediate and long-term planning

We support restaurateurs through every stage of the business journey. We actively listen to restaurant owners, franchisors and franchisees to identify business and legal challenges as well as opportunities. Wherever our clients aim to take their restaurant(s), they know they have the backing of the firm’s bench strength and our extensive tenure in the restaurant space. Our flexible model means clients engage us in whatever cadence works for their businesses, allowing them to economize and direct precious resources to the right places in order to thrive. Our backgrounds in restaurant operations and the front-end consumer experience act as force multipliers for our legal knowledge.

We understand how compliance, technology and safety can work together to deliver exceptional service. For instance, we are often asked to educate clients on state and local regulations tied to alcohol licensing and permitting. Our Responsible Alcohol Sales & Service (RASS) workshops are so highly regarded that they are now a prerequisite for obtaining an alcohol license in several Georgia jurisdictions. We also provide counsel on alcohol related matters to a range of food and beverage trade associations, including the Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia Food Industry Association and Georgia Association of Convenience Stores.

The most significant marker of success for us is growing with our clients and offering needed resources along the way. In short, we keep our fingers on the pulse of the restaurant industry so that we can serve clients proactively and responsively, with practicality and purpose

Insights

Insight

Conversations with TED: Franchising

April 5th, 2023

In this episode of Conversations with TED, partners Rhonda Parish and Sonny Cohen walk through the steps to consider when buying a…

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Conversations with TED: 2022 Challenges Women are Facing in the Restaurant Industry

August 31st, 2022

In this episode of Conversations with TED, we address some of the challenges facing women in the restaurant and hospitality industry. …

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Conversations with TED: Technology Trends Impacting the Restaurant Industry

March 3rd, 2022

In this episode of Conversations with TED, I highlight technology trends shaping the future of the restaurant industry. During the…

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The Discrimination Landmine of Ditching Your Landline

January 31st, 2022

Some businesses, including restaurants, are giving up their landlines. But could this expose them to federal disability discrimination…

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Conversations with TED: COVID-19 Trends and Restaurant Recovery

January 27th, 2022

This episode of Conversations with TED discusses COVID-19 trends and their impact on the recovery of restaurants. The move by restaurants…

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Conversations with TED: Stories that Defined the Restaurant Industry in 2021

January 21st, 2022

This episode of Conversations with TED speaks to salient factors in 2021 that influenced the restaurant industry. In looking at stories…

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Conversations with TED: Creative Solutions to Restaurants’ Staffing Issues

January 13th, 2022

This episode of Conversations with TED, presents ideas and considerations related to improving restaurant staffing. Ongoing challenges…

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Everyone in the Pool – Will We Ever Be Able to Include Back-of-the-House Staff in a Tip Pool?

September 2nd, 2021

Restaurant Startup & Growth magazine featured Alisa Cleek’s article titled “Everyone in the Pool – Will We Ever Be Able to Include…

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DOL Proposes to Formalize the 80/20 Rule for Tipped Employees

June 24th, 2021

On June 21, 2021, the Department of Labor began the notice-and comment process for a proposed regulation to formalize the 80/20 rule for…

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Worth a Shot: Developing a COVID-19 Employee Vaccination Policy

March 2nd, 2021

In a recent article for Restaurant Startup & Growth, Alisa Cleek discusses whether restaurant operators can legally mandate their…

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Taylor English Bolsters Corporate Practice With the Addition of Partner Harold M. “Sonny” Cohen

August 13th, 2020

Taylor English Duma LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Harold M. “Sonny” Cohen as a partner in the firm’s corporate practice….

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Some Restaurants Not Reopening Dining Areas

April 26th, 2020

In an interview with CBS 46 on April 26, Michele Stumpe discusses the guidelines required to open the doors of restaurants to customers…

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Summary of Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s Order Re-Opening Restaurants

April 25th, 2020

Earlier this week, the Governor’s office announced that restaurants in Georgia could re-open as early as Monday (April 27) UNDER certain…

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“Women’s Restaurant Leadership Forum,” Restaurateur Summit

February 27th, 2020

On February 27, 2020, Taylor English Partner Michele Stumpe spoke at the Women’s Restaurant Leadership Forum at the Restaurateur Summit…

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Taylor English’s Michele Stumpe Honored as Legal “Trailblazer” In Georgia

October 15th, 2019

Taylor English Duma LLP is pleased to announce that Michele L. Stumpe has been named a 2019 Georgia Trailblazer by the Daily Report….

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Tips About “The Big Game” Week

January 22nd, 2019

WARNING: DON’T USE THE TERM “SUPER BOWL” IN YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA OR PROMOTIONS Taylor English trademark attorney, Amanda Hyland, recently…

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Compliance Update: The Consumer Review Fairness Act

March 30th, 2018

The Georgia Restaurant Association’s blog published Joseph Sullivan’s article on the Consumer Review Fairness Act (CRFA.) Previously,…

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The Formation of a Restaurant as a Legal Entity

March 6th, 2018

On March 6, 2018, Modern Restaurant Management published Julian Fortuna and Jonathan Wilson’s article titled, “The Formation of a…

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Holiday Parties: Best Practices for Hosting Special Events at Your Restaurant This Season

December 1st, 2017

Holiday parties are a great way to build revenue at the end of the year. However, potential liabilities can yield devastating results….

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Surviving the Inspection: How to Protect Your Georgia Alcohol Licenses

August 1st, 2017

Restaurant Informer featured Michele Stumpe and Tiffanie Pittington’s article titled, “Surviving the Inspection: How to Protect Your…

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“Brewery and Distillery Business Entity Selection, Formation, Finance and Insurance,” National Business Institute Seminar

March 21st, 2017

On March 21, 2017, Jonathan B. Wilson spoke on the topic “Brewery and Distillery Business Entity Selection, Formation, Finance and…

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Steps to Limiting Alcohol Liability

March 9th, 2017

In an article published on March 6, 2017, in the Georgia Restaurant Association’s Legal Knowledge Center Blog, Michele L. Stumpe…

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A Fast Casual’s Guide to Selling Alcohol

February 1st, 2017

In an article published by QSR Magazine on January 31, 2017, Michele L. Stumpe provides insight regarding the challenges quick serve…

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Dealing With Negative Feedback Online: A Restaurant’s Guide to Taking Legal Action

January 2nd, 2017

What restaurants can do about bad reviewsFSR Magazine Nowadays, everyone is a food critic. Consequential opinions that were once reserved…

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About Taylor English

Taylor English Duma LLP was built from the ground up to provide highest-quality legal services for optimal value. The firm combines the best aspects of a traditional law firm with seasoned attorneys throughout the United States. Together, our attorneys work each day to provide timely, creative, and cost-effective counsel to help clients solve problems and achieve goals. Taylor English clients run the gamut from Fortune 500 companies to middle market businesses to start ups and entrepreneurs. The firm is the Georgia law firm member of GGI Global Alliance AG, the leading worldwide alliance of accounting and law firms, giving our clients access to a trusted stable of high-quality professional services organizations around the globe.

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