Running a restaurant involves many moving parts, and it can be complicated to keep track of everything. Almost every aspect of your Chicago-based restaurant may benefit from the service of a Chicago restaurant lawyer. Employment issues, property, tax, litigation, intellectual property and mergers and litigation are all issues a restaurant lawyer deals with.
Employment
The restaurant business offers a variety of employment opportunities, and many workers in the food industry have short-term jobs. This rapid turnover can lead to complexities in managing employment as well as tax issues. A Chicago restaurant lawyer can assist your business in sorting out these complex issues and streamline your operations so it is easier to keep tabs on your employees. In addition to taxes, there are also insurance details to take care of, and an adept lawyer can assist with the many issues that might arise regarding insurance coverage.
Intellectual Property
If you have a proprietary dish that seems to have cropped up someone else in Chicago, you may have an intellectual property issue on your hands. You work hard to create your restaurant brand, and do not want to see this compromised if another company lifts your logo or imitates your secret sauce. A Chicago restaurant lawyer can clarify your rights in these cases and can help you protect your creations.
Litigation
Not every irate customer who threatens to sue a restaurant will carry out his or her plan, but there are enough lawsuits against restaurants to justify concern over this possibility. A restaurant lawyer plays an essential role not only in assisting you in case your business is threatened with litigation, but to safeguard your restaurant to prevent lawsuits from happening in the first place. Talking to a lawyer can help ease your worries over possible or impending litigation.
Contracts
If you run a restaurant, chances are you have to deal with a number of contracts with suppliers and partners. If there is a disagreement over payment, delivery or the ownership of certain items, a Chicago real estate lawyer will help your business sort out these disagreements and can prevent issues from having to go to court. One way to prevent this problem is to ensure your contracts are solid to begin with, and a lawyer is adept at drawing up contracts to prevent the wasted time and expense of hashing out the problem in court. If you have to go to court, your lawyer will prepare a case that will improve the chances of a successful outcome.
A Chicago restaurant lawyer will give you legal advice for a number of aspects of running a restaurant. For intellectual property, litigation, contracts and other issues, look for a Chicago restaurant lawyer who will represent you.