Post Polak counsels national and locally-based clients in the hotel and restaurant industries as well as alcoholic beverage distributors, manufacturers and retailers on a wide range of issues in the alcoholic beverage and hospitality fields. Our practice includes coordinating and processing liquor license transfer applications, license application amendments and license renewals (whether multiple unit applications for national hotel and restaurant chains or applications for individual proprietors), assuring compliance with other regulatory reporting requirements, appearing before regulatory agencies and courts on alcoholic beverage and hospitality-related matters (including compliance matters) and providing ancillary real estate, leasing and land use counseling.
Navigating the complex laws governing the alcohol beverage industry requires more than just an understanding of the applicable laws and regulations. It also requires an understanding of the dynamics of the federal, state and local agencies who enforce those laws and regulations. We pride ourselves on our knowledge of those dynamics and further on our ability to forge a positive working relationship with those agencies and their personnel. To help in this process we have assembled a team of alcoholic beverage attorneys and staff who have considerable backgrounds both in the private and public sectors of alcoholic beverage law practice. This includes Jerry Fischer, who served as the Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control between 2000 and 2012, and J. Wesley Geiselman who served as Counsel to the Director of the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control for many years.
Also of critical importance to members of the alcoholic beverage industry is an understanding of proposed legislation and regulations that will affect the industry. Our attorneys not only make it a point to be aware of regulatory and legislative developments but also to be active in adding to the industry’s voice in suggesting regulatory or legislative changes or commenting on proposed laws and rules. Towards this end, Doug Sherman and Jerry Fischer participate in the Director’s Advisory Committee which is a group of industry representatives selected by the Director and, at his request, provide him with input and opinions on significant issues facing the industry.
In addition, Post Polak has staked out a position as a leader in the fast-changing world of cannabis law in New Jersey. Our cannabis industry practice group advises entrepreneurs in the complex and evolving field of cannabis law providing guidance and insight into entity formation and capital raising, real estate and zoning, permitting and regulatory compliance and enforcement and transactions related to regulated substances. We advise clients on the full range of licensed entity needs: formation and capital raising; real estate/zoning applications for business; permits and regulatory compliance and enforcement issues; business law and transitions; and acquisition and mergers.
