Overview
For an industry that depends on public interaction with its facilities and its employees, hospitality carries significant risk. A lot can go wrong: venues that are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an inappropriate exchange between a club employee and a member, union organizing, a wage and hour class action.
At Epstein Becker Green, we’ve been representing hotels, resorts, cruise lines, restaurants, spas, casinos, private clubs, and others for 50 years. We understand the unique challenges of their business and the many employment, labor, and workforce management issues that arise.
Safeguarding Workforce Assets with Tailored Advice and Training
Whether we’re expanding a compliance program, reviewing pay practices, or navigating health care and health benefit updates, we draw on our deep industry knowledge and benchmarking data to promote safe and productive work environments. Our policies, handbooks, and training programs are specifically tailored to best practices and preventive strategies for professional and courteous face-to-face interaction with colleagues and customers. When circumstances necessitate large reductions in force, our guidance ensures compliance at every step of the process.
Proven Litigation Strategies for High-Exposure Problems
Our team of seasoned litigators draws on deep experience defending employers in high-profile cases involving claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and breach of contract. When confronted with a class action alleging wage and hour violations or independent contractor misclassification, we act quickly to get the case dismissed or drastically limit exposure. Our lawyers have even challenged the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and secured new guidance that enabled restaurants and other businesses to create tip pools for tipped and non-tipped employees.
Proactive Labor Relations for Productive Workforces
Hospitality employers, especially hotels, country clubs, and resorts, need an experienced partner to support their labor-management relations objectives. Our lawyers have worked at the National Labor Relations Board, the DOL, and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and in state and local agencies regulating labor-management relations in the public and private sectors. We regularly help our clients handle their most complex challenges, whether they’re negotiating new contracts or collective bargaining agreements, or trying to maintain their non-union status.
We’ve Got Accessibility Covered
ADA compliance is paramount in the hospitality industry. Our deep bench of lawyers and technology auditors represents clients in all accessibility concerns involving their accommodations, public venues, physical workspaces, and websites. We resolve legal and regulatory claims quickly and mitigate future risk by negotiating positive compliance terms with the DOJ, performing brick-and-mortar facility audits, and reviewing accessible construction design plans. Our industry-leading technology consulting team provides full-service advice and audits. They help companies ensure that their websites and mobile applications meet ADA guidelines for mobility, hearing, vision, or communication disabilities.
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Focus Areas
Services
- ADA and Public Accommodations
- Appellate
- Business Torts, Competition & Trade Secrets
- Class Actions
- Construction Law
- Corporate & Transactional
- Corporate Financing
- Corporate Governance
- Corporate Reorganization
- Cross-Border Data Transfers
- Cross-Border Transactions
- Cybersecurity Risk Assessment
- Data Asset Management
- Data Breach and Incident Response
- Data Breach/Cybersecurity Investigations & Litigation
- Data Protection
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Counseling
- Employee Benefits and ERISA
- Employment Litigation
- Employment Training
- Employment, Labor & Workforce Management
- ERISA – Retirement and Benefit Plan Litigation
- Executive Compensation
- Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy
- Foreign Multinational Counseling and Litigation
- Immigration
- Insider Threats
- Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property Litigation
- Labor and Employment Due Diligence
- Labor Management Relations
- Litigation & Business Disputes
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)
- Pandemic Workforce Issues
- Pay Equity
- Privacy Compliance Strategies
- Privacy, Cybersecurity & Data Asset Management
- Ransomware
- Real Estate
- Remote and Hybrid Work
- Social Media and the Workplace
- State Privacy Law Compliance
- Tax and Tax-Exempt Counseling
- Trade Secrets & Employee Mobility
- Wage and Hour
- Whistleblowing and Compliance
- Workforce Government Relations
- Workforce Restructuring and Other Cost-Saving Mechanisms
- Workplace Investigations
Trending Issues
Experience
- Defended a hotel company with properties across the country in a DOL investigation of its pay practices. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we concluded the matter in six weeks with no findings of back wages or penalties due—a rarity in hospitality employer investigations.
- Resolved a significant regulatory accessibility investigation for a global cruise line. We reached a comprehensive, landmark agreement to enhance the client’s existing accessibility policies, practice, and procedures. In extensive negotiations with the regulators, we offered new and creative approaches to resolving concerns that were supported by architectural designs and economic data.
- Counseled two major hotel chains severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic on preparing WARN Act notices in dozens of states and in reporting the employee furloughs and terminations to governmental entities. Due to our efforts, these furloughs and closures resulted in zero lawsuits filed and no WARN violations alleged.
- Represented a major privately held owner of budget-friendly hotels in its labor relations initiatives, which have allowed the client to maintain non-union status.
- Won a three-week jury trial for a large hotel and entertainment company, in which the former employee had alleged a hostile work environment based on age.
Our Team
Media
Events
Past Events
- November 29, 2023
- March 23, 2023
- March 8, 2023
- November 30, 2022
- November 29, 2022
- November 3, 2022
Insights
Insights
- BlogsPay Transparency Comes to Washington, DC7 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Continues to Materially Expand Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Capabilities with ...3 minute read
- Media CoverageJeff Ruzal Quoted in “2nd Circ. Remand Gives Lesson for Closing Wage Claims”3 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Named Among “Leading Edge Law Firms” by BTI Consulting Group2 minute read
- BlogsD.C. Expands Coverage of Minimum Wage Law2 minute read
- Blogs
Privacy Officer's Roadmap: Data Breach and Ransomware Defense – Speaking of Litigation Video Podcast
42 minute read - Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green’s Complimentary Wage & Hour App Provides Employers with Updates on Key Laws for 20243 minute read
- Media CoveragePaul DeCamp Quoted in “Ambiguity Is Key to Triggering Agency Deference”3 minute read
- PublicationsNYC ESSTA’s New Private Right of Action Gives Employers a Reason for Action … to Review Safe and Sick Leave Policies ...11 minute read
- Media CoverageJeff Ruzal Quoted in “1 Way to Wrap Up Wage-Hour Suits Without Court Review”3 minute read
- Media CoveragePaul DeCamp Quoted in “DOL Tip Rule Nonsensical, Restaurant Groups Tell 5th Circ.”3 minute read
- BlogsState and Local Minimum Wage Increases on January 1, 202418 minute read
- PublicationsReminder for New Jersey Employers: Review Employment Law Updates and Poster Requirements for 202419 minute read
- PublicationsNew York State Follows New York City in Enacting Freelance Worker Protections9 minute read
- PublicationsCorporate Transparency Act Brings Expansive New Federal Reporting Requirements for Entities in 202419 minute read
- PublicationsNew Year, New Changes for California Employers in 202422 minute read
- PublicationsMaking Sense of New Paid Leave Obligations in Illinois – Coming SOON26 minute read
- Media CoverageJeff Ruzal Quoted in “Wage Division Reports Banner Year for Fines, Record Low Actions”4 minute read
- PublicationsNew York Further Restricts Agreements Involving Claims of Discrimination, Harassment, or Retaliation8 minute read
- BlogsICYMI: 10+ Years Later, NY Limits Employers’ Access to Employees’ Social Media and Other “Personal Accounts” ...8 minute read
- Media CoveragePaul DeCamp Quoted in “Judges Order Arrests in Rare Labor Agency ‘Punch’ Over Defiance”2 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green’s Digital Marketing Strategies Earn Several “Top Performer” Rankings in the 2023 Social Law ...3 minute read
- BlogsNew York to Extend Window for Filing Administrative Complaints of Unlawful Discrimination3 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Awards 2023 Annual Core Values Champions4 minute read
- Media Coverage
As Featured in Law360: Epstein Becker Promotions Inch Up with 12 Members Named
2 minute read - Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Announces 2024 Promotions6 minute read
- PublicationsDealing with Controversial Commentary? Some Guidance and Guardrails for Employers19 minute read
- Media CoverageEpstein Becker Green Featured in “Share of Women Among Partner Promos Continues Growing”3 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Recognized Among 2024 “Best Law Firms” by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®
6 minute read - Media CoveragePaul DeCamp Quoted in “11 States Support Bid In 5th Circ. to Nix DOL Tip Rule”4 minute read
- BlogsAnswering a Major Question No One Asked: NLRB Issues Final Rule on Joint-Employer Status5 minute read
- BlogsMassachusetts Employers: Don’t be Scared! Key Updates Coming to the Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave Law ...4 minute read
- Media Coverage
Featured in The Legal Intelligencer: Epstein Becker Green Snags Employment Benefits Team to Launch Pittsburgh Office ...
2 minute read - Media CoverageKathryn English, Sandra Mihok, Heather Stone Fletcher, William Carter, Samuel Nolan Featured in “5-Person Benefits ...3 minute read
- Media CoverageEpstein Becker Green Expands Pittsburgh Footprint Following Addition of 5 Former Attorneys from Eckert Seamans1 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Expands Employee Benefits Practice with Five-Attorney Group in Pittsburgh3 minute read
- Media CoverageJeff Ruzal Quoted in “Tipped Credit Rule May Bring Down Tipped Wages”3 minute read
- Media CoveragePaul DeCamp Quoted in “Restaurant Groups Urge 5th Circ. to Toss DOL's Tip Rule”3 minute read
- PublicationsCalifornia Makes Its Strict Noncompete Law Even Stricter5 minute read
- PublicationsCalifornia Employers: Increased Paid Sick Leave Effective January 1, 20246 minute read
- PublicationsNew York Restricts Assignment of Employee Intellectual Property7 minute read
- Media CoverageJeff Ruzal Quoted in “Perdue, Tyson Foods Face ‘Unique’ Probe in Child Labor Crackdown”5 minute read
- PublicationsCalifornia Employers: Amended Ban-the-Box Regulations Effective October 1, 202314 minute read
- BlogsNew York Paid Family Leave Benefits and Contribution Rates Changing (Again) in 20242 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Twenty-One Attorneys Named to the 2023 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
12 minute read - Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Named “Best of the Best” in LinkedIn Performance by BTI Consulting Group6 minute read
- Media CoverageJeff Ruzal Quoted in “DC Service Fees a Case Study for Tip Wage Phaseout”3 minute read
- Media CoverageAndrew Lichtenstein Featured in “On the Move”1 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Recognized by 2024 Best Lawyers for Excellence in the Legal Profession
12 minute read - Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Receives New York Law Journal’s 2023 Innovation Award
4 minute read