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Liquor Licenses

Our team provides experienced, insightful and practical legal counsel to businesses in the alcoholic beverage industry including hotels, restaurants, retail package stores, bars and the lenders serving these businesses. We navigate and guide clients through New Jersey’s complex liquor license laws with a deep understanding of the state's intricate and complicated regulations and the governing agencies, providing strategic support to help secure, maintain, amend and transfer liquor licenses efficiently and effectively.

Our services in the alcoholic beverage industry encompass the preparation and filing of all necessary documentation with the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and local municipal authorities in connection with the sale, purchase, amendment and renewal of liquor licenses, ensuring accuracy, completeness and compliance to minimize delays and close the transaction.

We also assist and provide guidance to institutional lenders and private equity firms who seek to take liquor licenses as collateral for loans, which entails a legal process that is often misunderstood by lenders. In these loan-related matters, we outline the appropriate loan structure and review and draft loan documents to secure the license as collateral and ensure the lender’s rights and remedies in the event of a default.

Representative Matters

  • Represented buyers and sellers of Class C and Class D liquor licenses and real estate developers in connection with license transfers and placement within shopping center developments.  
  • Represented restaurant groups and commercial property owners in complex liquor license matters, including corporate restructurings, minority investments, regulatory filings, and transfers of plenary retail consumption and distribution licenses for hospitality developments valued at up to $15 million.

Of Interest