Counsel for the businesses that never close.
Built for hospitality
One industry. Nearly four decades of focus.
35+
7
Offices, coast to coast
1,200+
Licensing & regulatory
matters handled
98%
Representative venues & hospitality groups we've counseled
Every legal need of a hospitality business, under one roof.
Our attorneys and multi-disciplinary team work side-by-side to handle the specialized needs of hotel, restaurant, and development companies — quickly understanding your goals because it’s the only industry we practice in.
Licensing & Regulatory
Liquor license applications, renewals, transfers, and defense before licensing boards and city regulators.
Finance & Development
Structuring, financing, and acquiring hotel and mixed-use projects, including troubled-asset repositioning.
Employment & Labor
Wage-and-hour, tip pooling, staffing, and disputes tailored to a high-turnover hospitality workforce.
Litigation & Disputes
Arbitrating, litigating, and resolving disputes — turning operational disadvantage into advantage.
Trademark & Brand
Trademark protection, brand agreements, and franchise offerings for operators ready to grow.
Franchise & Management
Franchisor and franchisee representation, management contracts, and operator relationships.
"They understand a Friday-night emergency isn't a Monday-morning problem."
Hospitality isn't a practice group here. It's the whole firm.
Founded in 1987, InnCounsel has represented hotels, restaurants, and hospitality companies exclusively for nearly four decades. Our highly regarded industry attorneys lead an interdisciplinary team to deliver cost-effective, industry-informed counsel for local, regional, national, and international hospitality companies.
We speak the language of operators, landlords, licensing boards, and city inspectors — and we’ve built relationships across all of them. Because hospitality never sleeps, most of our new work comes by referral from the venues we already serve.
Personalized, cost-effective counsel — built around your industry, not ours.
We work the way hospitality operates: fast, direct, and without the layers. Here’s what that means in practice.
01
Industry-Exclusive Focus
We don't dabble in hospitality — it's the only industry we practice in, so there's no ramp-up time on your matter.
02
Direct Access to Principals
You reach a principal directly, every time — not a rotating cast of associates learning your business.
03
Nationwide Reach
Eight offices and associated firms coast to coast, so local relationships travel with your portfolio.
04
Transparent, Fair Fees
Cost-effective counsel with predictable billing — built for operators who plan around their legal spend.
Knowledge & Experience
Our highly regarded industry attorneys lead an interdisciplinary team of professionals to deliver cost-effective, industry-informed counsel.
- Growing your business and portfolio
- Developing systems that scale with you
- Financing developments and acquisitions
- Clarifying your relationships with partners and lenders
- Building stronger employee relationships
- Working with regulators and licensed-beverage laws
- Protecting your trademarks and brand identity
- Arbitrating, litigating, and resolving disputes
- Turning operational disadvantage into advantage
- Guiding you through every stage, opening night to exit
A national footprint, with local relationships.
Boston
Associated Firm
New York
Office
Miami
Office
Los Angeles
Office
Seattle
Associated Firm
Scottsdale
Office
New Haven
Headquarters
Tacoma
Associated Firm
Experienced advocates you'll actually work with.
Eleanor Hayes
Principal
Bar Admissions: NY, CT
James Porter
Principal
Bar Admissions: MA, FL
Priya Anand
Principal, Licensing
Bar Admissions: WA
Marcus Okafor
Principal, Liability
Bar Admissions: FL, NY
Marcus Okafor
Principal, Liability
Bar Admissions: FL, NY
Client Voices
What operators say about working with us.
Events, forums & industry
gatherings.
We host and speak across the hospitality world — join us in person, tune in online, or book a private session for your team.
14
May
Northwest Hotel Investment Forum
Stakeholders learn about trends shaping hotel investment across the Pacific Northwest.
18
SEP
Northeast Hotel Investment Forum
A gathering of owners, lenders, and operators covering the Northeast lodging outlook.
09
Oct
The Lodging Conference Golf Classic
Our annual industry golf outing alongside The Lodging Conference.
03
DEC
Hotel Industry Powder Summit
An invite-only roundtable on financing, leases, and the regulatory outlook ahead.
Recent articles & industry updates.
Finance
Transacting with a Hotel REIT — What You Should Know
Hotel REITs are prominent participants in the hotel industry, acting as buyers, owners, and capital partners.
Regulatory
The State Hospitality Law Manual, New Edition
A newly released manual covering licensing, labor, and compliance updates for hospitality operators.
Franchise
The Franchisor-Franchisee Relationship, Revisited
As the economy shifts, brand agreements are getting tougher — here's what operators should watch for.
Let's discuss your matter.
We understand that the issues facing you or your business can seem daunting. It’s our goal to put you at ease — schedule a confidential consultation.
Tell us about your matter.
Share a few details and a principal will follow up within one business day — every inquiry goes straight to an attorney, not an intake queue.
Request a Consultation
Confidential and no-obligation. Fields marked with an asterisk are required.
By submitting, you agree to be contacted about your inquiry. This does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Get in Touch
Headquarters
1 Financial Plaza, Suite 2400
New York, NY 10004
Phone
(212) 555-0187
Offices
Boston · New York · Miami · Los Angeles ·
Seattle · Scottsdale · New Haven · Tacoma
Office Hours