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Hospitality, Liquor & Alcohol Licensing & Compliance Lawyer in Harrisburg, PA

Johnson Duffie provides legal advisors who understand your business and the highly regulated nature of the alcohol industry in Pennsylvania. Leveraging experience, our Liquor Licensing and Alcohol attorneys form a collaborative relationship with each client and develop an individualized approach.

We can provide value to beverage retailers, distributors, restaurants, hotels, bars, private clubs, music and entertainment venues, breweries, wineries and distilleries. Johnson Duffie recognizes the challenges that these businesses face and provides solutions to all forms of legal matters to protect their interests and help them reach their strategic goals.

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Licensing, Permits and Compliance

Laws regulating the alcohol industry at the local, state and federal levels can be complicated and difficult to navigate. Our Liquor Licensing and Alcohol team is familiar with the rules and can provide legal advice to clients facing matters such as:

  • Pre-application strategy and prequalification analysis
  • Liquor license applications and renewals
  • Purchase and transfer of liquor licenses
  • Additional permits and privileges for licensees
  • Health, safety and occupational permits
  • Distribution contracts with licensed wholesalers
  • Import agreements, taxation and recordkeeping

Enforcement Actions and Claims Resolution 

Johnson Duffie can defend claims before the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement and in state and federal court. Our attorneys provide clients with thoughtful, aggressive and effective representation for:

  • Liquor license violation notices and citations
  • Defense of nuisance bar allegations
  • Non-renewal actions
  • Health and safety issues
  • License application denials
  • Dram Shop liability claims (serving alcohol to underage or visibly intoxicated persons)

Access to a Full-Service Team

Johnson Duffie is a multi-disciplinary law firm, which allows our Liquor Licensing and Alcohol clients to leverage attorneys and consultants who are well-versed in their respective focus areas:

Our Business Law group can assist on general business matters, forming a new business, business succession planning, financing, governance documents and contract reviews. We also have a team of experienced mergers and acquisitions (M&A) attorneys who can assist with the purchase and sale of businesses and their assets, as well as a robust real estate group which can handle purchases, leasing, zoning, and negotiations with neighborhood and civic associations. We can also assist in property transfers, commercial lending, banking and finance and tax-related matters.

Our Employment Law attorneys review employment agreements, non-compete contracts, employee handbooks and human resources policies to ensure compliance with federal and state law. Our Labor and Employment attorneys can advise on issues related to compliance with Department of Labor (DoL), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspections and compliance.

We are equipped to represent you in matters that include:

  • License renewals
  • Sale and purchase of liquor licenses
  • Liquor license closings
  • Revenue clearance, labor and industry clearance
  • Liquor license safekeeping

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Winner of the US News Best Law 14 Consecutive Years Since 2010