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PRACTICE AREAS

 

Liquor Licensing and Permitting

Our Firm has more experience handling liquor license acquisitions and transfers than any other firm in the State of Michigan. We have obtained liquor licenses for our Clients in every County in the State, and are experts in the Michigan Liquor Control Code, and the procedures for obtaining or transferring a liquor license in Michigan. We represent a majority of the national and regional restaurant and hotel chains operating in Michigan, as well as local independent owners and operators. We also counsel sellers of liquor licenses, assist banks in transferring licenses involved in bankruptcies or foreclosures, and represent hospitality industry operators in connection with management or operating agreement matters.

Our relationships are what set us apart from other firms. We work with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission on a daily basis, and have established key relationships with the Clerks, Planners, Police Departments, Board Members, and Commissioners that make the liquor license decisions in our State’s municipalities. Our experience and relationships not only help us obtain favorable results for our Clients, but enable us to expedite liquor license applications, and get the job done when an opening date is rapidly approaching. Leave the liquor licensing up to us - so you are able to focus on opening your business.

 

Liquor Violation Hearings

Our Firm represents more licensees in the State of Michigan than any other law firm. Because of our strategic office locations in Lansing, Troy and Gaylord, we are able to provide nearly statewide coverage in attending hearings in Lansing, Farmington, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, Cadillac, Traverse City, Flint, Saginaw, Petoskey, Sterling Heights and wherever the MLCC schedules hearings. We have developed relationships with other counsel for hearings that may be scheduled for Michigan's Upper Peninsula. We have worked with numerous Assistant Attorneys General over the years in negotiating favorable settlements when it is in our client's best interest, and we also have the experience to fully contest MLCC violations when necessary. Our attorneys have handled several hundred MLCC violation hearings over the years, so put our experience to work for you. We are on your side.

 

Administrative & Regulatory Law

Our Firm has represented many clients before numerous state administrative and regulatory agencies including the Liquor Control Commission, Public Service Commission, Tax Tribunal, Department of Treasury, Community Health, Natural Resources, Bureau of State Lottery and the Attorney General's office. We routinely appear before these agencies in contested case hearings under the Administrative Procedures Act. We can help cut through the bureaucratic "red tape" when new regulations are proposed that will affect your business. We help our clients stay connected to what is happening in Lansing on a variety of regulatory issues.

 

Government Policy & Lobbying

With our Firm’s Lansing office being just minutes away from the State Capitol, we are able to provide a quick response to legislative developments. We monitor legislative activity daily, and continuously inform our Clients of legislation affecting their businesses. For example, when the Michigan Legislature recently adopted new laws governing tax liens on liquor licenses and creating a new development district liquor license, we immediately issued Bulletins explaining the new laws (cite link to articles). Our relationships with various lobbyists and legislative personnel have been developed over many years. We blend our unique knowledge and relationships to work effectively with many of the multi-client lobbying firms in the state to help our clients achieve their goals. Individually, or as part of a larger team approach, our firm can open doors and create dialogue with key decision makers in state and local government.

 

Pharmaceutical Regulation Law

 We monitor the actions of the Pharmacy Board to assist our clients when citations arise, or to help pharmacists with matters concerning their license to practice in Michigan. Over the years, Michael Brown has represented many pharmacists and pharmacies in contested case hearings before the Bureau of Health Services. Mr. Brown's strategic location in Lansing gives him ready access to department personnel, hearings, and Pharmacy Board meetings. Let him take the mystery and anxiety out of the process with an initial consultation. All inquiries are handled in strict confidence.

 

Zoning & Land Use Law

Our Firm represents restaurants, hotels, resorts and bar owners with zoning and land use matters in connection with the development of new sites, or the expansion and renovation of existing sites. We also work with commercial real estate developers advocating on their behalf for various site plan, zoning and permitting approvals. We regularly appear before Planning Commissions, Zoning Board of Appeals, City Councils, and Township Boards on behalf of our Clients. J. Patrick Howe is currently working towards obtaining a Masters of Urban Planning Degree, and has a great deal of experience working with municipal planners and building officials on various real estate developments. Our Firm’s experience with zoning and land use matters allows us to not only provide our Clients with a legal analysis of their real estate development challenges, but also provide them with insight from the municipal planner’s perspective. We’re not just a real estate developer’s law firm, we a real estate developer’s partner.