Practice Areas & Industries: Holme Roberts & Owen LLP

Practice/Industry Group Overview

HRO’s interdisciplinary restaurant and hospitality team serves a wide variety of clients, ranging from small and independently-owned operations to national and international corporate franchises. With more than 240 lawyers in seven offices in Colorado, Utah, California and Europe, HRO lawyers are qualified to assist in a number of areas including, but not limited to, liquor licensing, employment and employee benefits, real estate and land use, zoning, intellectual property, financing and general corporate, OSHA and complex litigation.

In addition to assisting restaurant and hospitality clients with the specific issues described below, HRO lawyers provide training seminars and materials to help clients stay abreast of the economic, legislative and legal issues that affect their industry. To keep current on developments in the restaurant and resort industries, HRO lawyers attend conferences and training seminars, and regularly read relevant trade publications.

Services Available

Liquor Licensing

HRO has experience with liquor licensing issues both inside and outside of Colorado. One of the Firm’s lawyers previously served as Director of the Department of Excise and Licenses for the City and County of Denver. In that position, he administered all of the business and liquor licensing in Denver, gaining invaluable insights and a full understanding of the issues. He frequently speaks on license-related legal topics and recently presented at the National Conference of State Liquor Administrators.

Zoning

The Firm has practiced before a number of administrative bodies at the municipal, state and federal levels in matters such as zoning appeals and procurement protests. In addition, HRO lawyers have represented clients on gaming matters in Colorado and have pursued appeals of administrative decisions to the state and federal district courts.

Employment and Labor Law

HRO has one of the most comprehensive employment law practices in the region, with lawyers experienced in drafting and reviewing personnel policies, employment contracts, job applications, and other employment forms; investigating employee misconduct, including sexual harassment; regularly advising clients on employee discipline and termination issues; counseling employers on federal and state wage and hour laws; and assisting employers in understanding and complying with statutes such as the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

We also have extensive experience dealing with labor unions and the issues that arise out of a unionized workforce. Recognizing that most employers hope to avoid such issues, we work with our clients to minimize situations that lead to organizing drives. When an organizing drive does take place, we have a proven record of winning union representation elections. For clients with unionized workforces, we advise and counsel during contract administration and collective bargaining negotiations. We regularly represent clients in grievance and interest arbitrations, and have considerable experience in responding to work stoppages, strikes, union demonstrations, and boycotts.

Employee Benefits

Our employee benefits group handles all types of qualified retirement plans, employee benefit issues that arise in business transactions, executive and equity compensation issues, and fiduciary responsibility and welfare plan issues. The HRO attorneys who practice in this area interact daily with our employment law attorneys to develop customized, creative and practical solutions to employee benefit issues and problems. We also provide clients with training on how to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Real Estate and Land Use

HRO’s real estate and land use group offers property owners, institutional investors, developers and lenders a complete range of legal services for real estate acquisition, financing, public law, leasing, development, management and disposition.

Intellectual Property

The Firm’s intellectual property (IP) practice group is dedicated to securing and protecting its clients' patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and other valuable assets. HRO’s IP group is comprised of lawyers who focus on both business transactions and litigation.

Finance and General Corporate

Our corporate law attorneys have represented clients in bank and other financings, corporate restructurings, strategic planning and formation of corporations, partnerships and other entities. We have also represented clients in connection with governmental relations, corporate governance, franchising, commercial transactions and all other aspects of business law.

OSHA

HRO attorneys represent clients in a wide spectrum of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance and enforcement matters. Recent experience includes work with hazardous waste and emergency response issues, hazard communication standards, personal protective equipment, confined spaces, OSHA's proposed ergonomic standards, recordkeeping, enforcement issues (including inspections search warrant issues), and appeals before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission (OSHRC). We have conducted OSHA audits of client facilities to help determine the state of compliance. HRO's approach in this area can best be described as "recognition and prevention."

Litigation

HRO has a sophisticated and extensive complex commercial litigation practice. Our trial lawyers handle a wide array of litigation on a cost-effective basis for clients at local, regional and national levels.