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Commercial Lease Instability Is Becoming a Structural Threat to New York’s Hospitality Sector
The Jimmy’s Corner Eviction Fight Exposes the Real Risk Profile for Bars and Restaurants New York’s hospitality industry isn’t just navigating shifting consumer trends and labor volatility--it’s increasingly constrained by commercial real estate leverage that directly impacts operational stability. While I usually avoid this area like the plague, Jimmy's Corner remains one of the holdouts in a district dominated by corporate brands and inflated rents. For 50 years, you could

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Dec 17, 20254 min read


The Hidden Backbone of the Hospitality Sector: How Escalating Immigration Enforcement Threatens the Region’s Culinary Identity
Buffalo’s hospitality sector is powered by immigrant labor, full stop. The city’s restaurants, markets, bakeries, and hotels do not function without the workforce that federal enforcement agencies are now targeting. The current administration’s posture isn’t just a policy shift; it is a direct hit on the operating capacity, cultural identity, and economic stability of Western New York. These actions create fear, destabilize staffing pipelines, and put employers in an impossib

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Dec 8, 20253 min read
Why Deals Stall and How to Get Them Across the Finish Line
Acquiring a restaurant, bar, hotel, or other hospitality business in New York seldom closes on schedule. The main sources of delay are...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Oct 7, 20254 min read
Navigating Hidden Risks in Hospitality Industry Transactions in New York State
Buying or selling a bar, restaurant, or hotel in New York is exciting — but it’s rarely simple. Asset purchase agreements are designed to...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Sep 22, 20256 min read


From Workarounds to Recognition: New York Moves to License Brand Owners
Updated September 2025. TL;DR A.6277-A would add §61-c to New York’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Law (" ABC Law ") to create a new...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Sep 17, 20257 min read


Two More Quietly Transformative ABC-Law Bills in Albany: Brand Owners and For-Profit Clubs
New York’s 2025 legislative session produced two additional alcohol-law proposals with outsized implications for hospitality, beverage...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Aug 15, 20258 min read
An Overdue Expansion: New Off Premise Allowances in New York State
Rachel L. Wright, Esq. , Buffalo, New York On June 7, 2025, the New York State Legislature passed Senate Bill S7909 / Assembly Bill...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Jul 18, 20253 min read


Pernod Ricard’s Strategic Restructuring Amid Declining Alcohol Sales
As global consumer preferences evolve and economic headwinds continue to challenge traditional industries, even long-established titans...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Jun 20, 20254 min read


The Wine in Supermarkets Reform in New York: Legislative Stalemate, Comparative Insights, and the Impact on Hospitality Law and M&A Transactions
For over a decade, the question of whether New York supermarkets should be permitted to sell wine has occupied a pivotal role in the...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Jun 10, 20254 min read


Take It to Go-Legal Developments and Implications for the Hospitality Industry
In response to economic pressures during the COVID-19 pandemic, New York State temporarily authorized the sale of alcoholic beverages for...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Jun 2, 20253 min read


Casamigos, Don Julio, and the Tequila Purity Lawsuit: A Legal and Cultural Reckoning
In 2018, my final project in Advertising Law discussed how scaling small production tequila distillation was both destroying the quality...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
May 14, 20254 min read


When Safety Is Optional: Why Weakening the FDA Should Scare Every Parent—and Every American
FDA regulations, food safety, infant formula, federal oversight, global trade, regulatory law, public health, agency reform As a lawyer,...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
May 7, 20253 min read


Pumping, Parenting, and Performance: Navigating Billable Expectations as a New Mom in Law
Returning to work as a new mother is challenging in any profession. But in corporate law—where time is literally money and every...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
May 5, 20252 min read


Culture Clash: Why M&A Success in Hospitality Hinges on More Than the Deal
By Rachel L. Wright, Esq., Corporate Attorney & Hospitality Professional Several years ago, I was part of a company that was acquired by...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
May 2, 20253 min read


2025 Legal & Cultural Trends in Hospitality: What Buffalo Bars and Restaurants Need to Know
By Rachel L. Wright, Esq. | Business, Hospitality & Licensing Law | Based in Buffalo, NY As a hospitality attorney working with bars,...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Apr 29, 20253 min read


Geographic Indications in Wine and Spirits: Legal Protections, Precedent, and Emerging Trends in U.S. Markets
In the highly competitive global alcohol market, geographic origin functions not only as a marker of provenance but as a legally...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Apr 9, 20253 min read


Legal Analysis of Hooters' Chapter 11 Bankruptcy and Strategic Corporate Restructuring
Hooters of America, the iconic brand known for its wings, beer, and, well, distinctive ambiance, has recently filed for Chapter 11...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Apr 1, 20253 min read


The Death of Legal Dissent: Why You Should Be Terrified by the Latest White House Memo
A defense attorney in my office recently told me that because of my strong held belief in justice that I belong in the courtroom. Little...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Mar 27, 20253 min read


The Looming Tariffs on European Wine: Legal and Economic Implications for New York’s Hospitality Industry
The restaurant and bar industry in New York is confronting a new challenge with the possible implementation of high tariffs on European...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Mar 26, 20254 min read


Navigating the Shifting Landscape of the Restaurant Industry: Economic Forecast, Challenges, and Legal Considerations
The restaurant industry in 2025 faces a dynamic and challenging economic environment. While the sector is projected to reach $1.5...

Rachel L. Wright, Esq.
Mar 21, 20254 min read
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