Hospitality & Leisure Solicitors

Strategic Legal Advice for Hospitality and Leisure Operators

Holmes advises hotel groups, pub and leisure operators, brand owners, developers, funders and investors on the legal issues shaping the hospitality and leisure sector in Ireland. We deliver clear, commercially focused advice across the full lifecycle of hospitality assets, from site acquisition and development to day-to-day operations, financing and dispute resolution.

Working closely with owners, operators and management teams, we help clients manage regulatory risk, protect brand value and deliver successful projects in a highly competitive and operationally complex environment.

Legal Services for Hotels, Pubs and Leisure Businesses

We provide integrated legal support across all aspects of hospitality and leisure operations. Our core areas of advice include:

• Buying, selling and developing hotels, pubs and leisure venues

• Leasing, management and franchise or brand agreements

• Financing, refinancing and security packages

• Licensing, regulatory compliance and operational risk

• Employment, TUPE and workforce restructuring

• Disputes across real estate, construction and commercial contracts

• Property and Development

Advising on site assembly and due diligence, acquisitions and disposals, development and construction contracts, title and wayleave issues, and landlord–tenant matters including heads of terms, rent reviews, renewals and break options.

• Operations, Branding and Management

Supporting hotel management agreements, franchise and brand licensing arrangements, distribution and technology contracts, outsourcing and insourcing of key services, and pre-opening and post-opening legal support.

• Finance and Transactions

Structured finance, asset and share deals, joint ventures and reorganisations, security reviews, intercreditor arrangements and covenant management designed to protect value and keep projects on track.

• Licensing and Compliance

Applications, renewals, variations and transfers; operational policies and staff training; promotional compliance; and incident response protocols to ensure venues remain compliant and reputationally protected.

• Employment and TUPE

Advising on contracts and handbooks, working time and rostering, investigations and grievances, organisational change and TUPE transfers arising from sales, brand changes or changes in service provider.

• Disputes and Risk Management

Early risk assessment, negotiation and mediation to resolve issues efficiently, and litigation where required across construction, leasing, supplier and guest claims including coordinated crisis and media response to protect brand value.

Integrated Support Across Deals, Operations and Brand

Hospitality and leisure matters frequently cut across property, corporate and employment considerations. Holmes coordinates specialist expertise across the firm to ensure real estate, brand strategy and day-to-day operations remain aligned.

Core capabilities include integrated advice across:

• Real Estate & Development

• Corporate / M&A

• Employment & Workforce

Trusted Advisors to the Hospitality and Leisure Sector

Holmes is a trusted legal advisor to hospitality and leisure businesses across Ireland, combining sector insight with strong commercial and regulatory expertise. Our advice is practical, responsive and aligned with the realities of operating consumer-facing venues.

If you are planning a transaction, opening a venue or managing an operational issue, speak with a member of our Hospitality and Leisure team for a confidential discussion.