MacDonnells Law understands that hospitality and tourism are serious businesses. MacDonnells Law has established itself as a leader in the provision of legal services to the hospitality and tourism industry across Queensland. As a Queensland firm, a significant number of MacDonnells Law clients are either directly involved in, or rely on, hospitality and tourism for their livelihood. For this reason, the legal service we provide to our clients is unsurpassed by our competitors. With offices in Brisbane, Cairns and Townsville, MacDonnells Law offers clients the widest on the ground coverage of any law firm in Queensland. At MacDonnells Law, we have the capacity to have people at any location on short notice.

The MacDonnells Law Liquor and Hospitality team has extensive practical experience and up-to-date knowledge of the legislation affecting the operation and development of Queensland hospitality and tourism businesses. Our expert liquor and hospitality lawyers (solicitors) advise operators of hotels, clubs, restaurants and other licensed venues across Queensland and interstate. With a strong commercial background, our Liquor and Hospitality team is uniquely placed to advise clients on all aspects relating to this industry, while devising solutions that are commercially viable. MacDonnells Law’s hospitality and tourism services include:

• new licences
• detached bottle shops
• transfers
• permits
• appeals
• management agreements
• compliance

• applications including new licences and increase/decrease in gaming machine numbers
• advice on Gaming Authority tenders, appeals and compliance

• purchase and sale of freehold and leasehold licensed premises
• leasing of licensed premises

• assistance with visa applications and general skilled migration for employees such as chefs, guides and interpreters

• preparing appropriate indemnity clauses or agreements for operators of high risk and adventure activities to help protect them from claims for damages for personal injuries made by their customers
• assisting operators to achieve the most beneficial outcome in the case of injury.

For many years, MacDonnells Law has hosted seminars in conjunction with Tourism Tropical North Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council. These seminars cover a wide range of issues facing Queensland hospitality and tourism providers. MacDonnells Law’s hospitality and tourism experts have extensive experience in native title and cultural heritage issues and are retained by both the Queensland Tourism Industry Council and the Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) to monitor claims which may affect tourism interests.

To complement our Liquor and Hospitality team’s specific hospitality expertise, we are able to provide practical and timely legal advice on all other matters affecting tourism businesses and licensed premises including:

• employment and workplace relations
• workplace health and safety
• planning and environment
• business structuring and succession planning
• property transactions
• commercial matters
• dispute resolution
• insurance and personal injuries.