Newman, Danny M.

John N. Neal is a founding member of the firm and focuses his practice on liquor permit licensing, the hospitality industry, and commercial litigation.

First and foremost, Mr. Neal counsels companies and individuals on the intricacies of Ohio's regulation of the liquor industry, including representation of liquor manufacturers, distributors, state liquor agencies, and retail permit holders. These services include transactional representation between buyers and sellers of liquor permits, obtaining liquor permits through the Ohio Division of Liquor Control, negotiating the transfer of permits between locations, and litigating violations that permit holders receive before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission and the courts. Clients of these services include independent restaurants, hotel and restaurant chains, supermarkets, real estate developers, concessionaires, and large public venues such as concert theaters and stadiums.

Continuing on with the practice established by Eugene Stevens, Mr. Neal provides valuable and experienced representation in this technical area of the law.

Mr. Neal is often retained to appear before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission to appeal the non-renewal or rejection of a retail permit holders liquor license after the permit holder has lost the license upon an objection by a city or township. He has successfully obtained the reversal of such rejections in numerous high profile and contentious cases.

In addition, Mr. Neal maintains an active commercial litigation practice, and has significant bench and jury trial experience.