Patrick Wartan, chair of Taft’s Food & Beverage industry group, served as a panelist at the June 12 program “Let’s Talk Labor: The Changing Landscape of People, Jobs and the Labor Shortage in the Restaurant Industry” hosted by the Illinois Restaurant Association.

Wartan addressed the growing concern of the restaurant industry’s talent pool, attracting and retaining qualified staff and the role that technology plays in the industry. He cited contributing factors such as low unemployment, economic factors currently encouraging entrepreneurship, changing local laws, immigration crackdown and competition across segments.

The event was moderated by Alpana Singh, host of WTTW’s Chicago series Check, Please! Co-sponsors of the event were Gordon Food Service and Relish Works.

Wartan regularly counsels both established and emerging restaurant/bar operators and consumer packaged goods companies on strategies relating to their financing arrangements, liquor licensing, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and general corporate matters.