Patrick Wartan

Patrick concentrates his practice in the areas of food and beverage, general corporate and securities matters and commercial real estate.

Food and Beverage

Patrick is chair of Taft’s Food and Beverage team. He counsels multi-unit restaurant, hotel developers and food and beverage consumer brand companies on day-to-day legal needs. Additionally, he brings extensive experience to matters relating to financing arrangements, food and liquor licensing, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and general corporate governance in jurisdictions from coast to coast.

With a background in the food service industry, Patrick works with his clients to foster their growth by strategically overseeing all aspects of their operations to ensure that they are on a path to success. His business acumen and operational knowledge allow him to be a partner to his clients rather than just a legal advisor.

Patrick is an adjunct professor at Kendall College and teaches a course on Hospitality Law. He serves on the board of directors of the Illinois Restaurant Association.

General Corporate and Securities

Patrick serves as outside general counsel to businesses of all sizes. He advises and represents a wide variety of businesses in a full range of legal matters, including business formation, funding, acquisitions, business transactions, employment concerns, contract disputes, commercial litigation and negotiations.

Entrenched in the business community, Patrick makes it a priority to introduce his clients to centers of influence within their respective industry. He is a frequent speaker on topics such as start-up growth and operations, food service issues and other current regulations impacting his clients’ businesses. Patrick is an adjunct professor of law at Chicago-Kent College of Law and teaches a legal writing course.

Patrick has been selected for inclusion as an Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, State Bar of California, and American Bar Association. Patrick is a co-founder of One Feeds Two, an initiative that funds school meals for children in poverty.

• Provided counsel to a private equity portfolio company in connection with the acquisition of the assets of 80 restaurant franchise locations.
• Represented a strategic buyer in connection with the acquisition of the assets of a multi-unit fitness studio business.
• Represented a regional food services company in connection with an asset sale to a strategic national buyer.
• Ongoing representation of a regional food services company in the proposed sale to a national strategic buyer.
• Represented multiple hotel acquisition companies in connection with the purchase of hotels throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.
• Represented a strategic buyer in the stock acquisition of a nine-location restaurant chain.
• Drafted private placement memorandums for numerous food and beverage brands throughout the country.
• Represented a hotel developer in connection with a food and beverage management agreement with a celebrity chef.
• Represented a world renowned multi-unit restaurant group in the negotiation of food and beverage management agreements at lifestyle hotel brands across the United States.
• Represented a leading restaurant group in their expansion into Nashville, Tenn., including the negotiation and drafting of a joint venture agreement, commercial lease, management agreement and license agreement.
• Represented individuals in the formation of a $5 million real estate equity fund.
• Represented a real estate developer in the preparation of offering materials and securities registration for investment in two developments totaling 98 residential units.
• Represented a well-known multi-unit restaurant group in defense of EEOC charges filed by former employees.
• Developed and implemented a program for a multi-unit restaurant group to review and confirm compliance with Illinois Happy Hour Law requirements.

• Panelist, “Navigating the Complex World of Human Resources When You Don’t Have an HR Department,” National Restaurant Association webinar, April 10, 2024.
• Participating Expert, “Meet the Experts 2022,” Illinois Restaurant Association, May 11, 2022.
• Co-author, “2021 Update: Third-Party Food Delivery Service Lawsuits and Legislation,” Illinois State Bar Association Newsletter, Vol. 2, No.1, December 2021.
• Speaker, “Raise Capital From Equity Crowdfunding: Convert Your Brand Champions Into Investors,” Restaurant Finance Monitor‘s Restaurant Finance & Development Conference, Nov. 10, 2021.
• Co-author, “SBA Part Forty-Two: Important Information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Program,” Taft Law Bulletin, March 31, 2021.
• Speaker, “Navigating Real Estate Concerns and Solutions,” Illinois Restaurant Association Webinar, Dec. 3, 2020.
• Speaker, “The Future of the Restaurant Industry,” The Hatchery, Nov. 19, 2020.
• Author, “Reinventing Food and Beverage,” Crain’s Chicago Business, June 1, 2020.
• Speaker, “Let’s Talk Labor: The Changing Landscape of People, Jobs and the Labor Shortage in the Restaurant Industry,” hosted by the Illinois Restaurant Association, June 12, 2019.
• Author, “Top Five Restaurant Lease Considerations” Illinois Restaurant Association newsletter, April 2019.