From Trademarks to Asset Protection: IX Legal’s Mission to Protect Hospitality Operators at Every Turn
Posted by estiator at 10 September, at 15 : 37 PM Print
COVER STORY
Why restaurateurs across New York, New Jersey—and beyond—are turning to IX Legal for trusted counsel on compliance, employee handbooks, asset protection, discrimination claims, wage lawsuits, and much more.
From beloved diners and family-run cafés to high-end lounges, hotels, nightclubs, and multi-location restaurant groups, the hospitality industry across New York, New Jersey, and beyond never slows down—and nor do the challenges that come with it. That is where Iakovou & Xanthopoulos Law Group, PLLC (d/b/a “IX Legal”) comes in.
Founded by Michael Iakovou, a long-term advocate for business owners and the firm’s Managing Member, IX Legal continues as a full-service law firm tailored to the needs of restaurant and hospitality entrepreneurs throughout every stage of their journey. Whether launching a new concept or restructuring a legacy brand, our team delivers counsel that is both legally sound and tailored to the realities of hospitality.
Full-Service Legal Support from Start to Scale
Unlike firms that provide only limited support or others that focus strictly on high billing, IX Legal is equipped to guide clients through the full life cycle of hospitality ventures—starting from asset purchases and entity formation all the way through licensing, litigation, and succession planning.
Our firm routinely handles trademark and service mark registrations, lease negotiations, wage and hour compliance, and partnership or shareholder disputes—including business divorces and insolvency matters. Across every engagement, we bring legal experience and real-world hospitality insight.
While headquartered in New York, IX Legal proudly represents hospitality clients throughout New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida, offering multi-state support to operators expanding their footprint or navigating different regulatory landscapes.
Asset Protection, Licensing & Compliance
Protecting what you’ve built is just as important as building it. That’s why asset protection is central to our work—whether we’re drafting LLC operating agreements to safeguard personal assets, designing trust structures to preserve generational wealth, or insulating individual partners from business liabilities.
IX Legal also helps clients secure liquor licenses, sidewalk café permits, navigate community board approvals, and manage lease modifications or alteration applications—all common pain points in New York and beyond.
Labor and employment compliance is another major focus. Konstantine Paschalidis, Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department, leads our efforts in drafting custom employee handbooks, advising on hiring policies, and helping businesses stay ahead of wage and hour laws, ADA and OSHA requirements. When issues arise, our team defends operators in DOL audits, EEOC investigations, and other workplace disputes.
Legal Firepower When It Counts
Disagreements are inevitable in businesses, especially in the fast-paced world of hospitality. That’s why our litigation team at IX Legal is built to handle high-stakes disputes head-on, whether it’s a wage and hour claim, partnership fallout, or a multimillion-dollar lease fight.
What sets us apart is our ability to deliver results when the pressure is high. We’ve resolved wage and hour lawsuits—even when clients lacked perfect records—and guided restaurants through Chapter 11 reorganizations that reduced employee claims by 75% while keeping operations intact.
During the pandemic, we renegotiated leases across Manhattan, securing rent reductions, landlord-funded buildouts, and percentage-based rent structures that helped businesses survive and rebuild.
We’ve also secured seven-figure buyouts for minority shareholders, including sweat-equity partners, and successfully defended a hospitality operator facing $10 million in lease and property damage claims—ultimately winning full indemnification and eliminating nearly $1 million in vendor liabilities.
Socrates Xanthopoulos, Chair of the firm’s Transactional Department, leads IX Legal’s dealmaking efforts. Known for his work with developers, owners, and operators across all asset classes, Socrates brings a practical, strategic approach to every hospitality transaction—from real estate and financing to contract negotiations.
Our team works creatively and strategically to protect what matters most. Many of our attorneys come from family restaurants, entrepreneurial ventures, or have hands-on experience working with operators—giving us a deep understanding of both the legal and real-world pressures our clients face.
Advocacy, Education & Industry Heart
IX Legal doesn’t stop at the office door. We are a proud supporter of the hospitality community, routinely working with the NYC Hospitality Alliance and What Now Media Group to fight for fair regulations, protect the rights of restaurant owners, and support the growth of new hospitality businesses.
The firm also serves as the preferred legal services provider for Pan Gregorian Enterprises of Metro and Upper New York.
We also host webinars on a variety of legal topics, speak at CLEs, and share free legal insights through our blogs and events—making sure operators know their rights, options, and responsibilities before problems arise.
A Legal Team That Gets It
From first-time bar owners to second-generation restaurateurs, IX Legal is the legal partner of choice for hospitality businesses that want more than just a lawyer—they want a team that empathizes with their struggles and understands what’s at stake.
Whether you’re building your brand, protecting your assets, or preparing for what’s next, IX Legal is here to help you grow smart and stay protected.
IX Legal
info@ix-legal.com
ix-legal.com
40 Wall Street, 49th Fl,
New York, New York 10005
(212) 404-8644
