Restaurants - Operations / Development Expert Witnesses: 7

Joel Feigenheimer, PhD is an industry expert with over 35 years of experience related to the Restaurant and Hospitality field. A graduate of the Cornell Hotel School, he holds an MBA in Hospitality and a PhD in Business from Northcentral University (attained 2018). Dr. Feigenheimer has been named the National Association of Concessionaires Eminent Scholar at The Chaplin School of Hospitality at Florida International University.

For the past three decades, Dr. Feigenheimer has served as both an entrepreneur and director for an International restaurant firm. He has corporate, independent, and franchise restaurant experience. Over his career he has consulted on three continents, excelled in the corporate environment, been a successful entrepreneur, and met thousands of industry leaders.

Currently on the faculty at Florida International University, he teaches Restaurant and Hospitality Management to tomorrow's hospitality leaders. His courses include Purchasing and Menu Planning, Concepts of Food and Beverage, Sustainability, Cost Control, Introductory Management Concepts, and Project Management, among others.

Litigation Support - Dr. Feigenheimer provides nationwide expert testimony relating to Food Service and Hospitality Operations. He has direct experience not only as a "legal expert" but also as an operational expert. This enables him to explain cases in a manner that juries understand, easy going yet direct and effective. Dr. Feigenheimer's services are available to attorneys representing both plaintiff and defendant.

Areas of Expertise:

Contractual Obligations Restaurant Lease Issues Restaurant Employee Concerns Food Safety Vendor Disputes

Hospitality Business Law Food Service Management Operator Liability Liquor Liability / Dram Shop Slip and Fall

View Joel Feigenheimer's Consulting Profile.

Food Service & Restaurant Design Consultant. I have been involved in the design of restaurants and commercial kitchens for over 10 years. I have personally designed over 125 restaurants including front of house and back kitchen design, including project management. I have a B.A. in interior design. I have worked on projects throughout the United States and Phillipines, and Honduras.

Over the last 2 years I have owned my own company which has provided complete construction drawings for over 30 restaurants ranging from 1,500 sq. ft. to over 3,000 sq. ft. I have also been retained by architects and business owners to provide coordination drawings for commercial kitchen design for over 35 projects ranging in size from 1,000 sq. ft to 5,000 sq. ft. I have also worked on franchise restaurant projects for McDonalds, Chevy's Mexican Restaurant, Jamba Juice, Tahoe Joe's, Taxi's Hamburgers.

Brian H. Cole is a Certified Specialist in Franchise and Distribution Law (California State Bar of Legal Specialization), with over 30 years of experience, including as in-house attorney for one of the world's largest franchisors (Pizza Hut).

Mr. Cole's experience spans a wide variety of transactional and regulatory matters, including drafting and registering franchise agreements and related documents, buying and selling both individual franchised locations and franchise chains, leasing sites for businesses, corporate organization, and other contractual matters.  Mr. Cole also has experience advising clients with a variety of operational issues, especially with respect to restaurant businesses, including employment matters, health code, and liquor licenses.

Mr. Cole has spoken and written on a variety of franchise-related topics, including speaking at two of the premiere franchise events each year--the ABA Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise Association’s Annual Legal Symposium and Annual Convention. Mr. Cole has also spoken at the State Bar Conventions in California and Hawaii on franchise-related topics.

Litigation Support - Mr. Cole is experienced testifying both in court and in arbitration. His services include:

• Consult on applicability of state and federal franchise laws to the facts of a client’s situation
• Advise on franchise law issues, including applicability of franchise laws, compliance with franchise laws, existence of legal malpractice relating to franchise laws, propriety of terminations or non-renewals of franchises, and similar issues.
• Testify as an expert witness on franchise-related matters (available for matters throughout the United States)   

Areas of Expertise:

Federal/State Franchise Laws Restaurant Operational Issues

Restaurant Employment Matters Health Code

View Brian H. Cole's Consulting Profile.

Maurice Robinson, ISHC, CRE, ASA, is an expert in the field of hotel and resort consulting. He has been facilitating the development and redevelopment of high-end, full-service hotels and resorts for over 30 years. 

Additionally, Mr. Robinson has been providing litigation support services, strategic advisory services, hotel repositioning, market feasibility studies, and appraising hotels and other hospitality-related real estate. His expertise includes advising clients on development planning, deal structuring and financial issues, dispute resolution, workouts, and expert witness testimony related to hotel and resort development and investment. 

Qualified Expert Witness & Consultant in Hotel and Real Estate Industry Business Issues:

Market, economic & financial feasibility Valuation Owner-operator, borrower-lender, franchisor-franchisee Disputes Management contracts Ground & building leases Partnership & JV agreements Concession contracts Development agreements and loan documents Expert witness testimony Litigation strategy, consultation and support Damage calculations

Lost profits analysis Real estate appraisals Deal structuring & workouts New development Strategic planning Market demand assessment Acquisition due diligence Economic, financial & investment analysis Can estimate damages and appraise property values under multiple scenarios Trained Arbitrator & Mediator

Winner of the Creative Counselor of the Year for appraising the Grand Canyon.

Dennis Gemberling, CHA, CFBE, FMP, FCSI, President and Founder of Perry Group International, has over 35 years of experience in the Hospitality Management industry. His experience includes managing, operating, and consulting on full-service, limited-service, extended-stay, all-suite, condo and timeshare hotels and resorts, casual, fine-dining, and quick-service restaurants, bars and nightclubs, catering and special event facilities, casinos, and mixed-use real estate. 

Mr. Gemberling has held prior positions for different owners, operators, and chains as Senior Vice President, General Manager, Director of Food & Beverage, and Restaurant Unit Manager. He has been retained on over 400 projects with typical values in the $1 million to $75 million range and revenues in the $1 million to $100 million range both nationally and internationally. His many clients have include among others Biscuits & Blues, Cantina’s, Chevy’s, Choice Hotels, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inns, Hilton, Holiday Inns, Hooter’s Casino, Hyatt, Marriott, McDonald’s, Microtel Inn & Suites, Outback Restaurants, Radisson, Residence Inns, Signature Resort, Sizzler, Sonic Drive-Ins, Starbucks, Starwood, Sheraton, Togo’s, Wendy’s, and Willie Mays Skybox Lounge. 

Litigation Support: Dennis Gemberling is a Certified Hotel Administrator, Certified Food and Beverage Executive, Certified Foodservice Management Professional, and Certified Food Safety Manager. He offers expert witness services to attorneys for plaintiff and defendant cases on a variety of Hospitality-related claims. He is a Professional Member of Foodservice Consultants Society International and the Forensic Expert Witness Association. Mr. Gemberling also provides expertise as a Court Appointed Receiver and Interim Property Manager and is currently the Past President and a Board of Director for the California Receivers Forum – Bay Area Chapter. 

Areas of Expertise:

Management & Operations Income Analysis & Valuation Employment, Hiring & Labor Issues Lost Profits & Future Earnings Business Interruption Planning & Feasibility Upkeep & Maintenance Customs & Trade Practices Standards of Care

Franchise, Management & Operator Contracts Brand, Franchise, Franchisee Apparent Agency Issues Safety & Security Contractor & Entertainment Use Food & Alcoholic Beverage Handling Costs, Economic & Marketing Impact Procurement & Purchasing Landlord / Tenant, Operator & HOA Issues Discrimination & Harassment Construction or FF&E Problems

View Dennis Gemberling's Consulting Profile.

Howard is one of America's most sought after Restaurant, Bar, Food, & Beverage Industry Experts in the country. With over 32 years of experience, Judges & Juries respect Howard's industry expertise in regard to his restaurant expert witness& restaurant litigation support services - having provided expert witness testimony, opinions, and reports in both State & Federal Cases for Plaintiffs & Defendants. 

• Federal Certification with 29 CFR 1910 from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration

• Certified Forensic Consultant (CFC)-the American College of Forensic Examiners 

• Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points Manager Certification (HACCP) 

• National Environmental Health Association Certification • ServSafe Food Safety

• On-Premise Alcohol - TIPs 2.0

Nationwide Services - NO CHARGE for Domestic Travel

250+ Litigation 

300+ Pre-Litigation

State & Federal Cases - Plaintiffs & Defendants

Restaurant, Bar & Hospitality Industry Matters - Since 1987

Highly-recognizable books, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Starting A Restaurant" (1st & 2nd Ed) and "Restaurant OSHA Safety and Security: The Book of Restaurant Industry Standards & Best Practices", found in 76 countries around the globe. 

Howard Cannon - Restaurant Expert Witness 

With 250+ Litigation and 300+ Pre-Litigation cases as a Restaurant Expert Witness, Food Safety & Contamination Expert, and Restaurant & Bar Safety & Security Expert, Howard provides Credibility, Integrity, and Unbiased Analysis & Reports. Howard is well-spoken - having given hundreds of restaurant, food service & hospitality industry speeches and seminars, and is quite comfortable in any court of law. He is a published author/experienced writer with books & articles published in dozens of markets around the globe - delivering clear & concise expert reports with an effective and efficient opinion & basis. Howard NEVER misses a deadline – his expert witness reports & opinions are always on time.

Areas of Expertise:

Slips, Trips & Falls Alcohol/Dram Shop Liability Forensic Analysis Lost Income Royalty Disputes Restaurant Discrimination Customer/Employee Injuries Wage & Labor Claims Trade Secrets Intellectual Property

Restaurant OSHA Americans w/Disabilities Act (ADA) Food Safety & Contaminations Landlord Disputes Premises Liability Training Neglect Restaurant Equipment Restaurant Safety & Security Management Neglect

Franchise Disputes Harassment Restaurant Human Resources Construction Tip Claims Restaurant Operations Partnership Disputes Customized Issues

Website:  www.RestaurantExpertWitness.com  

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RestaurantExpertWtns/videos  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RestaurantExpertWitnessServices

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/restaurant-expert-witness/

Consulting Profile: View Howard Cannon's Consulting Profile  

David Rutecki's career spans 39 years of Restaurant and Hospitality related experience. Working in more than 20 restaurants and involved in the opening of more than a dozen, he has worked every position possible within this industry. Mr. Rutecki currently owns and operates Mountain Deli in Hendersonville, garnering the 2016, 2017 & 2018 Blue Ridge Growth Award. He is a Member of the North Carolina and National Restaurant Associations. Mr. Rutecki has been invloved in the following selected restaurants:

• Fancy’s Food and Wine, Gourmet Shop, Coral Gables, South Miami & Grove Isle, Fl.
• Susie’s Bagels, Breakfast Restaurant, South Miami, Fl.
• Pizzaria Uno, Full Service Restaurant, Miami, Fl.
• Baystreet, Full Service Seafood Restaurant, Miami, Fl.
• Rusty Pelican, Upscale Seafood, Key Biscayne, Miami, Fl.
• Rudolph's BBQ, Upscale BBQ, Miami, Fl.
• Signature Gardens, Upscale Catering Hall, Miami, Fl.
• Chart House, Upscale Seafood, Coconut grove, Fl.
• Cafe Tu Tu Tango, Coconut Grove, Fl.
• Gatsby’s, Upscale Billiards and Cigar Bar, Boca Raton, Fl.
• Prezzo, Casual Italian, Boca Raton, Fl.
• Maxwell’s Chophouse, Upscale Steakhouse, Boca Raton, Fl.
• Mountain Deli, Delicatessen, Downtown Hendersonville, NC
• Tabica Grill, Upscale American, Jupiter, Fl.
• Jonathon's Landing Marina Club, Upscale Boating Club, Jupiter, Fl
• Jetty's, Upscale Seafood, Jupiter, Fl.
• Austin Grill, Casual, Washington, DC.

Litigation Support - David Rutecki offers expert witness and litigation support for restaurant related issues in the United States. His services are available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. Areas of Expertise:

• Restaurant and Kitchen Design, Menu Development
• Food Safety and Sanitation
• Bar Operations & Liquor Liability... Dram Shop
• Safety & Security - Slips, Trips and Falls
• Daily Operations & Management, Employee & Staffing Issues
• Retail Operations
• Staff & Mgmt Training Programs & Handbooks
• Business Plan Development