Louis Terminello

Practice Areas

Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Industry Group, Entertainment & Sports, Latin America

Career

Louis J. Terminello is a partner, Chair of the Hospitality, Alcohol and Leisure Industry Group, a member of the Firm Management Committee and serves as the Managing Partner of the Miami office at Greenspoon Marder. He concentrates his practice on administrative law and providing legal services to all tiers of the alcohol beverage industry, including retailers, suppliers and wholesalers. He handles a wide array of transactional, civil, criminal, and administrative matters for hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and package stores throughout Florida.

Mr. Terminello has more than 40 years of experience in the alcohol beverage and tobacco industry as a regulator, industry attorney and industry member. He previously served as a senior law enforcement investigator with the State of Florida’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco in Miami for over 10 years.

Mr. Terminello was an Adjunct Professor at Florida International University’s Chaplain School of Hospitality and Tourism Management teaching Beverage Law Management/Alcoholic Beverage Law from 2006 through 2013 and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Miami School of Law teaching Alcohol Beverage Law. He has lectured at Florida Bar CLE events on various alcoholic beverage law topics on several occasions. Additionally, he has been appointed Special Counsel to U.S. Bankruptcy Court trustees for alcoholic beverage issues in the United States Bankruptcy Court on numerous occasions. Mr. Terminello has also been admitted as an expert witness in alcoholic beverage issues in circuit courts throughout the State of Florida. Louis has owned and operated several South Florida restaurants and nightclubs.

Mr. Terminello has been recognized among the “Top Ranked Lawyers” in the Nationwide: Food & Beverage category by Chambers and Partners USA since 2022.

Professional Memberships

Law360, Hospitality Editorial Advisory Board, 2023

Urban Land Institute, Entertainment Development Council, 2024-Present

Dade County Bar Association, Member

New York State Bar Association, Member

American Bar Association, Member

Paul Harris, Fellow

University of Miami School of Law, Alcoholic Beverage Law, Adjunct Professor, 2017-Present

Florida International University’s Chaplain School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Alcoholic Beverage Law, Adjunct Professor, 2006-2014

Publications

Co-Author, “CBMA: A Short Guide to the Rules of the Road,” The Grapevine Magazine, April 30, 2024

Co-Author, “Basic Mechanics & Benefits of the Alternating Proprietorship Arrangement,” The Grapevine Magazine, March 1, 2024

Co-Author, “The Role of the Municipality and Local Ordinances and the Producers’ Operational Goals,” The Grapevine Magazine, January 2, 2024

Co-Author, “The 21st Amendment Enforcement Act & Retail Sales in Interstate Commerce,” The Grapevine Magazine, November 3, 2023

Co-Author, “Contract Packaging Agreements,” Beverage Master, October 5, 2023

Co-Author, “Cities Should Explore Minn. Municipal Alcohol Store Model,” Law360, April 13, 2023

Co-Author, “To Taste or Not to Taste – The Grapevine Magazine,” The Grapevine Magazine, January 11, 2023

Co-Author, “How Cos. Can Prep For Alcohol Beverage Excise Tax Changes,” Law360, December 22, 2022

Author, “The Florida Alcohol Beverage Law: A Body of Law in Flux and Change,” The Florida Bar Journal, March 2022

Author, “Hawaiian Punch Not Sold Here” GM Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Blog, December 2, 2021

Author, “In Vino Veritas-Perhaps Not” GM Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Blog, November 17, 2021

Author, “Industrial and Beverage Alcohol and Wasted Food” GM Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Blog, November 9, 2021

Author, “Legal Considerations for Restaurants Following the Biden Vaccine Mandate” Retail & Restaurant Facility Business, September 29, 2021

Author, “Alcohol Beverage Licensing Qualifications of Applicants” GM Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Blog, September 9, 2021

Author, ““Executive Order Promoting Competition In The American Economy” GM Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Blog, August 25, 2021

Author, “A Note on Supply Chain Problems – A Pain in the Glass” GM Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Blog, August 12, 2021

Author, “Spirit of the Times” GM Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Blog, June 16, 2021

Author, “CBMA Reduced Tax Rates and U.S. Importers” GM Hospitality, Alcohol & Leisure Blog, May 4, 2021

Author, “Alcohol Taxation Provides Good Model For Cannabis Taxes,” Law360, April 7, 2021

Author, “_____% THC BY OZ.?” GM Cannabis Blog, April 5, 2021

Author, “5th Circ. Liquor Sales Ruling Skirts Commerce Clause Issues,” Law360, August 21, 2019

Author, “Will Protectionist Alcohol Rules Withstand More Supreme Court Scrutiny?,” Daily Business Review, June 27, 2019

Author, “Supreme Court Is Asked if Retailers Can Ship Alcohol Directly to Consumers,” Daily Business Review, February 4, 2019

Author, “Distinct Rules,” Food & Drink International, August 13, 2018

Author, “‘Tied-House Evil’ Laws,” Food and Drink International, April 13, 2018

Author, “Repeal of Prohibition,” Leisure & Hospitality International, February 20, 2018

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Bar Admissions: Florida, District of Columbia, New York and Pennsylvania

Education

Awards