Specialist legal advice for hospitality and catering
A bar, a restaurant or a hotel runs at a pace that shows no mercy: staff coming and going, suppliers who have to be paid, clients who book and sometimes don’t show up, and inspections that arrive without warning. At BBM Abogados we have been supporting hospitality businesses in Santander and Cantabria since 1990, and we know that the legal problem almost always arrives at the worst moment. That is why we work on two levels: preventing disputes before they happen and resolving them quickly when they are already on the table.
The area that causes the most headaches is employment. Staff turnover, temporary contracts, split shifts and overtime are fertile ground for claims. A badly documented dismissal is declared unfair and forces you to pay compensation; an incomplete record of working hours leaves your business exposed to the Labour Inspectorate. We help you with the whole cycle: from the day-to-day employment advice to the handling of dismissals and compensation when the time comes to let a worker go, always in the correct form to avoid surprises.
Licences, premises and dealings with suppliers
No hospitality premises can open without their business and activity licences, and the terrace —often the most profitable part— also requires a municipal authorisation for the occupation of public space, with its limits on tables, hours and noise. We handle those licences, appeal against refusals and defend you if you are penalised for exceeding the occupation or for disturbing the neighbourhood.
The premises are another critical point. Most hospitality businesses operate in rented property, and the lease terms (rent, term, works, assignment) determine the long-term viability of the business. We review and negotiate your lease and the rest of your contracts and obligations with drink, food or supply providers, so that no clause ties your hands.
Collecting what you are owed and defending against penalties
Late payment is the silent enemy of hospitality: catering, business lunches and events that are served but not paid for. The longer you wait, the harder it is to recover the money. We recover your unpaid debts by the most effective route, from the out-of-court demand to the court procedure, helping you recover the debts before they become time-barred. Bear in mind that, since 2025, before suing in civil matters you must attempt an appropriate dispute resolution method (MASC); we handle it entirely.
Finally, when a health, consumer or labour inspection arrives and penalty proceedings are opened, you are not obliged to accept the fine without more. We study the proceedings, submit representations within the deadline and appeal against the penalties when there are procedural defects or a lack of proportionality. And if you are thinking of giving your business a legal form to protect your assets, we help you with the setting up of the company that suits you best.
Do you have a legal problem in your hospitality business or do you want to prevent one? Tell us about your case with no obligation or call us on 942 36 10 48.
