Pesetsky & Bookman PC

Managing Partner: Max Bookman

Senior Partner: Robert Bookman

Number of Partners: 2

Number of Other Fee-Earners: 8

Office: New York, NY

General enquiries: [email protected]

Pesetsky & Bookman PC is New York’s preeminent boutique law firm dedicated exclusively to alcoholic beverage law. Celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2026, for over four decades the firm has represented restaurants, hotels, nightlife venues, real estate developers, airlines, luxury retailers, and other national and international brands navigating New York’s complex alcoholic beverage regulatory landscape.

P&B combines deep subject-matter expertise, longstanding relationships with regulators and community stakeholders, and a practical, business-oriented approach that has made the firm a trusted advisor to operators, in-house counsel, and outside counsel at every scale. The firm's geographic scope includes all of New York State, including New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, the Catskills, Albany, the Finger Lakes, the North Country, and Buffalo.

Alcoholic Beverage Licensing and Regulatory Counsel - New Projects

• P&B is widely regarded as the leading firm in New York for liquor licensing before the New York State Liquor Authority and New York City's Community Boards. The firm handles both high-volume filing work as well as complex and high-profile applications involving large real estate projects, intricate ownership structures, multinational operators, and politically sensitive locations. Recent matters include a flagship hotel project at Hudson Yards, an airline's redevelopment of its terminal at JFK airport, and an international luxury brand's launch of a members' club in Brooklyn.

Ongoing Alcoholic Beverage Regulatory Compliance

• P&B also advises clients on an ongoing basis, managing their full spectrum of New York alcoholic beverage regulatory obligations. Disclosure and compliance events arise from corporate reorganizations, new investment, acquisitions, succession, construction, rebranding, and changes to operational parameters. The firm provides end-to-end support for navigating these requirements efficiently and strategically.

Multi-State Alcoholic Beverage Coordination

• While P&B’s core practice is New York-focused, the firm routinely works with alcoholic beverage regulatory attorneys across the United States. P&B offers a coordinated multi-state management service that acts as a single point of contact for research, inquiries, and process guidance for clients expanding into multiple jurisdictions, providing streamlined oversight and consistency.

NYC-Specific Licensing

• The firm also represents select clients in New York City-specific regulatory matters, including tobacco licensing, outdoor dining approvals, and cannabis licensing, offering targeted counsel in regulatory areas that intersect with hospitality operations in the city.

Although P&B is New York-based, the firm frequently advises foreign hospitality groups entering the U.S. market, routinely representing clients based in the United Kingdom, France, Israel, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea. Recent matters include alcoholic beverage licensing and regulatory strategy for international hotel groups and global food and beverage brands opening flagship New York locations.