Navigating Legal Risks in the Quick‑Service & Fast‑Casual Restaurant World (Presented by HospitalityLawyer.com®)

Juliette Gust | Ethics Suite

A Certified Fraud Examiner since 2007, Juliette has personally conducted or overseen over 2,200 investigations spanning 75 countries and provided guidance on more than 11,000 employee ethics line reports concerning misconduct, theft, fraud, and employee relations. As the former Director of Internal Audit at one of the world’s leading hotel companies, Juliette spearheaded the Global Fraud & Investigations team. She played a pivotal role as Project Manager and core member of the company’s Anti-Corruption Compliance Program, where she developed a best-in-class global anti-corruption risk assessment, third-party due diligence, and audit program. Before dedicating herself to forensic accounting and fraud examination, Juliette built extensive leadership experience in hospitality operations, managing large teams at high-volume locations such as New York City and Las Vegas. She also served as a Big 4 accounting firm senior manager and subject matter expert for the Forensics, Hospitality, and Regulatory advisory practices.

Jessica Cook | Fisher Phillips

Jessica Cook is a partner in our Atlanta office who has 19 years of experience representing local, national, and multinational companies in employment-based immigration law. Her practice focuses on immigration law in the information technology, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, education, and hospitality industries.

Jessica passionately partners with her clients to provide thorough, strategic, and responsive immigration advice. She provides personalized solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs and objectives. She takes pride in her ability to simplify the complexities of immigration law, empowering her clients to make informed, strategic decisions that align with their business goals while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Jessica advises employers in all areas of immigration, including nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applications, outbound visas, immigration compliance for mergers and acquisitions and I-9 and E-Verify compliance. She represents employers in government investigations, including ICE I-9 audits, USDOL investigations, and USDOJ charges of discrimination under the anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. She frequently provides management training on immigration-related subjects and speaks on immigration topics.

Jessica serves in leadership roles within the firm, including membership on the firm’s Development Committee and the Associate Evaluation Committee. She also chairs the Atlanta office’s Attorney Engagement and Wellness Committees. Jessica’s pro bono legal work has included providing immigration advice to nonprofits and religious organizations and filing U visa applications for victims of crimes.

Jessica was recommended as a leading practitioner for Immigration Law by The Legal 500 United States (2021-2022). She was also selected to Daily Report’s “On the Rise” Class of 2016.

John Thomas | Gray Robinson

John Thomas is an associate in the GrayRobinson Tampa office and serves as the operations manager of the firm’s Regulated Products Section. John excels at guiding clients through the dynamic alcohol beverage industry, providing guidance on laws governing the manufacturing, importation, distribution, marketing, sale, and consumption of beer, wine, distilled spirits, and other licensed beverages. As operations manager for the Regulated Products Section, John develops, implements, and oversees strategies to streamline licensing, research, and technology. He also coordinates workflow among licensing specialists, ensuring each task is handled by the most appropriate and effective team for every client.

Session I – The Hidden Cost of Employee Theft: Tackling Fraud in the QSR and Fast Casual Industry | 12:00pm – 12:30pm

• The staggering financial impact of theft in the industry
• Who’s stealing and why
• Common scams that silently erode business revenue
• Effective prevention strategies to safeguard your bottom line
• How to mitigate the hidden costs, ranging from reputation damage to increased prices

Session II – Protect Your Dram Shop: An Outline of Liability for Alcohol Retailers | 12:30pm – 1:00pm

• Fundamentals of dram shop liability
• Legal standards & elements of a claim
• Jurisdictional variability
• Potential penalties for violations
• Risk mitigation strategies for alcohol retailers

Break | 1:00pm – 1:10pm

Session III – Increased Immigration Enforcement: Steps Employers Should Take to Prepare | 1:10pm – 1:40pm

• Current immigration enforcement landscape
• Preparing for DHS and ICE Investigations
• I-9 compliance and recordkeeping
• Employee rights and employer responsibilities
• Minimizing business disruption and legal risk