Grace H. Yang Attorney At Law

Grace is a shareholder based in the Tampa office of GrayRobinson.  Her practice includes multistate compliance issues for alcohol beverage and food vendors; multistate alcohol, hotel, restaurant and occupational licensing work; the representation of alcohol and hospitality industry members before local, state and federal administrative agencies; land use issues, including alcohol-related conditional or special use permitting and variance issues; drafting and negotiating various types of agreements; and other matters affecting hospitality industry members.

Grace is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. This rating is Martindale-Hubbell 's highest rating. 

Grace has handled the purchase, sale and licensure of thousands of retail stores, resort and hotel properties, restaurants, and other businesses located throughout the United States.

• Education
  • Yale University, B.A. political science (cum laude and with distinction in the major, 1994)
  • Cornell Law School, J.D. (1997)
    • Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy
      • Managing Editor (1996-1997)
      • General Editor (1995-1996)
    • Phi Alpha Delta, Wilson Chapter Justice (1995-1997)
• Admissions
  • Florida
• Professional Associations and Memberships
  • The Florida Bar, Member (1997-present)
    • Administrative Law Section
    • Voluntary Bar Liaison Committee, 2021-present
    • Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Nominating Committee for the Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award, 2016, 2019
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association, Member (1997-present)
    • Past President (2020-2021)
    • President (2019-2020)
    • President-elect (2018-2019)
    • Board of Directors (2012-2018)
    • The Lawyer, Magazine Editor (2010-2012)
    • Leadership Institute, Chair (2009-2010)
    • Leadership Institute Executive Committee (2008-2009)
    • Leadership Institute Class of 2008
  • Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers, Member (2000-present)
    • Vice President of Membership (2004-2006)
    • Board of Directors (2003-2004)
  • 13th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee, Member (2010-2020)
  • Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Member (2000-present)
  • Hillsborough County Hotel and Motel Association, Allied Member (2006-present)
  • National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Member (2000-2004, 2006-present)
  • Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay, Member (2006-present)
    • Outstanding Member Award (2023)
    • Director (2012-2018)
  • Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of Tampa Bay, Florida, Member
    • Board of Directors (2011-2012)
    • Vice President (2012-2013)
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, Fellow, 2011
  • National Association of Alcoholic Beverage Licensing Attorneys, Member (2006-present)
  • National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals, Member 
  • Westshore Alliance
    • Board of Directors (2015-present)
  • Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, Member (2018-present)
  • Hillsborough County Bar Foundation, Board of Trustees (2020-2022), Secretary (2022-2023)
• Awards and Recognitions
  • AV Preeminent® rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Florida Trend, Legal Elite, 2009-2010, 2017-2019
  • Chambers USA, Nationwide: Food and Beverages: Alcohol, 2012-2023
  • Tampa Bay Business Journal, Business Woman of the Year, Legal Services, 2015
  • Tampa Magazine, Top Lawyer in Leisure and Hospitality Law, 2019
  • Tampa Top Rated Lawyer, Alcohol Beverage, 2013 
  • Lawyers of Color, Inaugural Hot List, 2013  
  • Florida Super Lawyers, "Rising Star," 2010, 2011
  • Hillsborough County Bar Association's James M. "Red" McEwen Memorial Award, Recipient, 2008
• Civic
  • Yale Club of Tampa Bay, Director, 2001-2019
  • Leadership Tampa, Class of 2011
• Articles and Publications
  • "Fla. Restaurants Need To Prep For Liquor License Changes," Law360, April 6, 2023
  • "Philadelphia, PA Reinstates Indoor Mask Mandates," GrayRobinson Insights, April 2022
  • "Minding Your Business in the COVID-19 Era," Southern Beverage Journal, Florida Edition, August 2020
  • Grateful for Our Members Who Give Selflessly to Others,"  Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine, January - February 2020
  • "Welcome to the New Bar Year!" Hillsborough County Bar Association Lawyer Magazine, September - October 2019
  • "Guest Column: From Trade Wars to Bootlegging, Here’s What’s Brewing on the Regulatory Front," Tampa Bay Business Journal, August 30, 2019
  • "Land Development Issues For New Stores," National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals Newsletter, September 2012
  • "Clearing the Path for Licensing and Compliance," Inside the Minds: Food, Beverage, and Drug Law Client Strategies, 2008
  • "Keeping Food Safe: FDA's New Food Protection Plan," Food Safety Solutions, Winter 2008
  • "Florida's Alcohol Surcharge Tax to Be Repealed," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, Summer 2006
  • "Rapid Enforcement Unit Formed in New York," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, Summer 2006
  • "DISCUS Members Agree to Remove Ads From Certain Magazines," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, Summer 2006
  • "State Update," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, October 2001
  • "Wine Tastings - Do You Know the Rules?," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, June 2001
  • "Vermont Now Requires Employees of Alcohol Licensees to Complete Training," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, November 2000
  • "Utah Liquor Commission Appoints New Commissioner Frank Bud," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, November 2000
  • "California ABC Appoints New Chief Counsel," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, September 2000
  • "Michigan Cracks Down on Unlawful Alcohol Sales," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, June 2000
  • "Reminder: ATF Special Tax Renewal Registration and Return Packages Due Soon," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, June 2000
  • "Michigan Liquor Control Commission Updates Its Administrative Rules," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, June 2000 
  • "Focus: Alcohol Issues for Gas Station Convenience Store Operators," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, March 2000
  • "Michigan Adopts an Electronic Fund Transfer Program," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, March 2000
  • "Road Dog Ale's Case Becomes Road Kill," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, December 1999 
  • "The Complex World of Alcohol Beverage Laws – It's Enough to Make You Dizzy," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, October 1999
  • "Wet Zoning and Distance Requirements: Don't Overlook These on Your Next Project," Alcohol Beverage Chronicle, September 1999
• Presentations and Seminars
  • Panelist, "Rising in Resilience: Achieving Empowerment Through Advancement & Adaptability," Florida Diversity Council’s 2023 Tampa Women in Leadership Symposium (WILS), March 22, 2023
  • "Key Licensing Considerations When a Food and Beverage Management Company Changes," Hospitality Law Conference, November 15, 2022
  • "Discover the Basics of Negotiation," Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers Young Lawyers Division, November 11, 2022
  • "Digital IDs and Scanning Technology – You Don’t Know About Me, But I’ll Bet You Want To," National Conference of State Liquor Administrators (NCSLA) 2022 Northern/Southern Regional Conference, October 24, 2022
  • "Celebrating The Past. Looking To The Future." Hillsborough County Bar Association, April 13, 2022
  • Panelist, "Resiliency: Overcoming Challenges in Today’s Legal Environment," National Black Prosecutors Association Tampa Bay Chapter Diversity/Hillsborough County Bar Association, Leading the Way to Inclusion Symposium, March 4, 2022
  • Speaker, "Alcohol and Beverage Control Law," Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, October 5, 2021
  • Presenter, The Florida Bar Gender Equality Subcommittee Meeting, January 12, 2021
  • "Pathways to Bar Leadership," Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida Panel, December 10, 2020
  • "Are Hospitality Businesses Ready for State Emergency Orders to be Lifted?," COVID-19 Conversations Webinar Series, June 10, 2020
  • "Understanding the Two-Way Street of Tied House Laws," Fintech and GrayRobinson Webinar, October 25, 2017
  • "Responsible Alcohol Service and Training," Florida Restaurant and Lodging Show, October 13, 2017
  • "Snapshot: Food and Beverage Management Agreements," Hospitality Law Conference, April 25, 2017
  • "How to Manage the Management Agreement," Hospitality Law Conference, February 23, 2016
  • "Best Practices and Tips in Working With Alcohol Regulators," National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals, October 14, 2015
  • "Hotel Sales and Interim Management Agreements: Key Considerations Including Beverage Licensing," Hospitality Law Conference, February 10, 2015
  • "Personal Data, Fingerprints and 101 Other Things," National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals, October 3, 2013
  • "Liquor Licenses," We Sell Restaurants Radio Show, August 17, 2013
  • "Social Media Panel," National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals, October 11, 2012
  • "Valuing Diversity: Wealth Components of a Global City," 83 Degrees Media "Not Your Average Speakers" Series, May 17, 2012
  • "Alcohol Use Approvals," City, County and Local Government Section of The Florida Bar's Land Use Continuing Education Seminar, May 10, 2012
  • "4th Annual Tampa Bay Young Women's Leadership Symposium," South Florida Young Women's Leadership Symposium, February 25, 2012
• Languages
  • Mandarin Chinese
  • Taiwanese