Grace H. Yang Attorney At Law


Grace H. Yang - Attorney at Law

Regulated Products Deputy Section Chair

Shareholder

T 813.273.5000
F 813.273.5145
D 813.273.5043
Tampa 101 East Kennedy Blvd. Suite 4000 Tampa, Florida 33602

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