Overview

Adam Barnosky is a shareholder of the firm and chairs the Hospitality Practice Group. He is a member of the firm's Commercial Real Estate, Cannabis and Corporate Practice Groups. Adam specializes in the areas of:

  • Commercial real estate development, zoning, land use and planning
  • Alcoholic beverage licensing
  • Commercial leasing, with a focus on the hospitality, office and retail sectors
  • Corporate transactions
  • Municipal and state regulations and government strategies

Adam’s clients include commercial real estate owners and developers, retail and office tenants, cannabis companies, and various companies within the hospitality industry, including signature hotel brands, sports and entertainment venues, food halls, retailers, James Beard Award winning chefs and operators, and industry-recognized fast-casual and full-service restaurants.

Public Appearances & Advocacy

Adam regularly represents clients before state and municipal boards, commissions and regulatory authorities, including:

  • Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission
  • Cannabis Control Commission
  • Massachusetts Gaming Commission
  • City of Boston Licensing Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and Landmark Commissions
  • Architectural Access Board
  • Zoning, Licensing and Permitting authorities in towns and cities throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Publications & Presentations

Adam frequently presents on hospitality, commercial real estate and cannabis industry issues and has been published, quoted or presented with the following outlets:

  • The Boston Globe
  • Boston Magazine
  • New England Real Estate Journal
  • Boston Herald
  • National Retail Tenants Association
  • Massachusetts Lodging Association
  • Bisnow
  • University of Pennsylvania Law Review
  • Law.com
  • MetroWest Daily News
  • Performer Magazine

In 2018, Adam was appointed by Mayor Yvonne M. Spicer as the inaugural Chair of the Framingham Board of License Commissioners, which oversees and licenses business activity in the City of Framingham, including hotels, restaurants, breweries, package stores and entertainment facilities.

Prior to joining Ruberto, Israel & Weiner, Adam worked in a boutique Boston area law firm and clerked for the Honorable Virginia M. Morgan of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Adam is the editor of The Industry, the Hospitality Practice Group’s newsletter. 

Associations & Organizations

  • State & Federal Bar Admissions (Massachusetts)
  • Member, Massachusetts Restaurant Association
  • Member, Massachusetts Lodging Association 
  • Member, Boston Bar Association
  • Member, National Association of Licensing and Compliance Professionals (NALCP) 

Honors & Awards

  • Massachusetts Super Lawyers, Land Use/Zoning (2024)
  • Graduate of the Boston Future Leaders Program, a 10-month leadership initiative by Harvard Business School and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, (2023)
  • Recognized by Boston Magazine as a Top Lawyer (Land-Use/Zoning) in the annual list of the Best Lawyers in Massachusetts, (2021, 2022, 2023)
  • Recognized as a Rising Star by Massachusetts Super Lawyers in the Corporate and Zoning/Land Use Categories: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020
  • Profiled in the Annual Cannabis Spotlight, New England Real Estate Journal (2017)

Education

J.D. New England Law 

B.S. Middle Tennessee State University 

Bar & Court Admission

  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Representative Matters

  • Served as lead zoning and development counsel for national sports and entertainment company in development of new 14,000 sq ft facility in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood.
  • Represented international capital management firm on alcoholic beverage and hotel licensure in conjunction with its $50MM+ acquisition of a landmark hotel in Boston's Beacon Hill neighborhood.
  • Represented real estate developer relative to commercial lease negotiations with restaurant operators in a new international five-star hotel in the City of Boston.
  • Served as associate counsel for corporate developer of proposed $1B luxury resort and casino.
  • Served as lead counsel for cannabis company in commercial leasing, permitting and regulatory approvals required for operation of a new retail and cultivation facilities in various locations in Massachusetts.
  • Served as corporate counsel to multi-state franchise operator relative the acquisitions and disposition of numerous locations and related corporate reorganization.
  • Represented national hotel operator and entertainment company in alcoholic beverages and entertainment licensing approvals for creation of new performing arts venue in Boston’s Seaport District.
  • Represented commercial real estate trust in the disposition of a multi-tenanted, mixed-use building to Boston University
  • Served as associate counsel for leading national clean energy company in obtaining land-use approvals for operations of a 5.8 mega-watt 213-acre solar facility in Massachusetts.
  • Advised historic country club operator in compliance with the Liquor Control Act in anticipation of national golf tournament
  • Represented an association of hotels and restaurants before the Town of Brookline’s Special Licensing Review Committee.
  • Served as corporate, leasing, and alcoholic beverage licensing counsel to dozens new and existing hotels, restaurants, breweries in the City of Boston and throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Publications

Speaking Engagements