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John B. Reyna, J.D., LL.M.

Managing Attorney

(he/him)

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Why this firm exists

John is the founder and Managing Attorney at the Texas Hospitality and Non-profit Law Center, PLLC. He created this firm to provide legal services to two industries he knows intimately. John’s prior work experience in the hospitality and non-profit industries gives him first-hand knowledge about how hospitality and non-profit organizations operate and their challenges.

 

The Texas Hospitality and Non-profit Law Center contributes legal guidance to non-profit and hospitality organizations so those organizations can nourish their communities.

John's hospitality background

John’s has worked at some of the finest luxury hotels and resorts in Arizona and Ohio. His management roles included Banquet Manager, Restaurant Manager, Sommelier, and Executive Steward. John holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Wines. John and his wife own a beverage consulting company, Teakwood Tavern Hospitality, LLC. They provide wine and spirit educational classes as well as specialty cocktail and zero-proof beverage creation for individuals and events.    

John's non-profit background

Before law school, John was the Executive Director of a non-profit organization that provided educational experiences to middle school and high school students interested in the medical field. John worked with the organization's members (i.e., doctors) to create the educational programs. He conducted the organization's fundraising efforts and overall financial management.   

Professor Reyna

Utilizing both his hospitality and legal background, John is an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas. Being a professor is incredibly rewarding to him.

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At the School of Business, he teaches Restaurant Management and Beverage Management courses. 

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At the College of Law, he has taught Practice Foundation II: Negotiation and Conflict Resolution. 

John's family

John is married to his best friend—Shena. Her unwavering support is one of the main reasons why John was able to form the Texas Hospitality and Non-profit Law Center, PLLC. Shena works in IT Sales. She is a graduate of Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering. She holds a WSET Level 2 in Wine.

 

Shena and John have three fur-babies: Rhône, Tokaj, and Jura. 

John gives back

John's investment in the hospitality and non-profit industries extends beyond the law firm. He is a member of the Board of Directors of two hospitality-based non-profit organizations—The Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation and Lift Collective.

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  • The Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation is an advocacy and action non-profit created by and for restaurant workers. RWCF is focused on Wage Fairness and Career Ladders; Gender Equity and Sexual Violence; Racial Justice and Support for the Immigrant Community; and Mental Health and Substance Abuse.

 

  • Lift Collective is a community-centered, multi-channel platform advocating equity and inclusion in the wine industry. Through annual programming, proprietary research, community partnerships, and monetary scholarships, Lift Collective collaborates with experts and key opinion leaders across the beverage category to put forward relevant and credible industry content that leads with and celebrates diverse perspectives.

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John is also an advisor to two hospitality-based non-profit organizations—Hispanics in Wine and Another Round Another Rally.

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  • Hispanics in Wine provides educational and career-advancement opportunities to the ever-growing Hispanic and LatinX community of wine professionals in the United States. 

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  • Another Round Another Rally is a nonprofit financial and educational resource for the hospitality industry. We provide reimbursement grants and immersive educational scholarships to further the education of historically excluded voices in the community, and supply emergency assistance to those employed in restaurants, bars, and hotels who have fallen on unexpected hardship.

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts in Humanities with a focus on Comparative Cultural Studies, The Ohio State University

  • Juris Doctorate, Texas Tech University School of Law

  • LL.M. in Taxation, SMU Dedman School of Law

Other activities

  • Member of The Texas Bar College, which is a professional society of legal scholars who are leaders in the Texas legal community and champions of legal education (2020-present).

  • Vice-Chair of the Dallas Bar Association's Small & Solo Firm Section (2022).

  • Member of the Board of Directors of the Tarrant County Restaurant Association (2019)

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Publications & Presentations

  • The Blend-Beam Suntory, How Does the Tip Credit Work?, Jan. 12, 2023

  • The Blend-Beam Suntory, What Do You Know about the Subminimum Wage?, Jan. 12, 2023

  • Spill, Guest Check Issue No. 4, Managers and Tips, July 2022

  • Spill, Guest Check Issue No. 3, Protect yourself from wage theft: Learn about the new FLSA tip credit regulations, Jan. 2022

  • Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals News, HR Training in the Time of COVID: Commit to a Meaningful Cultural Change, Oct. 14, 2021

  • Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals News, Come for the Presentations and Tech, Stay for the People, Sept. 30, 2021

  • 2019 Gulf Coast Symposium on HR Issues—Presenter, Is Arbitration Right for Your Employer?

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