Johnny P. ElHachem

Johnny ElHachem is a litigation and regulatory attorney in Holland & Knight's Miami and Tallahassee offices, where he co-leads the Gaming Practice and represents clients across the gaming, hospitality and entertainment industries.

Mr. ElHachem leverages his international and government background, as well as his fluency in Arabic, French and English, to provide comprehensive legal representation to clients in the United States and abroad. His global perspective and in-depth knowledge of various legal systems help to ensure that his clients receive legal counsel tailored to the complexities of today's interconnected world.

Gaming Law, Sports Betting, Event Contracts and Horseracing

Mr. ElHachem co-leads Holland & Knight's national efforts in gaming law and advises operators, vendors, investors and other industry stakeholders on all aspects of gaming regulation, including licensing, compliance, strategic market entry and commercial gaming transactions. He counsels clients on casino licensing and applications across multiple jurisdictions and helps them navigate the complex – and often ambiguous – landscape of local, state and federal laws governing casinos, sportsbooks, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, online gaming and iGaming platforms, and emerging gaming technologies.

Mr. ElHachem's experience also includes advising on event-based contracts and commodity-linked gaming products regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), including the structuring and registration of Designated Contract Markets (DCMs). He regularly assists clients with regulatory filings, personal and corporate disclosures, and licensing due diligence, and represents them in investigations, enforcement proceedings, and administrative hearings.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. ElHachem was the deputy chief attorney for the Florida gaming and horse racing commission, where he gained a deep understanding of the nuances and intricacies of gaming law. In his role at the gaming division, he served as the lead litigation counsel and handled and first-chaired high-profile cases involving casinos and racetracks and ensured strict compliance with regulations. At Holland & Knight, Mr. ElHachem harnesses his experience as a former regulator to benefit his clients. Monitoring and assessing various regulatory developments across several jurisdictions, he aims to keep his clients well-informed about the ever-evolving laws and developments surrounding pari-mutuel wagering, sports betting, daily fantasy sports and other regulated industries

Hospitality, Food and Beverage, and Alcohol Regulation

Mr. ElHachem also represents clients in the hospitality and entertainment industries, including hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs and casinos. He helps clients secure, transfer and expand alcohol and food licenses in Florida and other jurisdictions, and advises on related compliance with local permitting, background checks, vendor registration requirements, importer licensing and others. His work often involves navigating state and municipal regulatory frameworks to support hospitality clients as they grow, restructure or acquire licensed operations.

Business Litigation and International Perspective

Mr. ElHachem brings a global perspective to his practice. Before relocating to the United States, he earned a law degree and practiced in Lebanon. He has also earned his masters in law from France and worked in Saudi Arabia. He frequently works with international clients entering the U.S. market and helps them navigate foreign ownership rules, disclosure requirements, U.S.-based enforcement risk and other cross-border regulatory issues. He also maintains an active commercial litigation practice and represents local and foreign entities in disputes involving corporate governance, breach of contract actions, derivative actions, partnership disagreements, and fiduciary duties. His litigation practice spans administrative tribunals, state and federal courts across different jurisdictions.

Community Engagement, Mentorship and Pro Bono

Beyond his legal practice, Mr. ElHachem is active in the community, serving on multiple boards and volunteering as a college mentor with Strive for College. He is dedicated to mentoring new attorneys and law students, guiding them in their career development. He also strives to provide pro bono representation in excess of 100 hours on a yearly basis.