Representative Transactions

Hospitality Development

  • Represented a hotel investor in restructuring of a loan, after COVID-19, to finance development of a hotel.
  • Restructured a restaurant chain to include a new entity holding the chain’s intellectual property, to accommodate joint ventures with new investors for development of new units.
  • Advised and represented a hotel real estate investment trust on acquisition of hotel management company.
  • Advised and represented the owner of a nationwide portfolio of hotels on restructuring of hotel management agreements with several independent management companies.
  • Have represented investors in hospitality businesses in negotiation of LLC operating agreements and other instruments governing joint ventures with other investors.
  • Have represented hotel investors in purchases of full-service and select-service hotels nationwide.
  • Have represented hotel and restaurant owners in negotiation of multiple franchise agreements nationwide.
  • Have represented hotel owners in negotiation of multiple hotel management agreements nationwide.
  • Represented hospitality company in negotiation of a multi-unit development agreement for an exclusive regional right to develop and operate a chain of ice cream stores.
  • Have represented hotel owners in negotiation of loan documents to finance acquisitions of hotels.
  • Have represented hotel operators and owners in negotiation of subordination agreements, including SNDAs, incident to acquisition and refinancing hotels.
  • Have represented hotel owners and management companies in negotiation of transactions for workouts of financially distressed hotels.
  • Have represented hotel owners in negotiation of license and consulting agreements with celebrity chefs for independent operation of affiliated restaurants in hotels.
  • Have represented owners and managers of multiple hotels in negotiation of franchise agreements with Starbucks Corporation and at least three of its competitors for independent-operated, branded coffee shops in various locations in the United States and the United Kingdom.
  • Negotiated amendment to long-term ground lease on behalf of a Maryland-based hotel owner.
  • Negotiated lease of multi-unit residential property to house employees of a resort in Key West, Florida.
  • Negotiated license agreement between a resort and an alcohol beverage distribution company for the resort to operate a restaurant under a major whiskey brand.
  • Have negotiated several agreements between resorts and neighboring residential and timeshare developments for residents and guests of the developments to have access to the resorts’ recreational facilities.
  • Advised and represented condominium board on negotiation of an agreement with a property manager for operation of the common areas of a condominium development.
  • Negotiated covenants and easements for shared use of a parking ramp by neighboring buildings.
  • Negotiated covenants and easements for shared use and maintenance by neighboring buildings of a sewage pumping facility.
  • Have negotiated real estate owners and tenants in negotiation of commercial leases for restaurants and other retail businesses.

Hospitality Operations

  • Have negotiated leases and management agreements for independent operation of spas, restaurants, golf courses and various entertainment concessions in hotels and resorts.
  • Have represented hotel operators in negotiation of agreements with wireless network service providers for rooftop antennas and in-property wireless access.
  • Have advised and represented a food and beverage wholesaler on negotiation of agreements with hotel and restaurant franchisors to be an approved supplier of goods to their franchisees.
  • Advised and represented a private club located in an historic building in Chicago on negotiation of a city permit from the City of Chicago for renovation of the building under an exemption from the city’s disability accessibility code for historic structures.
  • Have represented hotel management companies in negotiation of agreements to to out-source valet parking, shuttle, audio-visual and other functions in large hotels and resorts.
  • Have negotiated numerous agreements between hotel management companies and service providers and suppliers.
  • Have represented hotel owners and operators in negotiation of leases and license agreements for neighboring businesses to use excess parking facilities and office space in hotels.
  • Advised and represented a hotel management company as a court-appointed receiver in a hotel insolvency case.
  • Have advised hotels on legal issues related to environmental matters, including remediation of mold contamination, asbestos removal, disposal of hazardous substances and responses to legionella contamination.
  • Have advised and represented hotel owners and management companies in negotiation of multiple construction contracts for renovations.
  • Have drafted temples for day-to-day use by hotel operators for routine contracts including sales, service and bulk purchase agreements.

Entertainment

  • Negotiated Tournament Facilities Agreement between a Florida golf resort and the PGA Tour.
  • Negotiated Production Agreements with Broadway-based theatre company and a cirque-style circus company, for performances at a major music venue in Nashville, Tennessee.
  • Negotiated contracts for production of a Holiday-themed walk-through ice sculpture displays at a chain of resorts.

Hospitality Marketing

  • Developed gift card program for an international campground franchisor.
  • Advised an international hospitality program on changes to its guest loyalty program.
  • Represented large international hotel brand company in negotiation of commercial co-venture (co-marketing) agreements with charitable organizations.
  • Have advised hospitality companies on negotiation of co-marketing agreements with other companies.
  • Negotiated co-marketing agreement between major hospitality brand company and major record label.
  • Negotiated agreement for major hotel corporation to sponsor events related to opening of new museum.
  • Have negotiated contracts between hotel companies and the NFL, FIFA and Olympic Organizing Committees for citywide use of hotel facilities during high-profile sports events.
  • Negotiated agreement between a brand company and one of its franchisees to share marketing resources.
  • Have advised limousine and shuttle service company on service agreements with corporate clients.

Hospitality Sales

  • Have represented  large international hotel brand companies in negotiation of nationwide and worldwide agreements with multiple corporate customers for group events and business transient travel.
  • Have negotiated license agreement for universities, boarding schools and the U.S. Department of Defense to use wings of hotels as dormitories.
  • Negotiated agreement for a hotel to retrofit and license a wing for use by a medical clinic as a residential facility.
  • Have advised travel agencies and event planners on negotiations with hotels and resorts, and development of templates for contracts with their own clients.
  • Have negotiated leases and license agreements for corporate housing, on behalf of both property owners and tenants.

Corporate Transactions and Business Organization

  • Have negotiated partnership agreements and LLC operating agreements among partners and investors and joint ventures.
  • Have represented and LLC members in buy-outs of other partners’ and members’ interests in entities.
  • Have negotiated agreements for dissolution of partnerships and LLCs.
  • Have represented businesses in negotiation of loan documents and restructuring of loans.
  • Have drafted articles of incorporation, bylaws and other instruments incident to formation of corporations and other business entities, as well as resolutions, board meeting records and other documents related to corporate governance.
  • Formed a non-profit corporation and obtained tax-exempt status under federal and state laws.
  • Advised a food wholesaler on negotiation of a joint venture with an Asian company for import, processing and distribution of food products throughout the United States.
  • Advised a freight forwarding company on formation of a joint venture with a Central American company for projects in that region.
  • Represented seller in sale of a wine and beer retail business.
  • Advised and represented a physician on acquisition of another physician’s practice.
  • Advised and represented a hotel real estate investment trust on acquisition of hotel management company.
  • Drafted and negotiated employment contracts for three top tiers of senior executives in a hotel management company.
  • Represented hospitality company in negotiation of a joint venture with a real estate company for a New York City private club.
  • Have negotiated multiple professional consulting agreements.
  • Have negotiated independent contractor agreements and employment contracts.
  • Have represented businesses in negotiation of office leases and subleases.

Business Reorganization, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Proceedings

  • Have advised hotel owners and management companies on workouts of financially distressed hotels.
  • Have represented debtors and creditors in the hospitality industry and other industries in multiple Chapter 11 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases.
  • Have represented debtors and creditors in the hospitality industry and other industries in multiple foreclosures, receiverships and other insolvency-related cases in state courts.