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Meet the Money 2010


This is Jim Butler, author of www.HotelLawBlog.com and hotel lawyer. Please contact me at Jim Butler at jbutler@jmbm.com or 310.201.3526.

« December 2008 | | February 2009 »
Posted On: January 15, 2009 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel Lawyers in JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® Add Industry Leader

For the most recent update on this topic, click here

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
15 January 2009

Jim Abrams brings decades of hotel experience and relationships to the team

Jim Abrams, a hotel industry leader and former CH&LA President, has joined JMBM's Global Hospitality Group®. In addition to bringing decades of hotel experience and relationships to the team, he looks forward to contributing to the Group's work on hotel management agreements, labor union and employment issues, and ADA issues, as well as expanding the Group's capabilities in legislative and regulatory affairs.

Continue reading " Hotel Lawyers in JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® Add Industry Leader " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: January 6, 2009 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

ADA defense lawyers: ADA Sweeps by U.S. Department of Justice -- Coming to a theater district or Hotel near you soon? How to get ready before it's too late.

For the most recent update on this topic, click here

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
6 January 2009

An important ADA sweep has been launched -- a development involving the Americans with Disabilities Act -- and there are important, cost-effective steps a prudent owner or operator can take now to solve unnecessary problems. We expect more ADA Sweeps soon. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound a cure.

Here is what this is all about. . .

Continue reading " ADA defense lawyers: ADA Sweeps by U.S. Department of Justice -- Coming to a theater district or Hotel near you soon? How to get ready before it's too late. " »

Posted In: ADA Defense

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Posted On: January 5, 2009 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

The Best from the Blog -- Hotel Lawyers

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By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
5 January 2009

To say the least, the last year has been a very "interesting" one. Here are our picks for "The Best from HotelLawBlog.com" from 2008. There are some classic pieces here!

Continue reading " The Best from the Blog -- Hotel Lawyers " »

Posted In: ADA Defense , Global Financial Crisis & Recovery , Green Hotels , Hotel Finance − Hotel Debt & Hotel Equity , Hotel Management Agreements , Hotel Mixed-Use , Labor & Employment , Meet the Money® , Timeshare , Workouts, Bankruptcies & Receiverships

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Posted On: January 5, 2009 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel bankruptcy? Distressed hotel loan mortgage? Restructuring hotel debt? Troubled hotel asset? How about an Enhanced Note Sale™?

For the most recent update on this topic, click here

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
5 January 2009

Please see "troubled hotel loans - workouts, bankruptcies & receiverships" for the latest articles on troubled hotels.

Restructuring distressed hotels . . . hotel debt . . . and workouts of troubled hotel loans for profit opportunities now. Hotel lawyers on hotel turnarounds, workouts, restructurings, bankruptcies and opportunistic investment.

JMBM's hotel bankruptcy lawyers and hotel workout teams are getting busy as the fallout from the global economic crisis hits the hospitality industry. In addition to traditional bankruptcy, workouts, turnarounds and receivership, we are finding a lot of interest in JMBM's SAVE® Program, and expect a big roll out in 2009. You may want to check that out!

Otherwise, here is another useful tool for the SAVE® Program tool chest of techniques to help Lenders, Borrowers, and Investors with distressed hotel loans and hotel assets. We call it the Enhanced Note Sale™.

Continue reading " Hotel bankruptcy? Distressed hotel loan mortgage? Restructuring hotel debt? Troubled hotel asset? How about an Enhanced Note Sale™? " »

Posted In: Workouts, Bankruptcies & Receiverships

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Posted On: January 4, 2009 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel Lawyers: Americans with Disabilities Act -- How recent ADA developments can affect your hotel. Are you ready for a class action ADA lawsuit because of your hotel website?

For the most recent update on this topic, click here

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
4 January 2009

Recent ADA Guidelines and the Target case provide a big wakeup call to the hotel industry for its internet "channel" of distribution. When the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted by Congress in July 1990, the Internet was in its infancy and few, if any, considered its applicability to cyberspace. But a settlement of a cyberspace lawsuit in a major case on the issue pending in Federal Court stands to set a precedent with far reaching implications for the hotel industry as well as the nation's retailers.

Continue reading " Hotel Lawyers: Americans with Disabilities Act -- How recent ADA developments can affect your hotel. Are you ready for a class action ADA lawsuit because of your hotel website? " »

Posted In: ADA Defense

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« December 2008 | | February 2009 »

About the Authors

Jim Butler

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Jim Butler is recognized as one of the top hotel lawyers in the world. He devotes 100% of his practice to hospitality, representing hotel owners, developers and lenders. Jim leads the Global Hospitality Group®—a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,300 properties located around the globe.
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Robert Braun

Robert Braun is a partner in JMBM's Corporate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,300 properties located around the globe. Bob represents owners in both transactional and operational issues. He advises clients with respect to business formation, financing, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, joint ventures and strategic partnerships. He has represented hotel owners in the negotiation of several hundred management agreements, as well as spa management and franchise agreements. Bob also advises hotel owners regarding telecommunications, software, internet, e-commerce, data processing and outsourcing agreements. To read Bob's articles, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com and select "Management Agreements." For more information, please contact Bob Braun at 310.785.5331 or rbraun@jmbm.com.

Marta Fernandez

Marta Fernandez is a partner in JMBM's Employment and Labor Department and a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,300 properties located around the globe. As a management labor lawyer with more than 20 years of experience, Marta specializes in representing hospitality industry clients in all aspects of labor and employment including labor-management relations such as union prevention, collective bargaining for single as well as multi-employer bargaining units, neutrality agreements and defense of unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB. She defends employers in administrative and litigation claims, such as employee claims of sexual harassment and discrimination and counsels clients in preventative strategies such as executive training, arbitration enforcement, and policies and procedures. To read Marta's articles, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com and select "Labor & Employment." For more information, please contact Marta Fernandez at 310.201.3534 or at mfernandez@jmbm.com.

Catherine DeBono Holmes

Catherine DeBono Holmes is a partner in JMBM's Corporate Department and a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,300 properties located around the globe. Cathy assists hotel clients with hotel management and franchise agreements, purchase and sale transactions, and condo hotel regime structuring. She has taken hotel owners through complex RFP processes involving all the major hotel brands. She has significant expertise in condo hotels and advises clients in the specific business and legal aspects of condo hotel regime structuring and documentation, including CC&Rs, HOA docs, unit management agreements, shared facilities agreements, rental management agreement programs and securities compliance matters (structuring, documentation and training). To access Cathy's articles on www.HotelLawBlog.com, click on the topics "Condo Hotels" or "Green Hotels" For more information, please contact Cathy Holmes at 310.201.3553 or cholmes@jmbm.com.

Guy Maisnik

Guy Maisnik is a partner in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,300 properties located around the globe. Guy's deep and broad transactional practice includes complex real estate finance and venture capital transactions, including project finance, commercial finance, leveraged leasing and real estate acquisitions. He assists clients with development, leasing and disposition, loan portfolio acquisitions, loan and debt restructure, workouts and real estate exchanges. Go to www.HotelLawBlog.com for current information in these areas. For more information, please contact Guy Maisnik at 310.201.3588 or mgm@jmbm.com.

David Sudeck

David Sudeck is of Counsel in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,300 properties located around the globe. David has significant experience in the vacation ownership arena, focusing on the formation and registration of condominiums, timeshares and fractional interest regimes. He negotiates hotel, spa and restaurant management agreements, and assists client in the development, acquisition, sale and leasing of hotels, golf courses and restaurants. For David's take on current issues in the timeshare arena, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com and click on the topic, "Timeshare." For more information, please contact David Sudeck at 310.201.3518 or dsudeck @jmbm.com.

Robert Kaplan

Robert Kaplan is a partner in JMBM's Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Restructurings Group and a senior member of the Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,300 properties located around the globe. Bob represents lenders, special servicers, hard money lenders, community banks, national banking associations, distressed debt investors, and equity investors, positioning them for the best possible outcome by acting expeditiously to preserve value and increase cash flow. His industry experience and his knowledge of the current capital markets -- where distressed assets often include complex deal structures and securitized loans -- allows him to bring creative and effective strategies to the table. When aggressive litigation is the best strategy, he is a vigorous and effective advocate for his clients. Bob represented the securitized lender in the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case filed by the Clift Hotel in San Francisco, and in the subsequent negotiations and successful sale of the loan to a third party. The lender -- acting by and through GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corporation as special servicer -- was the holder of a $60 million loan secured by a Deed of Trust on the Clift Hotel. He has also served as counsel to CapMark, J.E. Robert Company, Inc., AMRESCO Management Inc. and Midland Loan Servicer in their capacity as special servicers on troubled hotel loans in CMBS pools. For more information, contact Robert Kaplan at 415.984.9673 or rkaplan@jmbm.com.

Martin Orlick

Martin Orlick is a partner in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of 50 seasoned professionals with more than $60 billion of hotel transactional experience, involving more than 1,300 properties located around the globe. Marty specializes in representing hospitality industry clients in Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and defense. He has represented more than 300 businesses in ADA issues, many of them hotels and restaurants, as well as hotel mixed-use properties. Marty is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and a frequent speaker on the ADA and other topics. To read Marty's articles, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com and select "ADA." For more information, please contact Marty Orlick at 415.984.9667 or morlick@jmbm.com.

James Abrams

James Abrams has significant experience in government affairs at the national level, the state level – including the California Legislature and scores of state agencies – and with local governments and agencies. He has authored successful ballot measures and scores of bills for his clients. Jim served as the President and CEO of the California Hotel & Lodging Association from January 1, 1991 through December 31, 2008 and is currently an adjunct professor in the Hospitality Industry Management Program at the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent speaker and writer on all aspects of the law relating to the lodging and hospitality industries, and he is the author of the book Laws Pertaining to the California Innkeeper, which is published by the California Hotel & Lodging Association. To read Jim’s articles, go to www.HotelLawBlog.com. For more information, please contact Jim Abrams at 415.398.8080 or jabrams@jmbm.com.

Eudeen Chang

Eudeen Chang is a lawyer in the Litigation Department of JMBM's Orange County office and a member of the Global Hospitality Group®. He represents hotels in a variety of litigation matters, including ADA defense. He is well-versed in all aspects of litigation, from pre-lawsuit strategizing to trial, post-judgment collection and through appeal. He also serves as outside general counsel for a number of small and mid-sized companies and high net-worth individuals. Contact Eudeen at EChang@jmbm.com or 949.623.7232.

Victor Shum

Victor Shum is a corporate and securities partner in JMBM's Corporate Department and a member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® and Chinese Investment Group™. He has advised clients on EB-5 matters since 1999 andassists hotel developers on EB-5 financing as well as public and privatesecurities, mergers and acquisitions, cross-border issues, and otherstrategic business transactions, including real estate transactions andintellectual property and technology licensing matters. For moreinformation, contact Victor Shum at 415.984.9611 or vshum@jmbm.com.

Scott Brink

Scott Brink is a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® anda partner in JMBM's Labor & Employment Law Department. Scott is amanagement labor lawyer with more than two decades of experiencerepresenting employers in all aspects of labor relations and employmentlaw including union prevention, collective bargaining negotiations,defense of unfair labor practice charges before the NLRB, wrongfuldischarge litigation, individual and class action employmentdiscrimination and wage-and-hour claims, sexual-harassment litigation,arbitrations, personnel policies, California wage and hour law, andemployee discipline and discharge. An experienced trial attorney, Scotthas litigated a number of high-profile and complex cases involving awide range of labor and employment law matters. For more information,contact Scott Brink at RSB@jmbm.com or 310.785.5365.

Global Hospitality Group®
1900 Avenue of the Stars
7th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Direct: (310) 201-3526
Direct Fax: (310) 712-8526
E-mail: jbutler@jmbm.com

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Ask The Hotel Lawyer ™

Ask the Hotel Lawyer™ is a quarterly column that I write for JMBM's Global Hospitality Advisor®. If you have a question you would like to submit to Ask the Hotel Lawyer™ please use the comments box below. While your question may not be of sufficient general interest for the column, I will try to respond to you individually if you leave your contact information below. Jim Butler.