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Workouts, Bankruptcies & Receiverships


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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.

Outlook and Trends

Posted On: July 30, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel Lawyer: The more things change, the more they stay the same . . .

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
30 July 2010

Hotel Lawyer with a name change. JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® is part of a vibrant law firm. Today, that firm announced that it is changing the firm name, but we will still be known as "JMBM." Here's the story.

Continue reading " Hotel Lawyer: The more things change, the more they stay the same . . . " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: July 15, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Global Hospitality Advisor: National implications of the July 2010 Atlas Hospitality Group distressed hotels survey

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
15 July 2010

Hotel Lawyer with the latest information on hotel loan defaults, foreclosures, forebearances and distressed sales in California from the Atlas Hospitality Group.

Less than two weeks after the quarter's end, Atlas Hospitality has released its California Distressed Hotels Survey (2nd Quarter 2010).

Here is our executive summary of that report, our view of its national implications and what we think it means for owners, lenders and investors.

Continue reading " Global Hospitality Advisor: National implications of the July 2010 Atlas Hospitality Group distressed hotels survey " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends , Workouts, Bankruptcies & Receiverships

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Posted On: July 13, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Global Hospitality Advisor® with Lodging Industry Midsummer Report

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
13 July 2010

Hotel Lawyer with a critical update on the state of the industry

Today, the JW Marriott Los Angeles, we got an update on the state of the lodging industry from two of my favorite industry leaders: Mark Woodworth, President of Hospitality Research, and Mark Lomanno, President of Smith Travel Research.

There is some good news, and some bad news, although both reports were optimistic on the direction we are heading. Here is my take on some highlights with some pertinent slides.

Continue reading " Global Hospitality Advisor® with Lodging Industry Midsummer Report " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: June 18, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Hotel Lending: "NOW" could be the best time for hotel lending in 20 years

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
18 June 2010

Hotel Lawyer with lessons from the past on why this is the best time to be lending on hotels

Having recently assisted 3 major lenders design their hotel lending programs and hotel loan documentation, the hotel lawyers in JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® believe that now is the best time for hotel lending in 20 years. My partner, Guy Maisnik, and I thought you might like to know why we believe this is true. So, here's why.

Continue reading " Hotel Lending: "NOW" could be the best time for hotel lending in 20 years " »

Posted In: Hotel Finance − Hotel Debt & Hotel Equity , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: June 2, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Timeshare Lawyer: What's happening with Vacation Ownership -- fractionals, timeshares and clubs? Expert perspectives and insights on investor and hotel-owner benefits

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
02 June 2010

Timeshare lawyer, David Sudeck, organized a great panel of vacation ownership experts who met earlier this month to discuss developments and opportunities for profit within the vacation ownership industry. David Sudeck, a senior member of our Global Hospitality Group® who focuses on vacation ownership issues, writes extensively on issues in this area. (See the section of HotelLawBlog.com devoted to Timeshare ...

Continue reading " Timeshare Lawyer: What's happening with Vacation Ownership -- fractionals, timeshares and clubs? Expert perspectives and insights on investor and hotel-owner benefits " »

Posted In: Outlook and Trends , Timeshare

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Posted On: May 9, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

California hotel defaults, foreclosures and sales -- weather vane for hotels everywhere? Atlas Hospitality Group's latest survey

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
09 May 2010

Hotel Lawyer with the latest information on hotel loan defaults, foreclosures, forebearances and distressed sales in California from the Atlas Hospitality Group.

Continue reading " California hotel defaults, foreclosures and sales -- weather vane for hotels everywhere? Atlas Hospitality Group's latest survey " »

Posted In: Meet the Money® , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: May 7, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

As goes the economy, so goes the hospitality industry: So what's happening to the economy, capital markets and global hotel markets?

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®
Hotel Lawyers | Authors of www.HotelLawBlog.com
07 May 2010

Hotel Lawyer with the latest reports and forecasts on the economy, capital markets and global markets from industry leader presentations at JMBM's 20th annual hotel conference -- Meet the Money® 2010.

The close correlation between the economy and the hospitality industry provides a fascinating subject. Although it is somewhat intuitive that when the economy is growing and people are being hired, more is spent on travel, lodging and leisure . . . and the other way around.

Continue reading " As goes the economy, so goes the hospitality industry: So what's happening to the economy, capital markets and global hotel markets? " »

Posted In: Meet the Money® , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: May 6, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Meet the Money® 2010: Art Adler, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels: Global capital markets

Here is an easy download link, and an embedded image for Art Adler's presentation at Meet the Money® 2010.

Continue reading " Meet the Money® 2010: Art Adler, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels: Global capital markets " »

Posted In: Meet the Money® , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: May 6, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Meet the Money® 2010: David Loeb, RW Baird: Capital markets outlook

Here is an easy download link, and an embedded image for David Loeb's presentation at Meet the Money® 2010.

Continue reading " Meet the Money® 2010: David Loeb, RW Baird: Capital markets outlook " »

Posted In: Meet the Money® , Outlook and Trends

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Posted On: May 6, 2010 by the JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

Meet the Money® 2010: Richard Green, USC Lusk Center: Economy and Outlook

Here is an easy download link, and an embedded image for Richard Green's presentation at Meet the Money® 2010.

Continue reading " Meet the Money® 2010: Richard Green, USC Lusk Center: Economy and Outlook " »

Posted In: Meet the Money® , Outlook and Trends

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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 1,000 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 1,000 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 1,000 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 1,000 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 1,000 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 1,000 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 1,000 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 1,000 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 is Of Counsel at JMBM and is 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 1,000 properties located around the globe. Jim has served the hospitality industry for 40 years and specializes in lodging and hospitality law and in representing and advising trade associations and other non-profit entities. Jim 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.

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.