Articles Posted in Chinese Investment

Published on: August 3, 2011

Hotel Investment: Why Asian investors are targeting U.S. hotels for purchase and investment, and what could it mean for you?

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®

4 August 2011

Hotel Investment: Why Asian investors are targeting U.S. hotels for purchase and investment, and what could it mean for you?

This week I was interviewed by several media sources to talk about the explosion of Asian investment – and particularly Chinese investment – in U.S. hotels and real estate. Nadja Brandt at Bloomberg News was kind enough to quote me in one of her articles on the subject, and Gigi Stone, Bloomberg TV anchor, had me in the Bloomberg TV studios for a brief interview and even briefer video clip! (Yes, Mom, it’s long enough that you can tell it’s me and she does say nice things about our Global Hospitality Group®). Bloomberg TV also made a point of highlighting JMBM’s Chinese Investment Group® which was recently announced.

The Chinese Investment Group™ . . . provides a gateway for Chinese investment in the United States.

Nadja Brandt’s article (Asian Buyers Target U.S. Hotels as Affluence Increases Travel), discusses the just-completed iconic purchase by Hong Kong billionaire Cheng Yu-tung of 5 luxury hotel properties, including the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan, and Rosewood properties including The Mansion on Turtle Creek and The Crescent in Dallas, The Inn of the Anasazi in Santa Fe, and Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands.

The Cheng family also owns the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills and once owned a stake in the Four Seasons Hotel in New York.

Bloomberg TV also made a point of highlighting JMBM’s Chinese Investment Group®

Bloomberg’s coverage of Chinese (and broader Asian) investment in the U.S. has really been top drawer, so if you are interested in this subject you will want to follow it. And if you want to go beyond the Bloomberg article, read on about why Asian investment is focused on US hotels.

CONTINUE READING →

Published on: July 11, 2011

Chinese Investment Group® — Hotels, Real Estate, EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visas

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®

Click here for Simplified Chinese / 简体中文

Click here for Traditional Chinese /繁體中文

Formation of the Chinese Investment Group®

Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) has announced the formation of the JMBM Chinese Investment Group® to provide legal and business advice for the specialized needs of Chinese investors and Chinese investment in the United States for hotel, real estate, EB-5 and other U.S. investments. We have a dedicated team with great experience for this kind of work.

Here is more information about how this development might help you. Click here to download a PDF of this announcement about the Chinese Investment Group®.

CONTINUE READING →

Published on: July 1, 2011

華人酒店和房地產投資法律顧問集團™ — 酒店、房地產和EB-5投資移民

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®

This document is in Traditional Chinese
Click here for English / 英文版

Click here for Simplified Chinese / 简体中文

華人酒店和房地產投資法律顧問團隊™ 是美國傑美百明律師所 JMBM Global Hospitality Group® 中一支致力於酒店和高端房地產專案的專業律師團隊。多年來，律師團隊為華人在美國的投資保駕護航，提供最優質的法律服務。我們律師所已經為客戶累計成交了總額高達870億美元的酒店業務，涉及全球範圍內3900處酒店。我們幫助華人投資者識別、分析、評估酒店和高端房地產機遇。同時，我們也可以為投資者尋求融資管道。我們鄭重承諾：為了保證我們的獨立性，我們絕不從任何開發商收取中間人傭金、獎勵費。

知名 客戶和酒店
美國傑美百明律師所（ JMBM ）與很多知名客戶擁有悠久的合作歷史，例如 Regent Hospitality Group 、特朗普公司、迪士尼度假俱樂部、 Hillwood Development (Ross Perot, Jr.) 、美高梅金殿夢幻、達拉斯之城。

我們的銀行客戶包括中國工商銀行、滙豐銀行、富國銀行、華美銀行、遠東國民銀行、德國北方銀行、瑞典銀行、加利福尼亞聯合銀行。

JMBM也在全球範圍內代表很多酒店開發商和業主，包括美國 W Hotels 以及麗思卡爾頓（Ritz-Carlton）混合使用專案的最大的開發商和業主。

在過去的 20多年中，我們律師團隊專注于服務酒店業主、投資方、開發方和貸款方。我們經常與主要酒店品牌合作。這其中包括萬豪、希爾頓、喜來登等60個品牌。其中不乏高端酒店，例如：四季酒店、東方文華酒店、費爾蒙、麗嘉、麗晶、萬麗、洲際大酒店。

華人投資和 EB-5投資移民簽證專案
我們的律師參與了華人在美國房地產投資以及EB-5投資移民簽證專案等，其中包括：

晶華國際酒店（一家位於臺灣的股份有限公司）收購麗晶大酒店（收購包括其全球範圍內的品牌權和在亞洲、歐洲、中東和加勒比的酒店管理協定）

深圳市新世界集團有限公司收購喜來登環球酒店

華人投資者投資 W好萊塢酒店（包括特色夜店和Delphine高檔餐館）

我們為美國華人投資者提供的服務
我們為華人投資者提供以下地產服務：

發現和評估酒店和高端房地產的投資商機

盡職調查

買賣交易的洽談

債務和股權融資

獲得政府批准和許可

稅務規劃

在獲得物業後，我們將在以下幾個方面為客戶提供服務：

商務合同和租賃協定的起草與審閱

雇傭和工作力事宜

法律和稅務事宜

在酒店投資領域，我們提供以下服務：

幫您聯繫高端酒店品牌（萬豪國際、希爾頓、喜達屋、洲際酒店、凱悅、麗晶、半島、四季酒店等等）

幫您取得市場最佳的合同條款（例如酒店冠名權和管理協定）

融資來源、施工經理人、運營者、品牌和專業顧問

我們為尋求 EB-5融資的客戶提供以下服務

EB-5專案實行可能性和盡職調查

政府獎勵，例如：新市場抵免所得稅、再開發代理集資

EB-5區域中心

確定目標雇傭區域

創業要求

確保州和當地政府對專案的支援

涉及向 EB-5投資人出售有限合夥利益企業的聯邦證券法

EB-5投資專案的結構化事宜

EB-5投資專案市場合同的協商

EB-5貸方和其他貸方之間貸款（以及中間債權人協定）

華人酒店和房地產投資法律顧問集團 ™律師
我們律師所的鄧威律師可以講漢語。華人酒店和房地產投資法律顧問集團™的律師及其聯繫資訊如下：

姓名	電子郵件信箱	專線
Mark S. Adams	MarkAdams@jmbm.com	+1 (949) 623-7230
Robert E. Braun	RBraun@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 785-5331
Jim Butler	JButler@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 201-3526
Wei Deng	WDeng@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 785-5371
Guy Maisnik	MGM@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 201-3588
Ben Reznik	BMR@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 201-3572
David A. Sudeck	DSudeck@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 201-3518

關於美國傑美百明律師所（ JMBM ）

美國傑美百明律師所（ JMBM ）為您提供最高品質的法律服務。詳細資訊請參考www.jmbm.com。

關於 JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

JMBM Global Hospitality Group® 已經為客戶累計成交了總額高達 870億美元的酒店業務，涉及全球範圍內3900處酒店。歡迎訪問www.HotelLawBlog.com或聯繫全球頂尖酒店律師Jim Butler ，電話 +1 (310) 201-3526 電子郵件jbutler@jmbm.com。

Published on: July 1, 2011

华人酒店和房地产投资法律顾问集团™ — 酒店，房地产和EB-5投资移民

By Jim Butler and the Global Hospitality Group®

This document is in Simplified Chinese
Click here for English / 英文版

Click here for Traditional Chinese /繁體中文

华人酒店和房地产投资法律顾问团队™ 是美国杰美百明律师所JMBM Global Hospitality Group® 中一支致力于酒店和高端房地产项目的专业律师团队。多年来，律师团队为华人在美国的投资保驾护航，提供最优质的法律服务。我们律师所已经为客户累计成交了总额高达870亿美元的酒店业务，涉及全球范围内3900处酒店。我们帮助华人投资者识别、分析、评估酒店和高端房地产机遇。同时，我们也可以为投资者寻求融资渠道。我们郑重承诺：为了保证我们的独立性，我们绝不从任何开发商收取中间人佣金、奖励费。

知名客户和酒店
美国杰美百明律师所（JMBM）与很多知名客户拥有悠久的合作历史，例如Regent Hospitality Group、特朗普公司、迪士尼度假俱乐部、Hillwood Development (Ross Perot, Jr.)、美高梅金殿梦幻、达拉斯之城。

我们的银行客户包括中国工商银行、汇丰银行、富国银行、华美银行、远东国民银行、德国北方银行、瑞典银行、加利福尼亚联合银行。

JMBM也在全球范围内代表很多酒店开发商和业主，包括美国W Hotels 以及丽思卡尔顿（Ritz-Carlton）混合使用项目的最大的开发商和业主。

在过去的20多年中，我们律师团队专注于服务酒店业主、投资方、开发方和贷款方。我们经常与主要酒店品牌合作。这其中包括万豪、希尔顿、喜来登等60个品牌。其中不乏高端酒店，例如：四季酒店、东方文华酒店、费尔蒙、丽嘉、丽晶、万丽、洲际大酒店。

华人投资和EB-5投资移民签证项目
我们的律师参与了华人在美国房地产投资以及EB-5投资移民签证项目等，其中包括：

晶华国际酒店（一家位于台湾的股份有限公司）收购丽晶大酒店（收购包括其全球范围内的品牌权和在亚洲、欧洲、中东和加勒比的酒店管理协议）
深圳市新世界集团有限公司收购喜来登环球酒店
华人投资者投资W好莱坞酒店（包括特色夜店和Delphine 高档餐馆）

我们为美国华人投资者提供的服务
我们为华人投资者提供以下地产服务：

发现和评估酒店和高端房地产的投资商机
尽职调查
买卖交易的洽谈
债务和股权融资
获得政府批准和许可
税务规划

在获得物业后，我们将在以下几个方面为客户提供服务：

商务合同和租赁协议的起草与审阅
雇佣和劳动力事宜
法律和税务事宜

在酒店投资领域，我们提供以下服务：

帮您联系高端酒店品牌（万豪国际、希尔顿、喜达屋、洲际酒店、凯悦、丽晶、半岛、四季酒店等等）
帮您取得市场最佳的合同条款（例如酒店冠名权和管理协议）
融资来源、施工经理人、运营者、品牌和专业顾问

我们为寻求EB-5融资的客户提供以下服务

EB-5项目实行可能性和尽职调查
政府奖励，例如：新市场抵免所得税、再开发代理集资
EB-5区域中心
确定目标雇佣区域
创业要求
确保州和当地政府对项目的支持
涉及向EB-5投资人出售有限合伙利益企业的联邦证券法
EB-5投资项目的结构化事宜
EB-5投资项目市场合同的协商
EB-5贷方和其他贷方之间贷款（以及中间债权人协议）

华人酒店和房地产投资法律顾问集团™ 律师
我们律师所的邓威律师可以讲汉语。华人酒店和房地产投资法律顾问集团™ 的律师及其联系信息如下：

姓名	电子邮件	电话
Mark S. Adams	MarkAdams@jmbm.com	+1 (949) 623-7230
Robert E. Braun	RBraun@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 785-5331
Jim Butler	JButler@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 201-3526
Wei Deng	WDeng@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 785-5371
Guy Maisnik	MGM@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 201-3588
Ben Reznik	BMR@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 201-3572
David A. Sudeck	DSudeck@jmbm.com	+1 (310) 201-3518

关于美国杰美百明律师所（JMBM）

美国杰美百明律师所（JMBM）为您提供最高质量的法律服务。详细信息请参考www.jmbm.com。

关于JMBM Global Hospitality Group®

JMBM Global Hospitality Group® 已经为客户累计成交了总额高达870亿美元的酒店业务，涉及全球范围内3900处酒店。欢迎访问www.HotelLawBlog.com或联系全球顶尖酒店律师Jim Butler，电话+1 (310) 201-3526 电子邮件jbutler@jmbm.com。

Jim Butler

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 JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® — a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion.
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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 seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. 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 seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. 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.

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 seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. 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 a Partner in JMBM's Real Estate Department and a senior member of JMBM’s Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. 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 seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. 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 seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. Marty specializes in representing hospitality industry clients in Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and defense. He has represented more than 500 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.comand select "ADA." For more information, please contact Marty Orlick at 415.984.9667 or morlick@jmbm.com.

Scott Brink

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

Travis Gemoets

Travis Gemoets is an experienced trial attorney and represents management in all facets of labor and employment law, including wage/hour class actions, claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, trade secrets and unfair competition, union/management relations and workplace violence. He is a member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group(r), in which capacity he negotiates union contracts and resolves labor disputes throughout the country, defends class action claims, develops strategies for the mass onboarding and separation of employees, and recommends proactive changes to employers' policies and practices in order to minimize potential liability risks. Reach him at 310.785.5387 or tgemoets@jmbm.com.

Mark S. Adams

Mark S. Adams is an experienced trial lawyer and a member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® and Chinese Investment Group™. He focuses his practice on business litigation including contracts, corporate and partnership disputes, and hospitality disputes and litigation. On behalf of hotel and resort owners, Mark has successfully litigated the termination of long-term, no-cut, hotel management agreements, franchise agreements, fiduciary duty issues, investor-owner disputes, TOT assessments, and more. He has wide-ranging trial experience in a variety of commercial disputes, including complex multi-party litigation and class actions. He has tried numerous cases in state courts, federal courts, and in domestic and international arbitrations, and is a frequent author and speaker on trial practice. Mark's trial wins have been covered by Forbes, Reuters, and other publications. He has obtained two of California's annual 50 largest jury verdicts in the same year. Mark has taken or defended nearly 1,000 depositions throughout North America, Europe and the Middle East. He has been quoted as an expert on noncompete agreements in the Wall Street Journal. For more information, contact Mark at 949. 623.7230 or markadams@jmbm.com.

Bennett Young

Bennett Young is a partner in JMBM's Bankruptcy, Insolvency and Restructurings Group and a senior member of the Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. His clients include lenders, financial institutions, secured and unsecured creditors, distressed investment funds, businesses, receivers, special servicers and creditors' committees. Ben represented the owner of a partially completed multi-billion dollar resort property in the restructuring of its finances and has represented lenders to hotels and casinos. For more information, contact Ben Young at 415.984.9626 or byoung@jmbm.com

Sheri Bonstelle

Sheri Bonstelle is a partner in JMBM's Government, Land Use, Environment and Energy Department, and a member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group®. She represents owners and developers in land use, zoning, environmental, litigation and construction matters. She manages all aspects of the entitlement process, including representing clients before local and state agencies, commissions and councils. Sheri also represents clients in a variety of land use and real estate litigation matters in state and federal courts, including cases arising under CEQA and other environmental laws. Her hotel experience includes handling the adaptive reuse of an historic office building as a luxury boutique hotel. For more information, please contact Sheri Bonstelle at 310.712.6847 or SBonstelle@jmbm.com.

Kevin McDonnell

Kevin McDonnell is a partner in JMBM's Government, Land Use, Environment and Energy Department, and a member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group®. Kevin represents developers and owners of hotels in a broad range of land use and zoning issues including entitlements, code enforcement, easements and parking requirements, as well as related Parcel Map and Tract Map subdivision issues. His hospitality experience includes hotels, condo-hotels and mixed-use projects. A registered Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer in California, and a former building official for the City of Los Angeles, Kevin brings unique experience and insight in Zoning and Building Code applications and Code Enforcement issues. For more information, please contact Kevin McDonnell at 310.201.3590 or kkm@jmbm.com.

Jamie Ogden

Jamie Ogden is a tax lawyer at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP. He advises individuals and businesses on a range of tax planning, tax controversy and estate planning matters. Jamie’s experience includes all tax aspects with respect to the hospitality industry, including acquisitions and dispositions (including Section 1031 exchanges), financing and management agreements. He also serves as lead tax counsel on M&A transactions, financing, internal corporate restructurings and deferred compensation matters. Jamie also works frequently with litigators on the tax aspects of litigation, judgments and settlements. Jamie has extensive experience with foreign compliance matters, including each variation of the IRS amnesty programs. In addition to his experience in private practice, Jamie also brings several years of service from both state and federal government. For more information, contact Jamie at JOgden@jmbm.com or 310.201.3510.

Wei Deng

Wei Deng is General Counsel of Bosen American Capital, Inc. where in addition to his legal duties, he is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and proposing United States investment opportunities to the company. Wei was previously with JMBM, where he focused on transactional and litigation matters.

Jay Thompson

Jay Thompson has extensive experience representing private companies, business owners, family offices and investors in mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions and private securities offerings. Jay serves as general counsel to many of his clients, their management, and board of directors, helping to shape and execute their business strategies, facilitate growth and liquidity, as well as to advise them on day-to-day legal and other strategic issues. He is known for his practical approach to business issues. Contact Jay at JThompson@jmbm.com or 949.623.7258

Marianne Martin

Marianne Martin has nearly fifteen years of experience advising clients on a variety of commercial, financing, bankruptcy, restructuring and M&A matters, with a particular niche dealing with distressed and/or turnaround situations. Her clients frequently include private equity and hedge funds, independent sponsors, family offices, public and private corporations, financial institutions and banks, healthcare-related companies, municipalities and venture capital funds. She has represented clients in various capacities, including as borrowers/debtors, lenders, acquirers, and agents/trustees in negotiating and documenting complex commercial transactions, out-of-court restructuring transactions and advising on purchasing considerations in secondary market debt transactions. Contact Marianne at MMartin@jmbm.com or 310.201.3531

Trevor Countryman

Trevor Countryman is an associate in the firm's Real Estate Department. He advises clients in all aspects of real estate transactions including property acquisitions and dispositions, financing, leasing, development and construction. Trevor's clients range from large funds to individual developers and opportunistic investors, engaged in deals involving office, retail, multi-family, single-family, mixed-use and hotel properties. Contact Trevor Countryman at 310.201.3546 or TCountryman@jmbm.com.

Vanessa Han

Vanessa Han is an associate in JMBM's Corporate group. Vanessa can be reached at VHan@jmbm.com or 310.785.5383

Vince Farhat

Vince Farhat is Chair of JMBM's White Collar Defense and Investigations practice. Vince has extensive jury trial experience and focuses his practice on representing companies and individuals in criminal and civil investigations and prosecutions by government enforcement agencies, as well as complex federal litigation. He also advises companies in connection with complex and sensitive internal investigations. Prior to joining JMBM, Vince served as an assistant United States attorney in the Major Frauds Section of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. Contact Vince Farhat at 310.785.5382 or VFarhat@jmbm.com.

Sarah G. Hartman

Sarah G. Hartman is a partner in JMBM's Litigation Group and a member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. Sarah is an experienced litigator who advises and represents clients through all aspects of litigation, from inception through trial and appeal. She advises and represents clients in the hospitality industry, including the termination of hotel management agreements and franchise agreements. Sarah also advises and represents clients on women's health technology issues, intellectual property matters, and complex commercial disputes, including breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, breach of contract, unfair competition, products liability, employment litigation, class action defense, false advertising and other complex financial disputes. Contact Sarah Hartman at 949.623.7243 or SGHartman@jmbm.com.

Michael H. Strub, Jr.

Michael H. Strub, Jr. is a partner in JMBM's Litigation Group and a member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group® -- a team of seasoned professionals who have helped clients around the world with more than 4,700 hospitality properties worth more than $125 billion. He is a highly skilled trial and appellate attorney who has handled high-stakes, complex commercial and business cases for 30 years including disputes arising out of hotel construction, lending, and bankruptcy. In addition, he has represented plaintiffs and defendants in business and commercial disputes in a variety of areas. Contact Michael H. Strub, Jr. at 949.623.7233 or MStrub@jmbm.com.

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.