Hospitality

Overview

Arent Fox represents a wide range of clients in all aspects of the hospitality industry, and we have developed a dedicated practice group that is focused on the industry’s unique challenges.

We handle acquisition, disposition, development, franchise, management, leasing, construction and financing projects on a regular basis. Our clients include some of the most active and sophisticated developers, owners, franchisors and operators of lodging and leisure properties in the world.

Our lawyers conduct single-asset transactions and large multijurisdictional portfolio transactions on behalf of purchasers, sellers, borrowers and lenders. We advise some of the leading franchisors in the industry – as well as numerous franchisees – on franchise-related transactional and regulatory matters and on the creation and expansion of franchise and distribution systems. We are experienced in equity participations and debt financing arrangements for hospitality projects, including construction loans, mezzanine loans, take-out financing, sale-leaseback transactions, preferred equity, joint ventures and other equity infusion structures. In addition, we advise clients with respect to complex predevelopment, development, construction and joint-venture agreements. Our lawyers have extensive experience in ground leasing and other leasing/building owner transactions, both within and outside the hospitality industry. We are particularly proficient in securitized transactions and bond-financed projects.

Arent Fox can handle virtually any aspect of any transaction, and frequently we are engaged to handle all aspects of the development of a hotel asset – from the acquisition of raw land through the disposition of a completed, branded, operating hotel. Whether we handle the entire life cycle or only a single transaction in the life of an asset, our lawyers understand from firsthand experience the unique aspects of each property, be it a luxury hotel; an adjunct to a convention center or entertainment complex; a destination resort that bundles multiple brands and uses; a limited-service hotel; a mixed-use property combining hotel, retail, office and residential uses; a boutique hotel; or an urban development with high-profile governmental involvement.