Hospitality
Service
Whether you’re a global hotel brand, a luxury resort developer, or an investor in the hospitality industry, our team provides strategic, commercial, and innovative solutions to help you navigate the complexities of the market.
With a deep understanding of the unique legal challenges within the hospitality industry, our professionals work seamlessly across jurisdictions to deliver bespoke advice and solutions that meet the dynamic needs of hospitality owners, operators, developers, investors, and other stakeholders.
Our Hospitality Real Estate Services
We provide comprehensive legal services throughout the lifecycle of hospitality projects, from acquisitions and development to financing, operations, and dispute resolution. Below are the key areas of hospitality law and real estate that we specialise in:
- Our team advises clients on the structuring and negotiation of management contracts, operating leases, and franchising arrangements. We ensure that these agreements are aligned with business objectives and reflect the legal, financial, and operational intricacies of the hospitality industry.
- We represent both hotel owners and operators, ensuring that terms around performance standards, branding, and fees are clearly defined and protect client interests.
- Financing hospitality projects requires a deep understanding of both real estate and hospitality market dynamics. We assist clients in structuring and securing financing for new developments, renovations, acquisitions, and refinancings.
- Our team works with banks, private equity firms, and alternative financiers to negotiate loan agreements, investment terms, and debt facilities tailored to the specific needs of the hospitality sector.
- Fractional ownership is an increasingly popular model in the hospitality sector, allowing multiple parties to own a share of a luxury asset. Our team advises clients on structuring fractional ownership arrangements, drafting agreements, and addressing the unique legal considerations around shared property ownership.
- We also provide guidance on compliance with relevant laws, including securities regulations and timeshare laws, to ensure the success of these ownership models.
- Disputes in the hospitality sector can range from breaches of management contracts to issues related to brand standards, guest safety, and intellectual property. Our litigation team has extensive experience in resolving hospitality-related disputes efficiently and effectively through litigation, arbitration, or alternative dispute resolution (ADR).
- We work with clients to protect their interests in commercial litigation, including issues around service quality, hotel management disputes, supplier contracts, and more.
- Our team provides legal support for all aspects of hotel and resort acquisitions and disposals, from negotiating purchase agreements to conducting due diligence. We advise on the tax, regulatory, and operational implications of such transactions to ensure a smooth process.
- We also assist clients in navigating the complexities of cross-border acquisitions, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations, whether in the UK or internationally.
- In a global market, joint ventures in the hospitality sector are common. Our team helps clients structure joint ventures and partnerships for the development, ownership, and operation of hospitality assets, ensuring that these agreements align with their strategic goals.
- We support clients through every stage, from negotiating and drafting joint venture agreements to providing advice on governance structures, profit-sharing arrangements, and dispute resolution.
- For hospitality developers and investors, we offer comprehensive legal support throughout the development and construction of hotels, resorts, and other hospitality properties. This includes advising on land acquisition, planning permissions, construction contracts, and supply chain agreements.
- We ensure that developments are completed on time, within budget, and in compliance with all regulatory requirements. Our team works with local authorities, architects, and contractors to resolve issues and address any challenges that may arise during the construction process.
- Intellectual property (IP) is crucial in the hospitality sector, particularly when it comes to branding, trademarks, patents, and digital assets. Our IP team advises clients on protecting and enforcing their IP rights across jurisdictions.
- We assist clients in navigating issues related to branding, marketing, licensing, and digital content, ensuring their intellectual property is legally protected and used effectively to enhance brand value.
- The hospitality sector is highly cyclical, and businesses may face financial pressures that require restructuring or turnaround strategies. Our team provides legal advice on corporate restructuring, insolvency, and distressed asset management, ensuring that clients can manage financial difficulties while safeguarding key assets.
- We work with hotel owners, operators, and investors to implement efficient restructuring plans that can help maximise the value of distressed properties and operational units.
- Sale and lease-back transactions are a common strategy in the hospitality industry for freeing up capital while retaining operational control over properties. Our team helps structure and negotiate sale and lease-back deals, ensuring that clients achieve the desired financial and operational outcomes.
- We also assist clients in manage-back arrangements, where a sale is accompanied by an agreement to retain operational control, allowing for continued management of the property while capital is released.
- Hospitality developments often face specific planning and environmental challenges. Our team helps clients secure the necessary planning permissions and navigate complex zoning and environmental regulations.
- We provide advice on environmental impact assessments (EIAs), sustainability initiatives, and compliance with local, national, and international environmental laws, ensuring that hospitality projects are both legally compliant and environmentally responsible.
- We offer comprehensive tax advice tailored to the hospitality sector, including issues related to VAT, property taxes, and cross-border tax planning for international hospitality businesses.
- Our employment team provides guidance on hospitality-specific workforce issues, from employee relations and union negotiations to managing international staff and compliance with employment laws across jurisdictions.
Harry Snook
Rehana Hussain
Riccardo Cozzolino
Florian Hoffmann
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