1. Home
  2. |Experience
  3. |Hospitality and Leisure

Hospitality and Leisure

Overview

The hospitality industry—one of the most dynamic industries within the global marketplace—is facing new and growing opportunities, challenges, and risks as the business of hospitality becomes increasingly sophisticated and innovative and as competition intensifies across the world, from developed to emerging markets. Crowell & Moring's Hospitality Practice understands these issues as a result of our longstanding relationships with many of the leading companies within the industry and our commitment to staying in front of developing trends. 

Throughout the world, Crowell & Moring's Hospitality Practice focuses on complex domestic and cross-border disputes and corporate and regulatory counseling on behalf of the leading industry players. Our multi-disciplinary team advises companies on a full range of industry-related business, development, and operational concerns, ranging from deal structuring and licensing agreements to management agreements and regulatory compliance. We are also continually focused on the most cutting-edge, technology-related issues facing our hospitality clients, including the use and ramifications of social media, digital platforms and mobile applications. Our practice includes experienced advisers covering all aspects of the hospitality business, including litigation and international arbitration, cybersecurity and privacy, intellectual property, corporate, labor and employment, tax, antitrust, and bankruptcy.

Hospitality Litigation and Disputes Practice

Our practice includes advising and representing clients regarding:

  • Management agreement disputes
  • Disputes relating to construction and development
  • Disputes relating to service agreements
  • Antitrust claims and disputes
  • Labor and employment matters, including employee benefits disputes
  • Government contracts and regulatory matters
  • General commercial disputes
  • Intellectual property disputes

Hospitality Counseling Practice

Our practice includes counseling clients with respect to:

  • Commercial agreements, including management, franchising, financing, and licensing agreements  
  • General corporate, franchise and real estate matters
  • Operational issues
  • Cybersecurity, privacy, and intellectual property matters
  • Labor and employment issues
  • Operator-owner relations
  • Government investigations and competitor conduct
  • Advertising and product risk management 
  • Revenue management
  • Tax, bankruptcy, and restructuring
  • Emerging technologies, including social media, digital platforms and mobile applications

Just in the past few years, we have been involved in several high-value domestic and international disputes, both litigation and arbitration, for key industry players ranging from management agreement and business disputes, to antitrust matters and employee benefits litigation. We also advise these same players in connection with major industry developments, including government investigations into proposed mergers and acquisitions. Crowell & Moring's Hospitality Practice is unique in that we not only represent our clients in defense of claims, but also assist our clients in generating significant revenue, including by representing them as plaintiffs in antitrust recovery matters. 

Our practice expands beyond multinational hotel brands and involves representation of hotel owners, service providers, restaurant developers, casino and betting services operators, and online travel agencies. 

Insights

Firm News | 1 min read | 03.06.24

Law.com International’s Middle East Legal Awards Shortlists Crowell’s Doha Office for “Law Firm of the Year” and “Leader of the Year”

ALM Law.com International has shortlisted Crowell & Moring’s Doha office in its premier Middle East Legal Awards 2024 for the categories of “Law Firm of the Year – Qatar” and “Law Firm Leader of Year,” recognizing Doha managing partner Charbel Maakaron.

Representative Matters

Representative Counseling Engagements

  • Represented several international hotel management companies in connection with antitrust merger investigation.
  • Represented co-developer and financial institution in development and construction of major U.S. urban convention center and hotel, including assisting with formation of joint venture entities, funding and creditor agreements, financial guaranty and municipal bond financing documents, REIT formation documentation, and hotel management and related service agreements.
  • Represented largest processor of electronic hotel transactions in sale of its former division
  • Represent an international hotel company on a broad range of antitrust and commercial matters affecting its relationships with franchisees, suppliers, distributors, and competitors.
  • Represent several major international hotel operating companies in connection with domestic tax issues.
  • Advised restaurant group based in eastern United States in real estate and leasing transactions.
  • Assisted financial services hospitality company with tax advice and financial services assistance as part of a real estate transaction.
  • Counsel an international hotel company on developing and implementing brand standards, revenue management programs and pricing/marketing matters.
  • Advised European multinational food services and facilities management corporation in bankruptcy matters.
  • Advise international hotel operating companies on corporate and regulatory issues within the Middle East.
  • Advise high-end Chinese restaurant management company in its various transactions with restaurant owners and investors, including operating, licensing, partnership and service agreements.
  • Advised international hotel operating company in connection with renewal and termination of its commercial agency agreements in the Middle East and North Africa.
  • Assisted hotel operating company with employment issues arising from union organizing.
  • Advised on labor and employment matters for a leader in the hospitality procurement industry.
  • Created and executed a collective bargaining strategy for leading hotel operating company.

Representative Litigation and Arbitration Engagements

  • Represent several international hotel owner/operator companies in multi-million dollar recovery claims against product suppliers for anticompetitive conduct.
  • Represent international hotel operating company in claims brought against owner and operator by prospective purchaser of hotel.
  • Represented international hotel company in ERISA class action suit relating to deferred stock benefits program.
  • Represented hotel in an AAA/ICDR arbitration and related litigation arising from “midnight takeover” by owner.
  • Represent international hotel operating company in tortious interference suit brought by hotel's former part owner under Lebanese and French law.
  • Represented gambling trade association in an appeal involving international trade claims of unlawful state aid.
  • Represented travel promotion company in False Claims Act retaliation suit.
  • Represented international hotel company in antitrust suit alleging conspiracy to restrain the price of hotel rooms.
  • Served as lead litigation counsel for international hotel operating company in patent infringement suits.
  • Represented international hotel operating company in ICC arbitration proceedings in London under UAE law, arising from an owner dispute under a hotel management agreement.
  • Represented an international hotel operating company in ICC arbitration proceedings, relating to a dispute with owners of a hotel property in Beirut, Lebanon.
  • Represented an international hotel operating company in a tax dispute relating to its gift card and guest loyalty programs.
  • In Hawaii’s largest-ever tax assessment, obtained a favorable settlement for an international hotel operating company.
  • Represent international hotel chain in multiple litigations before the Egyptian court relating to corporate matters.
  • Represented international hotel operating company in government contracts and related litigation over development and construction of major convention center hotel.

Insights

Firm News | 1 min read | 03.06.24

Law.com International’s Middle East Legal Awards Shortlists Crowell’s Doha Office for “Law Firm of the Year” and “Leader of the Year”

ALM Law.com International has shortlisted Crowell & Moring’s Doha office in its premier Middle East Legal Awards 2024 for the categories of “Law Firm of the Year – Qatar” and “Law Firm Leader of Year,” recognizing Doha managing partner Charbel Maakaron.

Professionals

Insights

Firm News | 1 min read | 03.06.24

Law.com International’s Middle East Legal Awards Shortlists Crowell’s Doha Office for “Law Firm of the Year” and “Leader of the Year”

ALM Law.com International has shortlisted Crowell & Moring’s Doha office in its premier Middle East Legal Awards 2024 for the categories of “Law Firm of the Year – Qatar” and “Law Firm Leader of Year,” recognizing Doha managing partner Charbel Maakaron.