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Capabilities / Hospitality

Hospitality

Delivering top-flight service to the hospitality industry.

Husch Blackwell's hospitality law team provides the same superior service to hospitality clients that our clients offer their guests. To meet the unique challenges of hotels, gaming companies, restaurants and other hospitality clients, our team includes knowledgeable insiders from virtually every corner of the hospitality industry.

Our hospitality attorneys provide counsel on franchising and intellectual property to help clients protect and maximize brands. For expansion opportunities, we offer insightful guidance on zoning and land use, capitalization and financing, tax structuring, design and construction contracts, leasing and portfolio management. We can help in your operations, including areas like labor and employment issues to negotiation of management and operating agreements, from either the owner or the operator side. Regulatory and liquor licensing? We have that covered. And when litigation is necessary, our hospitality attorneys represent clients vigorously.

Our guidance to clients in the hospitality sector includes:

  • Anti-human trafficking
  • Construction and design
  • Development incentives
  • Employment training and day-to day HR counseling
  • Finance
  • Franchising
  • Governmental affairs and lobbying
  • Leasing and portfolio management
  • Litigation and dispute resolution
  • Regulatory and liquor licensing
  • Zoning and land use

Representative Experience

  • Assisted with acquisition and financing, including securing $5 million in New Markets Tax Credit funds, of $50 million restoration of St. Louis Union Station and its hotel. Project included updates to all 539 hotel guest rooms and restoration of the sweeping archways, frescoes, mosaics and art-glass windows in the station’s historic Grand Hall.
  • Helped Denver’s Regional Transportation District structure a public-private partnership of CDOT and RTD funds, developer equity, historic tax credits and construction financing in order to redevelop Union Station. The station houses Denver’s AMTRAK station, a 110-room hotel, restaurant and retail space, and a 12,000-square-foot great hall.
  • Advised EM Properties in the redevelopment of the 85-year-old Hotel Pere Marquette in Peoria, Illinois. With our advice and legislative advocacy, EM Properties moved forward with the $92.8 million project by securing passage of legislation authorizing the first-ever state historic tax credit issued by Illinois.
  • Represented real estate investment firm in the development of a Texas luxury resort, from site acquisition through financing and development, including several years of operation, and finally through project sale.
  • Representing a venture capital fund in the negotiation of a complex ground lease in Wichita, Kansas with a national fast food restaurant.
  • Served as land development counsel and local real estate and financing counsel for real estate investment firm as it acquired three hotels and resorts in Texas (worth $93 million), each of which were active resorts situated in areas of the state with unique and complicated water, wastewater and environmental issues.
  • Led representation of Intrawest Resorts in its development of resort communities across the continent, from concept through delivery and disposition.
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The New World of Brick-and-Mortar Retail

The $92.8 million transformation of the Hotel Pere Marquette with the first-ever Illinois state historic tax credit wouldn't be possible without Husch Blackwell's expertise and guidance.

Gary Matthews, President, EM Properties