Hospitality Law

The Midwest is home to many significant hospitality companies and to numerous hotel and resort properties. Gallop Johnson & Neuman is one of a very few Missouri law firms offering industry representation and service to hospitality clients in the Midwest and in the Mid-Atlantic region (including Maryland and Washington, D.C.) The firm has assembled an experienced practice group that is well known for expertise in this unique area of law. Group members include longstanding outside counsel to a Fortune 100 international hotel brand company, experienced real estate development counsel, government relations counsel and labor and employment counsel, among others. Each member of the Hospitality Practice Group has industry knowledge and expertise critical to the efficient delivery of service to industry members in all aspects of hotel and hospitality law.

Firm clients include international hotel and hospitality brand managers, as well as owners, lenders, developers, operators, franchisors and franchisees, and private investment trusts. Additional related practice areas include:

• Franchise
• Real Estate and Development
• Commercial Lending
• Governmental Relations
• Public law and finance
• Tax and regulatory
• Intellectual Property
• Litigation

Some examples of our experience include:

• Represented a hotel developer to obtain public incentives for the renovation of one of the largest hotels in St. Louis, which developer obtained branding from one of the top ten hotel groups in the world.
• Reviewed, drafted and negotiated numerous sale contracts for buyers and sellers of office, retail, hotel, multi-family and industrial properties.
• Represented clients in connection with zoning and other land use matters before municipal governments, including the rezoning of $40 million commercial property in Clayton.
• Represented large hospitality company in the redevelopment of an historic and architecturally significant mixed-use hotel, retail and condominium property in downtown Omaha, including the negotiation and documentation of a redevelopment agreement with the City and joint venture agreement with the development company, the issuance of federal and state historic tax credits and TIP bonds to subsidize financing of project costs, obtaining Brownfield tax credits to subsidize environmental remediation and negotiation of license agreement with Intercontinental Hotel Group.
• Performed "buyer's due diligence" in connection with real estate acquisitions, including review of title, survey, environmental issues, land use and zoning, and other matters affecting property and title.
• Negotiated a joint venture agreement between developer and retailer in connection with major retail development in St. Louis County.
• Defense of federal, state and tribal court Green Litigation claims including multi-million dollar mold disputes related to the use of vinyl wallpaper in hotel construction.
• Defense of builders and contractors in construction claims related to the use of EIFS stucco products.
• Represented international hotel and hospitality brand management company in connection with allegations of mismanagement and breach of duty regarding the delayed opening of a hotel property and deficiencies in design/construction and related projections issues.
• Assisted and advised lenders and borrowers in connection with multi-billion dollar private and public debt financings for a variety of projects in the entertainment sector, and provided counsel to lead arrangers, underwriters, administrative agents, fund participants and other financial institutions in complex senior, mezzanine and bond financing (including municipal bond financings).
• Represented clients before local boards, commissions and public officials regarding commercial and residential development projects, applications and hearings for permits and licenses, rezoning of property, and commercial and residential property tax appeals.
• Represented clients before federal agencies, departments and elected officials regarding immigration matters, appeals of agency decisions or rulings, and amendment of administrative rules and regulations.
• Represented municipalities, developers and affected property owners in a variety of municipal zoning litigation, including disputes related to subdivision escrows, commercial and residential zoning, preservation of the Charbonier Bluff area in St. Louis County, litigation relating to site development plans, and annexation incorporation.
• Drafted ordinances and codes relating to tree preservation, general zoning, urban town centers, historical districts and various other specialized subdivision and zoning regulations.

Hospitality Practice Group members and their areas of practice include:

J. Thomas Archer, Hospitality Group Chair, Litigation

Thomas J. Campbell, Government Relations

John J. Temporiti, Government Relations

Robert H. Epstein, Real Estate Development

Suzanne L. Zatlin, Real Estate Development

Francis X. Miller, Real Estate Development

Robert D. Cantwell, Real Estate Development

Bradley G. Kafka, Labor and Employment

Thomas P. Hohenstein, Litigation

Michael J. Adrian, Business Services