Hotels & Leisure | UK

CMS has a leading practice with significant capabilities acting in the UK, throughout Europe and in the Middle East and Latin America. It enjoys a market-wide reputation for advising on sophisticated acquisitions on behalf of prominent owners, operators and financiers. The team provides additional niche knowledge of restructurings and insolvency-related matters. It is also highly experienced in advising owners and operators on hotel management and franchise agreements.

Taylor Wessing has a skilled team that boasts expertise in both domestic and overseas matters. It is particularly adept at advising on acquisitions and hotel management agreements and refinancing, but also has solid expertise in drafting development and franchise agreements. Its clients include owners, operators and investors.

Bird & Bird's team advises clients from across the hotels and leisure sector on a range of domestic and international mandates. The group fields expertise in a wide array of hospitality matters, including financing, dispute resolution and commercial issues, such as intellectual property. It is particularly noted for its expertise in hotel franchising and management agreements.

BCLP advises a number of high-profile clients both nationally and abroad. Its areas of strength include cross-border transactional work, management contracts, franchise agreements and hotel financing. Its clients include a range of blue-chip investors, lenders, owners and managers, and it has additional expertise in licensing and regulatory matters.

DLA Piper houses a team that is experienced in the sale and acquisition of high-value hotel and leisure portfolios, often involving multiple cross-jurisdictional issues. It is also adept at advising on issues regarding developments, including financing and asset and contract management.

Paul Hastings has a hotels-focused practice that regularly acts for owners, operators and funders on a range of transactional matters. The firm routinely advises prominent institutional lenders, investors and other financiers. It is also adept on commercial issues, with expertise in branding, leasing and vast abilities in handling domestic and overseas transactions.

Addleshaw Goddard is called upon to handle a range of complex transactional issues, including acquisitions and financings. The group has experience of providing counsel on development projects. Its practitioners demonstrate their ability to advise a wide spectrum of clients, including hotels, banks and management consulting companies.

Brodies has a full-service practice based in Scotland that offers a wealth of experience advising domestic and international hotel owners, operators and developers. The team regularly handles hotel acquisitions, management agreements and portfolio restructuring. It is also sought out by clients to advise on leisure matters in the sport and food and beverage sectors.

Fieldfisher has an established team with a broad domestic offering, but also houses notable cross-border capabilities. It provides advice on franchising, acquisitions and financing issues throughout Europe and the Middle East. The team advises a diverse client roster that includes hotels, food and beverage outlets, holiday travel operators and casinos.

Pinsent Masons has a significant market presence in the hotels and leisure sector, with a noteworthy client list and a considerable domestic footprint. The team often acts on corporate finance and secured lending matters and is well supported by strengths in complementary practice areas, such as construction, banking and regulatory compliance. It is highlighted for its strength in advising on hotel management agreements.

Watson Farley & Williams advises on a wide range of hotel transactions including management and franchise agreements and refinancing deals. It also boasts expertise in hotel construction and advises hotel owners and investors on domestic and cross-border matters.

Baker McKenzie has a skilled team with considerable capabilities backed by a global network of offices. The firm routinely advises prominent institutional lenders and investors on a range of issues. It has considerable experience of providing counsel on financings, acquisitions and hotel management agreements, with additional experience drawn from the real estate, corporate and commercial teams.

Burges Salmon regularly acts for owners, operators and investors. The team boasts strength in handling real estate acquisitions and portfolio management issues, as well as financing and corporate work.

Clifford Chance has a robust transactional practice with considerable capabilities in both domestic and cross-border matters, drawing from an extensive global network for complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions. The team represents clients spanning the hospitality sector, including investors, developers and operators. It is also equipped to advise lenders on senior and mezzanine financing.

Eversheds Sutherland is particularly adept at advising on corporate and finance matters that affect the hotels and leisure industry. It acts for a range of notable hotel chains, restaurants and public houses.

The team at Fladgate is equipped with both corporate and commercial expertise. It is called upon by a range of industries to assist on large real estate transactions, franchising and redevelopment. Its clientele includes hotel groups, restaurants and investors.

Goodwin advises global hotel brands and investors. The team fields expertise in a wide array of hospitality matters, including financing, joint ventures, acquisitions and hotel development agreements. It is backed by a global network of offices.

Harbottle & Lewis acts for a range of key clients in the hotel and leisure sector, covering acquisitions and disposals of hotels, live event venues and hospitality venues.

Hogan Lovells has a broad practice that is particularly strong on transactions and financing in the leisure industry, but also has strong litigation capabilities. Among its areas of focus are management and franchise agreements to hotel portfolio sales and purchases, new developments, financings and asset

management work.

Howard Kennedy is noted for its ability to advise a range of clients in the hotel sector, including investors, asset managers and owners, among others. It is routinely called upon to provide counsel on acquisitions, as well as management service and franchise contracts. Its team members have considerable experience of handling issues that involve cross-border elements.

Katten has a strong real estate offering with notable expertise in the hospitality sector. The team advises on the sale and purchase of hotels as well as development and financing matters. It has further expertise in hotel management agreements and frequently represents lenders, investors and hotel managers.

Shoosmiths is often called upon by the hospitality sector for its expertise in property litigation, acquisitions and data compliance. It has experience in a variety of industries and a range of clients, including hotels, restaurants and sporting facilities.