England - London • Industry focus
2

Hospitality and leisure

Paul Hastings LLP

More informationMore information

With a global network, an ‘incredible level of commercial acumen’ and ’deep hotel market knowledge', the full-service hospitality and leisure team at Paul Hastings LLP, which focuses predominantly on real estate work, is well regarded for its involvement with prominent hotel and leisure developments, acquisitions, re-brandings, investments and portfolio deals. The team is also able to leverage the strength of the firm’s complementary practices, including banking and finance, tax, restructuring and employment. Leading the team is 'brilliant mind' Michael James, who offers extensive experience in cross-border hotel work, including corporate real estate transactions, and lease and management agreements. ‘Go-to lawyer’ Stephen Nicolas has recently advised on hotel deals in the European market, bringing an ’unparalleled commerciality and holistic approach’ to hotel sales, development, and re-branding. Also focusing on the hospitality sector is Edward Meadowcroft, who offers significant expertise in drafting and negotiating, hotel management and franchise agreements, joint ventures, acquisitions, and disposals.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The team have good knowledge, professionalism, and availability.'
  • 'Stephen Nicolas has consistently shown a broad business acumen. This enables him to provide quality core real estate advice, enhanced with operational and commercial awareness of our business.'
  • 'If you’re looking to operate in the hospitality and leisure market, Paul Hastings has the team you want on your side. They make deals happen, they are commercial, they are extremely knowledgeable, they are efficient, effective and responsive. They are a full-service team, with particular strengths in direct or indirect hotel M&A.'
  • 'Stephen Nicolas is my go-to lawyer. For any deal, I trust no-one more to coordinate, manage and get the deal done. His ability to choreograph complex, multi-jurisdictional and multi-party deals is simply second to none. I have worked with him for years, I’ve recommended him to peers, I could not be happier and I would not look elsewhere. He is the lawyer you want fighting your corner. His unparalleled commerciality and holistic approach to deals, combined with his proactivity and dedication to his clients, make him a rare find.'
  • 'The team has deep hotel market knowledge at pan-European level.'
  • 'Edward Meadowcroft is great at drafting and negotiating. Michael James is great to weigh in with tonnes of gravitas when needed.'
  • 'Michael James, Edward Meadowcroft and the wider team are amongst the most brilliant minds I have encountered and consistently deliver results in the most complex of situations.'
  • 'The Paul Hastings team always shows an incredible level of commercial acumen alongside its legal prowess, setting itself apart from the competition. Michael James and Edward Meadowcroft always anticipate client needs in advance and have often surprised our team with the amount of diligence undertaken in very short periods of time.'

Key clients

  • Starwood Capital
  • LRC
  • PineBridge Benson Elliot
  • Walton Street
  • Goldman Sachs
  • TPG
  • Highgate Hotels
  • Omnam Group
  • RB Capital
  • Cerberus
  • Aroundtown
  • Klarent Hospitality
  • Bain Capital
  • GHIG

Work highlights

  • Advised Aroundtown on the proposed sale of the Hilton Hyde Park Hotel and the re-gearing of the long-leasehold interest with London Underground.
  • Advising Starwood Capital on the acquisition of two sites in Dublin, Ireland to be developed into hotels.
  • Advising Bain Capital on hotel and development management arrangements for the upcoming Edition Hotel, Lake Como.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Michael James
Paul Hastings LLP
Michael James is a partner in the Real Estate department of the Paul Hastings London office. Mr. James’ practice focuses on corporate real estate transactions. He has experience in several areas including structured acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, real estate finance, fund investments, and hotel acquisitions and operations. Mr. James has developed a leading reputation in the corporate real estate space and is the “go-to” adviser for a number of major European clients.Mr. James has significant experience based on cross-border structures and transactions involving jurisdictions such as Luxembourg, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Jersey.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Michael James

Other key lawyers

Stephen Nicolas, Edward Meadowcroft

© 2024 Legalease Ltd. All rights reserved

Registered company in England & Wales No. 2423756 VAT 324572722

Registered address: 188 Fleet Street, London, EC4A 2AG