The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > London > Hospitality and leisure

Dentons is 'excellent' in the hospitality and leisure industry, with strength in depth in handling landmark hotel transactions and international large-scale project work. The highly-rated Simon Masri in London is the standout practitioner in the team and handles a mixed caseload, advising hotel operations, investors, and representing lenders and developers. The practice has a reputable franchising sub-group led by Warsaw-based global head Babette Märzheuser-Wood, and has a strong track record advising hotel owners and investors on franchising and licensing agreements. On the hotel acquisition side, corporate partner Matthew Tinger focuses on corporate real estate transactions, purchases, and acquisitions of hotels. The partnership has been bolstered with the arrival of Chris Heath , who brings deep industry knowledge related to hospitality development and financing. He joined from an in-house position at the Hilton in 2019. Mark Daliere is the UK and Middle Eastern head of hotels while Rick Ross is the global chair of the practice; both are based in Arizona.

Taylor Wessing LLP's 'outstanding' hotels and leisure practice is renowned for its activity in the M&A space, handling more than £1bn of big-ticket transactions for hotel clients over a 12-month period. Headed by Richard Bursby who has expertise in hotel management and franchise agreements, the team is a 'go-to' for high-value investment sales and purchases, complex advisory work, and financing mandates. 'First-rate lawyer' Mark Rajbenbach leads corporate real estate transactions which are often cross-border. Other key strengths include the team's international offering, with offices spanning France, Germany, and Dubai facilitating cross-border mandates.  Ronald Graham is the contact for the Middle Eastern market and acts for various owners and investors.

Addleshaw Goddard houses the 'best commercial real estate lawyers' who are described as 'experienced, knowledgeable, and commercial.' The team is led by a trio of experienced partners who are particularly noted for their financing work but also handle an assortment of complex transactions, real estate, and construction matters. Luke Baines is strong in the hotel development area and with co-head, Lucy Sturrock, who splits her time between London and Leeds, is a key contact in the group. Zoe Maurer specialises in real estate and advises lenders and borrowers on financing matters. The practice holds a number of established hotel groups as long-standing clients and is active in hotel finance, development, and construction.

Bird & Bird LLP 's hotels practice group is led by the 'brilliant' Karen Friebe and is active in the purchasing, development, and management of hotels. The team has sector speciality across the food and beverages space, as well as a strong technology, IP, and data protection offering for industry-leading clients such as booking.com. In the commercial property field, the group is experienced in advising investors and developers on project work and acquisitions. The team has been bolstered by a number of new additions to the partnership; James Salford joined from Addleshaw Goddard and brings additional real estate financing expertise to the team, while transactional lawyer Peter Nicholson joined from  Russell-Cooke LLP. They bring the senior headcount across the sector-group to around 20.

At Clifford Chance LLP, the hotels and leisure industry group has extensive expertise in hospitality-related transactions and financing projects. The cross-border client portfolio includes leading names in the industry such as Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts and Corinthia Hotels, with repeat work coming in year after year. In the corporate occupier space, co-head Sarah Thomas  (who leads the team alongside real estate finance partner Andrew Carnegie ) is the key name to note advising owners, occupiers, and operators on a range of issues pertaining to investment, whilst Mark Payne specialises in commercial real estate transactions. On the development side, Ian Painter advises domestic and foreign investors and sovereign wealth funds on investment and infrastructure projects. The team also includes Alis Pay , who led the €1.1bn pan-European deal for American investment group; NorthStar.  The group saw one departure, with structured finance and securitisation partner Steve Curtis leaving for Latham & Watkins.

DLA Piper's multi-disciplinary practice is 'commercially savvy and responsive' and has extensive expertise across a number of areas for hospitality clients, including; development finance, real estate, corporate acquisitions, and disposals. Global sector head Matthew Duncombe is noted for his transactional and commercial know-how and is a trusted adviser to major European hospitality clients. The group also offers specialism across management and franchising agreements. Key player Joanne Owen who rejoined the firm from  Proskauer Rose LLP is highly rated by clients and peers for her unrivalled expertise in this sector. She is recommended for complex international transactions related to corporate property and holds a number of private equity firms and investors as clients.

Hogan Lovells International LLP has 'tremendous strength in depth' and acts for leading hotel investors, developers, and operators domestically and globally. Global head of the real estate practice group, Jackie Newstead has vast expertise in the hospitality and leisure sector and advises on real estate development mandates, acquisitions, disposals and financing matters. The team is active in handling complex multijurisdictional transactions for clients with real estate finance partner Andrew Flemming  highlighted for his 'very commercial and very solutions-oriented' approach. Katie Gill and Fiona Prendergast also handle international finance work. On the development side, Dion Panambalana is the key contact for advising corporate occupiers and specialises in mixed-use urban and non-urban development projects.

Norton Rose Fulbright acts for hotel owners, developers, and global leisure operators on all aspects of their day-to-day operations. Head of hotels Nick Clayson handles domestic and international mixed-use development projects for clients, while head of the real estate practice, Wasim Khan, acts for investment and occupier clients; he's also the name to note for Islamic finance related matters, particularly in the Middle East. In the hotel financing space, Dan Kennedy and Sarah Cullen are key practitioners. On the planning side, the firm bolstered its team with the hire of Sarah Fitzpatrick from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP  LLP in January 2020. Fitzpatrick heads up the planning team and has a focus on redevelopment projects in London. The group is able to leverage its extensive international offering, including EMEA-wide work on cross-border transactions including in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

Paul Hastings LLP has considerable strength in the transactional space, handling high-value merger and acquisition matters for key clients nationally and internationally. Highlighted for its 'seamless service', the practice is skilled in managing large hotel portfolios including asset management matters, acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures. Practice head Michael James focuses on corporate real estate matters and has more than a decade of expertise in the hotels sector. He acts across the EMEA region in structured transactions and acquisitions.

Burges Salmon LLP has a reputable hotels and leisure offering which acts for a number of major investors and sovereign wealth funds. Overseen by key partners Richard Read and Rupert Weston, who split their time between London and Bristol, the team handles mid- to high-value M&A matters, investment and property finance deals. In the investment property space, Matthew Sims  advises big-name hotel clients and luxury brands on acquisitions and portfolio management, while Katie Allen handles hotel financing transactions.

Fladgate LLP has considerable experience in the hotel industry and is praised for its 'responsive and pro-active' approach. James Fry oversees the hotels group and handles commercial property matters for both owners and operators related to acquisitions, disposals, and development projects. Stephen Lewis heads the leisure group and advises private investors and industry operators on their leisure and construction matters. The team also handles transactions and some activity in the Middle Eastern markets. Eddie Powell is the IP contact in the team and is the name for management contracts and franchising issues. Other core members include real estate partner Gary Smith who specialises in all aspects of banking and financing work including corporate lending and refinancing.

Glovers Solicitors LLP is 'extremely knowledgeable in the hospitality sector' and is a key name in the restaurant industry, acting for a range of clients on acquisitions. John Barber has more than three decades of expertise in the hospitality industry and has a specialism in handling acquisition work for  'grab-and-go' clients, while Philip Andrew Shotter acts for corporate occupiers in the leisure and retail area. Paul Jagger heads the licensing team and is a name to note for obtaining alcohol licenses for London and regional-based clients.

Goodwin has 'excellent knowledge' in the hospitality and leisure arena and handles a considerable volume of hotel transactions. Led by real estate partner Matthew Pohlman (who previously held a position as corporate counsel at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts) , the practice acts for a mixed array of operators, debt, and equity investors in hotels, resorts, and residential matters, playing roles on mandates including financing and M&A. New partner Martin Smith advises foreign investors and is recommended for his insight in all real estate related transactions. The team also works closely with its US practice in cross-border matters.

Specialist boutique Hamlins LLP has more than three decades of experience working with clients in the hospitality and leisure sector, with practice head Nigel Mason described as 'first-class' by clients. The team brings together expertise across real estate, construction, corporate, and intellectual property matters, and is active in the transactional space. Real estate partner Ben Kilshaw handles contentious and non-contentious real-estate transactions as well as advising corporate occupiers and purchasers on construction projects.

Howard Kennedy LLP has key strengths acting across the leisure, restaurants, and hospitality industry and is co-led by head of hotels Ed John and head of retail and leisure Adam Walford. The team is active in merger and acquisitions and the client roster includes investors, developers, international operators, and luxury brands in the hotel sector. Crossborder work is featured in the caseload, with projects spread across the EMEA region. Previously a partner in the team, Eric Gummers is now a consultant but remains active in the hotel transaction space and advises on all matters related to corporate real estate.

Katten's hotels and leisure practice is described as 'commercial thinking and attentive' by clients and represents a range of lenders, developers and foreign investors across the hospitality industry. The team handles real estate transactions and investment under the leadership of London managing partner and practice head Peter Sugden, whilst Terry Green oversees hotel management work, with a particular emphasis on advising investors and operators on projects in EMEA, and the United States.

At Lewis Silkin LLP, the hotels practice is known for its work with luxury brands and global hotel chains, with its The Collective initiative bringing together clients in the sector.  Led by real estate partner Julia Poulter  in London, the team handles transactional work in the commercial real estate space and advises on development projects and financing matters. Clare Reddy  , who leads the construction group, is noted for her advisory work to developers, contractors, and occupiers in the corporate property sector, as is Rachel Francis-Lang  who acts for corporate occupiers. Managing associate James Walters advises clients in the sector on employment matters.

Mayer Brown International LLP has a strong track record acting for domestic and European hotel investors on the full gamut of matters, including acquisitions, development projects, construction and financing mandates. With a clutch of well-known clients in the sector, the team is led by Andrew Hepner, who has strength in real estate transactions. Chris Harvey acts for Asian investors on large inbound investments into the UK.

Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP is 'commercially minded with a quick turnaround' and has vast international capacity with desks in Iran, Istanbul, and Russia to facilitate complex cross-border transactions. The hospitality practice is active in the transactional area and handles employment-related disputes, corporate matters, and refinancing work for hotels. Sarah Hung is a key contact for East Asian work and receives a number of instructions from that market, where she is noted for her development financing and investment.  Co-head of the team John O’Callaghan handles hotel acquisition matters and has a real estate background. Other core members include senior associate Simon Lawrence  ,who is highly praised by clients and has expertise handling Middle Eastern assets and investors.

Shoosmiths LLP's hotels practice excels in advising institutional investors on corporate real estate transactions and financing matters. The full-service team works with hotel operators on construction and acquisitions, with particular attention paid to to market-entry advice and operations. The Milton-Keynes based Catherine Williams is the key name for real estate transactions for privately-owned developers, while commercial real estate matters are dealt with by Liam Phillips in London. Away from the capital, other core members of the group include Philip Ryan in the firm's Thames Valley office, who handles franchising agreements and heads up the licensing team. Large regional hotel operators and entertainment sector operators are some of the firm's key clients.

At Trowers & Hamlins LLP, the hospitality team has wide experience acting in large-scale project work for both investors and owners. Led by real estate partner Julien Allen, the practice offers a holistic offering across construction, commercial property, and tax matters for hospitality and leisure clients, particularly for hotels and restaurants. The team has a strong reputation in the Middle Eastern market with instructions from high-profile hotel brands. Practice co-head and corporate expert Ayda Habboush has expertise in Islamic finance and assists shari'ah compliant clients on assets and acquisitions, and handles transactions for both UK and foreign investors. Other core members include David Cordery who advises private developers.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP has a solid track record acting for investors, property owners, and developers nationally and internationally on all aspects of hotel matters. Headed by Felicity Jones, the hospitality and leisure practice sits within the real estate group and has a large offering across construction, finance, and property planning. Barry Hembling advises property clients on contentious and non-contentious construction matters and has two decades of experience in this sector, while Petar Orlic , who joined from Reed Smith LLP , brings M&A experience. Other core members of the team include experienced corporate associate Rohan Inamdar who supports practice head Jones on transactional work.