Latham & Watkins

Rachel Bates, Global Co-Chair of Latham’s Hospitality, Gaming & Leisure Industry Group, advises clients on all aspects of their most complex and significant real estate transactions across a variety of asset classes, with a particular focus on the hospitality industry. She previously served as Global Vice Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice.

A nationally regarded real estate lawyer, Rachel serves a broad range of market participants, including private equity sponsors, developers, leading hospitality brands, family offices, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and institutional investors. She frequently serves as a go-to advisor to real estate owners, operators, and developers on every facet of complex transactions.

Rachel’s practice includes:

• Single asset and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions
• Development projects, including public-private partnerships
• Joint ventures and other preferred equity structured vehicles
• Financings, including mortgage, mezzanine, construction, and bridge financings
• Management, franchise, and development agreements
• Acquisitions of distressed debt
• Repositioning of distressed assets through recapitalization or negotiated workouts

A versatile practitioner, Rachel brings particular experience advising both owner and brand-side clients in the hospitality industry.

Rachel delivers business-minded counsel to clients, with a focus on developing thoughtful and creative solutions. She helps clients mitigate potential risks while achieving their strategic objectives.

Rachel also frequently advises clients on a pro bono basis. Her work includes child guardianship matters, U Visa cases, as well as affordable housing-related matters on behalf of the Chicago Community Loan Fund.

Rachel is a member of CREW Chicago, an organization for senior-level executive women in the Chicago real estate field. She previously served on Latham’s WEB Steering Committee.