Mr. Jim ButlerMr. Butler acts either as lead lawyer, or manages and coordinates the entire process, in the full spectrum of hospitality matters handled by the Global Hospitality Group®. These representations include acquisition and sale, development, due diligence, financing, traditional real estate, negotiating, re-negotiating, terminating management and franchise agreements, fiduciary duty, litigation, labor and employment, workouts, bankruptcies, receiverships, joint venture, partnership and entity structure issues, corporate securities, and intellectual property matters.
Many industry leaders call on Jim's unique perspectives as a seasoned businessman, strategic thinker and facilitator. They find that his problem-solving skills — combined with an intimate knowledge of the hospitality industry and its players, norms and customs — give them an edge that helps create opportunities and complete deals.
For more than 10 years, Mr. Butler has focused his practice on hospitality matters, enabling him to develop what is recognized as one of the broadest and most far-reaching hospitality practices in the United States. With more than 50 members of the Global Hospitality Group that Jim leads, the Firm has represented some of the largest and most respected owners, operators, lenders and investors in hotels, resorts, golf courses, tennis facilities, cruise lines, timeshares, senior living and sports facilities, in matters ranging from billion-dollar portfolios to individual properties, and in litigation or operational matters from daily operating matters to "bet-the-company" issues.
Jim Butler is one of a handful of lawyers admitted to full membership in the International Society of Hospitality Consultants, the founder and Chair of the ULI-LA Hospitality Product Council, founding director of the JMBM Executive Briefings and Annual Conferences and an annual conference (Meet the Money®) which has become the most important hospitality finance conference in the U.S., and a frequent author and speaker. His books, articles and many expert panel presentations cover a wide range of topics, including hotel management agreements, development, acquisition and sale, hotel and real estate finance, lender liability issues, complex joint venture and entity structure matters, workouts, as well as many operating and strategic issues.
Mr. Butler can be contacted at (310) 201-3526 or jbutler@jmbm.com
