Representative Experience

  • Represented investment firm Eagle Four Partners in the purchase of the former Fashion Island Hotel in Orange County, California, to be rebranded as the Pendry Newport Beach (part of the Montage International chain), and tended to the debt financing and related agreements.
  • Represented Denver HS-EF Court Place, a joint venture between Newport Beach-based Eagle Four Partners and Atlanta-based High Street Real Estate Partners (an affiliate of Hodges Ward Elliott), on a hotel management agreement and a $39M equity financing (both deals opposite Marriott) and other debt and equity refinancings.
  • Led the sale of The Estancia La Jolla hotel for Pacific Hospitality Group to Pebblebrook.

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  • Represented Three Wall Capital LLC in acquiring eight hotels to add into an existing portfolio acquired by Three Wall Capital and its investment partner pursuant to an amended and restated joint venture agreement negotiated by the Pillsbury team.
  • Represented Newport Center Ventures in the purchase of the 532-room Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa for approximately $216 million and the financing for the purchase and planned renovations, including a $170 million debt financing.
  • Represented CoralTree Hospitality Group, a leading hotel management company for independent hotels, in connection with all of its hotel management agreements across the U.S.
  • Handled Pacific Hospitality Group’s acquisition of multiple luxury hotels including Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara, CA.
  • Represented investment bank in origination, and later restructuring, of $6.5 billion of mortgage and mezzanine loans on hotel/casinos in various states.
  • Advised Everi Holdings Inc., a premier digital casino gaming content and products provider, with respect to its acquisition of certain strategic assets of mobile-first technology innovator, Venuetize, Inc., which provides advanced guest engagement and m-commerce platforms within the sports, entertainment and hospitality realms.
  • Acted for SBE Hotel Group in the development and financing of SLS Hotels, a new luxury hotel brand.
  • Represented investment bank in origination of mortgage and mezzanine loans (totaling approximately $1.5 billion) for acquisition, expansion and renovation of a hotel/casino in Las Vegas.
  • Provided counsel to investment banks in connection with a $178 million loan relating to the South Beach Ritz-Carlton in Miami, a $127 million loan relating to Four Seasons Hotel in Nevis, and a $265 million loan relating to Shutters and Casa del Mar hotels in Santa Monica, CA.
  • Represented owner and developer of an $8 billion Las Vegas resort and casino complex in resolving nearly $500 million in claims brought by some 273 subcontractors in state court.
  • Represented $5.7 billion integrated resort development owner in proceedings before Singapore International Arbitration Centre regarding unauthorized reuse of proprietary designs in conjunction with competing 8.8 million-square-foot proposed development elsewhere in Asia.
  • Represented Las Vegas resort and casino owner regarding crisis management, forensic analyses, remediation and repair, litigation, and insurance recovery related to damage to its high-rise hotel and resulting disruptions.
  • Represented Benchmark Resorts & Hotels regarding the hotel management of various hotels, including Hotel Zelos in San Francisco, ONE Bal Harbour Resort & Spa in Bal Harbour, FL, and Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu, Hawaii.
  • Represented Grill Concepts Inc. (parent of The Daily Grill and The Grill on the Alley) in the acquisition of the assets of Hotel Restaurant Properties and its affiliates.
  • Advised the Belvedere Restaurant of the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel in connection with allegations of ABC trade practice violations.
  • Handled T-Bird Restaurant Group’s sale of all 56 Outback steakhouses to HIG Capital.

Practice Area Highlights

  • Team members achieved Chambers USA National Band 1, California, Washington, DC, and Virginia recognitions for Real Estate and Construction, and National recognitions for Projects and Leisure & Hospitality.