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Russ is a member of the firm’s Hospitality Industry Group. He works with hotel and restaurant clients on strategic planning, transactions, franchising and operational matters, including mergers & acquisitions, management agreements, franchise, beverage licensing, intellectual property, sales, marketing, construction and procurement. Russ has worked with national and international developers and hospitality companies on global transactions, including acting as legal counsel for luxury mixed use resort development in Argentina, Costa Rica, and condo-hotel and mixed use projects throughout the United States. Russ has documented transactions for clients with Carlyle Real Estate Group, Normandy Real Estate Partners, Behringer Harvard and Westbrook Partners. Russ currently serves as counsel for the National Association of Condo Hotel Owners, Northview Hotel Group, Hay Creek Hospitality and Lifestyle Hospitality, LLC and has assisted the start up of these companies with strategic and business planning, corporate organization and compliance, employment, capitalization and joint venture partnerships. In addition to hospitality law, Russ has experience in the areas of real estate, technology, commercial litigation and bankruptcy. Prior to joining Graham & Dunn in 2005, Russ served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. from 2000-2005, where he represented several business groups, including development, sales and marketing, group business, intellectual property (worldwide), operations, food & beverage, architecture, design and construction, technology (Galaxy Hotel Systems and STARS) and procurement. As Acting General Counsel, Director of Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary at The Ground Round, Inc., from 1994-2000 Russ served within the executive management team of a national franchise company that owned, managed and franchised over 200 casual dining restaurants through out the USA and Canada. During Russ’ term, Ground Round was a public company, was taken private, sold and refinanced. Professional and Community Activities American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Section, Hospitality, Community Recreation and Common Interest Developments Group member Massachusetts State Bar AssociationFlorida State Bar Association New York State Bar AssociationConnecticut State Bar Association Presentation and Publications Panelist, "Successful Mixed-use Projects," The Lodging Conference (Phoenix, Arizona, September 27, 2007)Presenter, "Special Considerations when Negotiating and Drafting Purchase Agreements for Hotels and Resorts," Hospitality Law Conference (Houston, Texas, February 8, 2007)Presenter, "Sidestepping SEC Trouble: Complying with Securities Laws," ACI Condo-Hotel Conference (South Beach, Florida, November 30, 2006)Presenter, "The Deal is the Real Thing - Experts Review Real Deals," International Hotel Conference (Rome, Italy, October 12, 2006) Presenter, "International Legal Considerations," HSMAI World Quest (Seattle, Washington, August 4, 2006) Presenter, "International Security Measures," HSMAI World Quest (New York, New York, July 24, 2006) Presenter, "International Legal Considerations," HSMAI World Quest (New York, July 24, 2006) Presenter, "Condo Hotel Rental Agreements," Hospitality Law Conference (Houston, Texas, February 2, 2006) Presenter, "Current Hotel Industry Trends and Legal Effects,"International Society of Hotel Association Executives (Phoenix, Arizona, December 8, 2005) Education J.D., Suffolk University School of Law, 1987 B.A., Emory University, 1984 |
