October Legal HospitalityLawyer Newsletter

Poll Question:

Food and Beverage Operators:

What size glass do you presently use for your martinis?

Firm Highlight

Graham & Dunn's Hospitality Industry Group has earned an established national reputation based on its long record of excellence and professional leadership in serving the hospitality industry. For more information, please contact Irv Sandman, Shareholder with Graham & Dunn for more information.

Lawyers on the Move

Two of Europe's Leading Hotel Lawyers Move to Sonnenschein

Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP today announced that Heinz Bloch and Robert Schlup, two of Europe’s most prominent hotel lawyers, have joined the law firm as partners in Zurich, Switzerland, where it is opening a new office.

"[Heinz and Robert] bring a combined 55 years of hotel industry legal experience to our team, and they will serve as outstanding ambassadors for our practice and for the firm in Europe and beyond,” said Richard F. “Rick” Ross, chair of Sonnenschein’s Hotels & Resorts Global Practice.

October 2008 • Vol III, Issue 10

Save the Date! The Seventh Annual Hospitality Law Conference
Focusing on legal, safety and security solutions
February 9-11, 2009
Houston, Texas

Featured Presentations include:

"Legal Aspects of Alcohol Beverage Marketing," presented by Elizabeth DeConti with GrayRobinson
"Buying and Selling Hospitality Operations: How to Address Labor & Employment Issues that Affect the Deal," presented by Jay Krupin with Epstein Becker
"Financially Driven Risk Management Strategies & Execution," presented by Wes Brandt with AJ Gallagher and Janette Pierce with Noble House Hotels

Employer Liability for Hiring Illegal Aliens
Sanford A Posner, Partner with Elarbee Thompson

In recent months, Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") units have performed well-orchestrated raids against beef and poultry processing plants; farm labor contractors; and small, privately owned restaurants. Employers now need to make an extra effort and spend the time necessary to develop policies that will allow them to hire and retain a legal workforce.

The best shield that an employer has at its disposal is the I-9 form and the employer’s ability to document a pattern and practice of good faith compliance with the law. Read more about the I-9 Form, the I-9 Audit, I-9 Penalties, Avoiding Discrimination, Good Faith Compliance, Criminal Penalties and much more>>

Shaw v. Marriott International, Inc.: The Dismissal of a Consumer Class Action for Alleged Hotel Reservations Website Fraud, and Its Implications for Operators, Franchisors and Guests
By Cecelia Fanelli, Partner with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP

Shaw v Marriott International, Inc. is the third recent case in which plaintiffs have attempted to bring class action claims on hotels' use of house exchange rates.

The decisions in the “hotel exchange rate” trilogy carry important lessons for hotel operators and franchisors, not the least of which is to take steps to ensure that their reservations systems accurately reflect the room rates that guests pay at checkout and adequately disclose any uncommon pricing or checkout practices.