Jim Butler, a partner at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM) for 44 years, is stepping down as chair of the firm’s Global Hospitality Group and departing the firm.
Guy Maisnik, a partner at JMBM since 2003 and vice chair of the Global Hospitality Group, has been promoted to chair of the group.
“For many years, I have been privileged to work alongside Jim and the many lawyers in our firm who are part of the Global Hospitality Group,” Maisnik said. “I look forward to continuing our dynamic hotel law practice both nationally and internationally.”
Butler was a founding partner of the firm and founded its Global Hospitality Group, which represents lenders, owners, developers, independent management companies and capital providers on their hotel projects worldwide. The group brings more than 30 years of hotel experience across more than 4,700 hospitality properties worldwide, valued at more than $125 billion. It has worked on more than 2,700 hotel management and franchise agreements and more than 100 hotel mixed-use developments.
The group has worked on many hundreds or even thousands of acquisitions, sales, developments, brandings, repositionings, financings and other hotel business transactions as well as complex hotel litigation under common law and civil law legal systems. It has handled more than 2,000 hotel receiverships and bankruptcies, as well as numerous workouts for distressed assets.
Jim Butler, I have worked with you since 1988 and have found you and JMBM to be a top hospitality lawyer and the top law firm respectively in the US.
Guy Maisnick, I have enjoyed working with you, Jim and your firm for decades. You are a great choice to replace Jim! Though he is irreplaceable! Bob