BOSTON, February 2, 2010 – Goodwin Procter LLP announced today that Tom Griffiths has joined the firm as Counsel in its Hospitality practice. Griffiths, whose practice encompasses the complete range of legal needs of hotel enterprises, will be resident in the Hong Kong office.
Prior to joining Goodwin Procter, Griffiths served as Senior Vice President & General Counsel for Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, EMEA based in Zurich, Switzerland, handling the legal requirements of the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel businesses in that region and before that spent eight years working from the Fairmont offices in Toronto providing legal services to the Delta Hotels, Legacy Hotels REIT and Fairmont Hotels & Resorts businesses around the globe. He has worked on significant projects in most parts of the world including the People’s Republic of China, Vietnam, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, and India. He will work closely with the firm’s REITs, real estate and real estate capital markets partners in London, New York and San Francisco in continuing to grow the firm’s client base.
“Tom’s expertise in the complex issues facing hotels as operating businesses will be invaluable in helping our clients navigate these challenges,” said Regina M. Pisa, chairman and managing partner of Goodwin Procter. “His deep knowledge of the customs and practical concerns of the global hospitality industry is unparalleled.”
“For the past decade, I have worked with several Goodwin Procter lawyers on deals around the world,” said Griffiths. “An experienced team, their expertise extends to most aspects of commercial real estate, having handled many significant hotel transactions for clients in Asia, the Middle East, the U.S. and Europe. I am thrilled to join them.”
The firm’s hospitality clients include several international hotel brands, including Four Seasons, Starwood Hotels, the Dorchester Group, and Fairmont Raffles Hotels - as well as investment banks, funds, advisors and investors. A leader in REITs and real estate capital markets, the firm has structured and executed U.S. REIT IPO and REIT M&A transactions totaling over $150 billion dollars (US) and negotiated major corporate M&A transactions involving hospitality companies across Europe.
About Goodwin Procter
Goodwin Procter LLP is one of the nation’s leading law firms with offices in Boston, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Washington, D.C. The firm’s core areas of practice are corporate, litigation and real estate, with specialized areas of focus that include financial services, private equity, technology, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property, tax and products liability. Information may be found at www.goodwinprocter.com.