Irvin W. Sandman Named 2008 Recipient of the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award

Business Wire, Feb 13, 2008

Industry Peers Recognize Sandman's Pioneering Efforts In Hotel Law And His Generous Long-Term Contributions To The Hospitality Industry

HOUSTON -- Irvin W. Sandman, Chair of Graham & Dunn's Hospitality Industry Group, was named the 2008 recipient of the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award today, during the Sixth Annual Hospitality Law Conference in Houston, Texas.

Bestowed annually by the board of the Hospitality Law Conference, the Marshall Award is awarded to an individual who has made pioneering and lasting contributions to the field of hospitality law that will educate future leaders. Nominees are chosen by their industry peers. In making the final selection, the board recognizes the person who exemplifies Mr. Marshall's commitment to hospitality law. This is the fourth year the Award will be presented.

Mr. Sandman is widely acknowledged for his cooperative and inclusive approach to issues and transactions in the hotel industry and his willingness to share the spotlight with his teammates and colleagues in the legal and hotel communities. Recognized for his industry knowledge and expertise, his ability to conclude difficult and complex hotel deals, and his contributions in the highly specialized mixed use and condo hotel segments, he has served as lead counsel in hotel and resort transactions worldwide representing asset values totaling in excess of $1 Billion.

Mr. Sandman is also credited with building over the last fifteen years one of the first and most highly respected hotel industry legal teams, bringing together an array of business and legal talent to meet all of the industry's specialized needs. His team includes recognized industry leaders such as Russ Savrann, former VP Associate General Counsel of Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

The award recognizes Sandman's personal contributions and their lasting impact to hospitality industry. In his current position as Chair of the American Bar Association's Hospitality Industry Liaison Subcommittee, he built an alliance with the Hospitality Law Conference to create in- depth, specialized legal programs while keeping the conference affordable so industry professionals as well as in-house and outside counsel can attend. Sandman and Savrann also assisted in the formation and development of the National Association of Condo Hotel Owners (NACHO), an association formed to enhance the long-term success of the condo hotel segment, and they are currently assisting in the formation of an international association for green hotels. Additionally, Sandman is a founding member of The Lodging Roundtable, a charter member of the Academy of Hospitality Attorneys, an executive board member of Seattle-King County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and counsel for the Seattle Hotel Association.

Mr. Sandman's work in the field of hotel mixed use and condo hotel development is highly valued by his peers. He recently was engaged as an advisor in the Las Vegas case involving the MGM Signature condo hotel development. His role in that matter is to advocate for a fair resolution, and his work promises to set the parameters for dispute resolution in future litigation involving condo hotel developers and their unit owners.

"I greatly respect Stephen Barth and his prolific and valuable work with the Hospitality Law Conference, hospitalitylawyer.com and within the hotel industry," Sandman said. "The Marshall award has recognized outstanding hotel leaders, and I'm truly humbled to be named among them."

"Irv Sandman and Graham & Dunn are hospitality and hospitality law innovators, ahead of the curve on the industry's emerging issues," said Stephen Barth of Hospitality Law Conference. "Irv's work, generous spirit and keen insight continues to help shape this important and dynamic industry," he added.

Sandman joined Graham & Dunn in 1980, after graduating UCLA School of Law that same year. Today, he and his team counsel hospitality companies about acquiring, financing, managing, and franchising properties; all aspects of mixed use and condo hotels; developing and protecting technology, brands, e-commerce solutions, and other intellectual property; real estate associated with hotels and resorts; negotiating and drafting system license agreements, management agreements, strategic partnerships, and other relationships; managing employment and diversity matters; restructuring troubled properties; and litigating disputes. Sandman has led the firm's Hospitality Industry Group since its formation in 1993.

Sandman is a frequent national speaker on hotel topics, having made recent presentations, for example, at the Hospitality Law Conference in Houston ("Condo Hotels, Three Years Into the Concept"), the Lodging Conference in Phoenix ("Condo Hotel Development"), and the Condo Hotel Summit in Miami ("Sidestepping SEC Trouble, Complying with Securities Laws") among others.

"We believe in fostering positive relationships and building bridges with and among colleagues and stakeholders in the industry," Sandman said. "With this approach, much more can be achieved. Industry issues, difficult transactions, and individual disputes can be beneficially concluded," Sandman said. "Our efforts with the American Bar Association, the National Association of Condo Hotel Owners, and other local and national associations have been ways to further this goal of cooperative good work for the benefit of the industry as well as our clients."