Overview
Mr. Hickel has over 20 years of experience advising key players in the hospitality industry, including owners, operators, asset managers, developers, boutique franchisors and investors. He has a detailed understanding of hospitality assets and the critical business functions that impact ownership and operation of hotels, resorts, spas, golf courses, social clubs, condominiums, restaurants and other food & beverage related businesses. Given his work for both owners and operators, he is uniquely positioned to advise any party at the table.
Mr. Hickel counsels domestic and international clients on the full range of legal and operational issues that arise over the lifespan of a hospitality operating business, including:
- Hotel ownership and operations
- Franchising, licensing and branding
- Hotel, restaurant and spa management agreements and leases
- Acquisition and disposition of hotels and other commercial property
- Joint venture negotiations
- Financing matters
- Hotel departmental operating agreements
- Asset management and third party management agreements
- Day-to-day hotel operational matters
An experienced negotiator of hundreds of hotel management agreements across all types of hotels and resorts ranging from branded urban-luxury to boutique branded assets to select service projects, he is intimately familiar with the complex inner-workings of multi-faceted hospitality projects, including the cross-functioning dynamics of individual departments within a larger hotel operating business.
Education
- J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 2001
- B.S., Pennsylvania State University, 1997
Admissions
- State Bar of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Awards & Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law (2024)
Professional Affiliations
- Member: Pennsylvania Bar Association