Jim Norman is co-chair of the firm's Global Hospitality, Resort and Timeshare Team. His client responsibilities include owners, lenders, developers and operators of hotel, resorts and mixed use projects. His real estate practice concentrates on all aspects of the development of hotel projects including acquisition of raw land, title matters, zoning and development permitting, design and construction agreements, management and operating agreements and complex transactions relating to the acquisition, financing and disposition of completed projects throughout the United States and the Caribbean. He is author of a number of recent articles and frequent lecturer on joint ventures between hotel owners and managers and hotel operational issues and Caribbean resort development.
Representative Transactions
- representation of the developer of a major mixed-use resort on St. Lucia as lead counsel
- representation of the developer of an upscale resort in Royal Island, Bahamas, as lead outside counsel
- representation of a major residential mixed-use developer in negotiation of its first third party hotel management agreement
- representation of an Ireland-based developer in connection with three Caribbean projects
- representation of a US-based developer in connection with the management of its first Caribbean resort development
- representation of a number of brand and independent management companies in preparing Woodley Road claims inoculation provisions for inclusion in their management agreement forms and review of their business practices in connection therewith
- representation of a hotel brand in creating a management structure for operating franchisee-owned hotels in a newly developed program
- representation of the original developer of the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel and Casino in connection with the negotiation of land acquisition, developer joint venture entity structure negotiation and drafting of hotel and casino management agreements
- representation of Anheuser-Busch as special hotel counsel in connection with an animal-amenity themed hotel
- representation of a Hong-Kong based hotel company in connection with a major urban center hotel management agreement dispute
- special hotel counsel to the developer in connection with the management agreement and joint venture structure in a public-private convention center hotel project
- representation of a national hotel franchisor in the creation of a management program for franchisees
- representation of the seller in connection with a package of hotels acquired by the Florida Panthers
- representation of the seller of the Diplomat Hotel complex
- representation of the purchaser in the acquisition of Bahia Mar and Pier 66 hotels including the negotiation and drafting of documentation and structuring of ownership entities and zoning and renovation agreements
- continuing representation of several national hotel chains in connection with acquisitions, due diligence, management and development matters in Florida and throughout the United States
Mr. Norman is a former City Attorney for the City of Tamarac, Florida, and has extensive experience in the drafting and litigation of zoning and development resolutions. He has acted as special counsel and chief negotiator for Broward County in connection with its mixed-use, public-private convention center project. Mr. Norman is the author of an adopted Uniform Title Standard as well as a Florida Bar continuing legal education publication on real estate liens and encumbrances. In addition, he has lectured to the American Institute of Architects and development officials of national developers on legal issues involving design contracts and Florida development issues. He is the author of a series of articles on hotel management agreements and operational issues, as well as Caribbean resort development.
He serves on the Real Estate Opinions Committee of the American Bar Association. He was selected by Chambers USA to be listed in its national Leisure and Hospitality group.