Washington State Hospitality Law Manual Tackles New Legal and Business Issues
The Third Edition of the Washington State Hospitality Law Manual is now available exclusively to Washington Lodging Association members to help them address legal and business issues related to their operations. Irv Sandman of Sandman Savrann PLLC, serving as editor-in-chief and principal contributor, headed the team of legal experts who updated and expanded this comprehensive manual.
When the last edition was published in 1999, the world was a very different place. Many of the dramatic changes over the past 13 years, from the introduction of the Patriot Act to the advent of the digital age, have impacted the hotel industry and the laws and regulations that govern it. Designed to help WLA members avoid litigation in this new regulatory, legal and business environment, the Washington State Hospitality Law Manual now includes topics such as:
Hotel gift cards
Social media
Washington’s version of the National Food Code
No-smoking laws
Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Sexual harassment in the workplace
Medical marijuana
Washington’s “hotel liquor license”
ADA Title III laws and rules effective in 2013
The Patriot Act
Music copyright issues
The new edition builds upon the work of Dennis McLaughlin, Dennis McLaughlin & Associates PS, who authored the first two editions for WLA. In addition to Mr. Sandman, the contributors and associate editors of the Third Edition are Bryan Helfer and Nathan Luce of Foster Pepper PLLC; Samantha Noonan of Williams Kastner; Andria Ryan of Fisher & Phillips LLP; and Sandip Soli of Cairncross & Hempelmann PS. University of Washington Law School Intern Janice Goh was an assistant editor and contributor.
Thanks to these talented attorneys and authors, the Third Edition of the Washington State Hospitality Law Manual is provided to all WLA members—free of charge—as an exclusive member benefit. Only members of WLA will receive this invaluable resource.
Click here to preview the Manual’s table of contents, preface and introduction.
ABOUT THE EDITORS AND CONTRIBUTORS
Irvin Sandman, Editor-in-chief and contributor
Irv is a principal of Sandman Savrann PLLC, a law firm devoted to providing comprehensive legal counsel to the hospitality industry. The firm’s recognized hospitality industry counselors lead a team of multidisciplinary professionals, bringing to bear hotel industry knowledge, experience, and connections to help hoteliers, developers and investors succeed. He has written and spoken extensively about legal and business concepts and strategies to help industry stakeholders anticipate trends and succeed in changing circumstances. In 2008, Irv received the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award, given annually to a single attorney for pioneering and lasting contributions to the field of hospitality law. Irv is the immediate past president of the Hospitality Industry Bar Association. Irv can be reached at 206-686-0802, isandman@sandsav.com.
Bryan Helfer, Associate Editor and Contributor
Bryan is an attorney with Foster Pepper PLLC. He represents clients in single property and portfolio real estate transactions, including sales and acquisitions, financing, reorganizations, retail/office leases, land development, workouts and closings. He drafts and negotiates purchase and sale agreements, loan agreements, and commercial leases, and has experience drafting organizational documents, including operating agreements, joint ventures and corporate resolutions. Bryan is a graduate of The University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 2006), Keio University in Tokyo, Japan (2002) and University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., 2000). Bryan can be reached at 206-447-6218, helfb@foster.com.
Nathan Luce, Associate Editor and Contributor
Nathan is an attorney with Foster Pepper PLLC. Nathan’s practice focuses on real estate law and related litigation with an emphasis on representing buyers, sellers and lenders in acquisitions, dispositions, development, leasing and financing of commercial, retail and multi-family projects. He also has experience in the area of mergers and acquisitions, working with both buyers and sellers in a variety of commercial transactions. Nathan is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 2011) and the University of Washington (B.A., 2006). Nathan can be reached at 206-447-7264, lucen@foster.com.
Samantha Noonan, Associate Editor and Contributor
Samantha (Sam) is an associate in the Seattle office of Williams Kastner. Her experience includes a range of practice areas including commercial litigation, labor and employment, international and hospitality law. Sam graduated from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law where she served as an Associate Editor of the Seattle University Law Review and President of the Women’s Law Caucus. Prior to her legal career, Sam served as an officer in the United States Navy aboard a guided missile destroyer and deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Following active duty, she was employed as a manager at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel. Sam currently serves on the boards of the Asian Bar Association of Washington and the Seafair Foundation. She also volunteers her time as a pro bono attorney with the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP). Sam can be reached at 206-233-2890, snoonan@williamskastner.com.
Andria Ryan, Associate Editor and Contributor
Andria is a partner in the law firm of Fisher & Phillips LLP, which is one of the country’s oldest and largest firms devoted exclusively to representing employers in labor, employment, civil rights, employee benefits and business immigration law. Although Atlanta-based, Fisher & Phillips has 270 lawyers in 27 offices across the country. Andria joined the law firm in 1988. She received her bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, D.C. in 1985 and received her law degree from Catholic University in 1988. In 2005, Andria served as Chair of the State Bar of Georgia’s Labor and Employment Law Section. Andria is an AV rated lawyer and chairs the firm’s Hospitality Practice Group. She represents numerous hospitality employers throughout the United States in various phases of labor and employment law. Andria serves as an active member on the American Hotel and Lodging Association’s Human Resources Committee. She has been honored by the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association and the South Carolina Hospitality Association for valuable contributions by an Allied member. Andria can be reached at 404-240-4219, aryan@laborlawyers.com.
Sandip Soli, Associate Editor and Contributor
Sandip Soli is a partner in the law firm of Cairncross & Hempelmann, and leads its Retail, Hotel & Restaurant practice group. Sandip assists hospitality clients in the acquisition, development, leasing and operation of hotel and restaurant assets. He also advises hospitality clients on liquor licensing and regulation compliance issues. Further, Sandip represents clients in litigation, arbitration and mediation to resolve disputes. Sandip serves as outside general counsel to the Washington Restaurant Association and is an active member of the Washington Lodging Association. Sandip can be reached at 206-254-4493, ssoli@cairncross.com.
Janice Goh, Assistant Editor and Contributor
Janice is a third year law student at the University of Washington. Janice grew up in Singapore and is fluent in both Mandarin and English. Since beginning law school, Janice has worked at the Washington State Court of Appeals and the Attorney General’s Office. Prior to law school, Janice worked at the US Embassy in Singapore and as a paralegal at an immigration law firm. Janice graduated from the University of Washington with degrees in Psychology and International Relations. Janice can be reached at 206-930-5312, jangpl@uw.edu.
Dennis McLaughlin, Author of the first and second editions of the Manual; Special Contributor to the third edition
Dennis is the principal in the Spokane law firm of Dennis McLaughlin & Associates, PS. From 1993 to the present, Dennis serves as general counsel to the Washington Lodging Association. Dennis was the recipient of the Washington Lodging Association’s Outstanding Service Award in 2000. He received the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitor Bureau’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. From 1978 to the present, Dennis has served as general counsel of the Spokane Regional Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. He also serves as general counsel to the Spokane Hotel-Motel Association. He has assisted numerous local hotel associations with their incorporation as well as the formation of tourism promotion area ordinances. Dennis is a 1963 Graduate of Washington State University and received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Idaho in 1966. Dennis can be reached at 509-624-3525, dennis@dmassoc.cnc.net.