The Tharpe & Howell Hospitality Law Practice Group continues the tradition of Tharpe & Howell in taking a problem-solving approach to litigation. The practice group consists of attorneys and support staff who have many years of actual hospitality experience in addition to their litigation and trial experience.
The members of the Hospitality Law Practice Group are active in many hospitality industry associations such as the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the California Hotel & Lodging Association, the Nevada Hotel & Lodging Association, the California Restaurant Association, the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association, the National Restaurant Association, the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, and the Global Alliance of Hospitality Attorneys. By our active membership in these associations, the attorneys in the Hospitality Law Practice Group are able to advise the Firm’s clients on the latest laws and issues affecting the industry.
The Hospitality Law Practice Group currently represents many national and regional hotel groups, luxury hotels and resorts, national and regional restaurants, water parks and amusement parks, and other travel-related clients in all phases of their operations including:
- In front and in back of the house issues including consulting on drafting operational forms
- Litigating and drafting franchise agreements
- Litigating and drafting service agreements
- Food and beverage issues and related litigation
- OHSA investigations and related litigation
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) consultation and related litigation
- Wage and hour consultation and related litigation
- Employment law consultation and related litigation
- Premises liability litigation
- Inadequate security litigation
- Boating and vehicle accident litigation
- And other related hospitality law litigation needs
The attorneys in the Hospitality Law Practice Group combine their knowledge of client operations with their trial and appellate experience to better counsel and represent the Firm’s hospitality clients.
James O. Eiler, partner and chair of the firm's Hospitality Law Practice Group, is the author of the booklet The Laws and Litigation Issues for the California, Nevada and Arizona Hospitality Industry and A Compilation of State Statutes Re Innkeepers Limits of Liability. These booklets are updated each year with new cases, statutes and topics related to litigation and the hospitality industry. He is also frequently asked to give presentations to clients, industry leaders and organizations in many areas of hospitality law.
Mr. Eiler is a committee member of the California Hotel & Lodging Association Governmental and Legal Affairs Committee and the ABA Resorts and Hotel Sub-Committee. He is also an adjunct professor of Hospitality Law at the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration on the campus of the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. He is a resident of our Orange County office and thus can be reached at (714) 437-4900 or via email at jeiler@tharpe-howell.com.
The Hospitality Law Practice Group currently represents clients in the Western United States, including California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Tharpe & Howell maintains offices in California, Nevada and Arizona. The California offices are located in Santa Ana, Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks), Santa Barbara, San Francisco, Fresno, San Diego, and Sacramento. The Firm’s Nevada offices are located in Las Vegas and Reno, and the Firm’s Arizona office is located in Phoenix. In addition, the Hospitality Law Practice Group has in the past, and is currently acting as coordinating counsel and represents clients in many other states.
