Blank Rome LLP has added a nationally recognized hospitality legal team in California, a move that expands the firm’s hospitality and real estate capabilities and strengthens its coast-to-coast platform.
The group includes Jim Butler, David Sudeck, Jeff Myers, Mark Adams and Joe Mellema, who join Blank Rome as partners after practicing together at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP (JMBM). Butler founded and built the hospitality group at Jeffer Mangels, where he and Sudeck most recently served as co-chairs.
At Blank Rome, Butler, Sudeck and Myers are based in the firm’s L.A. office and are members of the real estate group and hospitality practice. Butler and Sudeck will serve as co-chairs of the hospitality practice alongside Christy Reuter, who has led the group since 2021. Adams and Mellema are based in the Orange County office and join the business litigation group, the hospitality practice and the real estate industry team.
The move brings decades of combined experience advising hotel owners, developers, lenders, operators and capital providers on transactions, litigation and business strategy across the hospitality asset lifecycle, including acquisitions, development, financing, branding, management and restructuring.
The decision to move firms was driven by Blank Rome’s national platform, collaborative culture and demonstrated commitment to building a competitive hospitality practice, according to Myers. “For me, I can’t speak for the others, but I think we are pretty aligned,” he said. “If I break it down, it was the platform, the culture and the excitement Blank Rome showed throughout the process.”
Myers pointed to the firm’s integrated national footprint and multidisciplinary structure as central to the decision.
“Blank Rome offers exactly what our clients are looking for,” he said. “It is a deep, nationally integrated hospitality platform with real estate, finance, corporate, tax, employment and litigation all under one roof, with strong teams in key markets like New York, Florida, Illinois, California and Texas.”
That footprint, Myers explained, allows the group to better support clients pursuing large and increasingly complex transactions.
“Having a coast-to-coast presence gives us the ability to support clients where they are and have boots on the ground,” he said. “That still matters to clients, especially when you are dealing with large, multi-jurisdictional and global transactions.”
Myers added that Blank Rome’s experience with global transactions and innovative financing structures complements the group’s hotel and resort practice. “The firm brings extensive expertise in complex and global transactions,” he said. “That complements what we do in a very meaningful way.”
Beyond scale and resources, Myers emphasized the importance of firm culture.
“From top to bottom, everyone I spoke with was consistent in how collaborative the firm is and how focused it is on delivering exceptional client service,” he said. “There is a client-first model here, and that really stood out to me.”
Myers also cited Blank Rome’s commitment to hospitality as a deciding factor. “The firm’s excitement and sincerity about building a nationally competitive hospitality practice made this a very clear decision,” he said. “You talk to a lot of firms, and sometimes it feels like they are trying to build something just to say they have it. That was not the case here.”
A key element of that commitment, Myers said, was the opportunity to work with Reuter, whom he previously encountered across the table on a lengthy transaction.
“Working opposite Christy for 18 months gave me firsthand insight into the caliber of her work and her command of complex matters,” he said. “She is a phenomenal practice group leader and someone you want in your corner.”
Myers said that experience helped build mutual respect and provided confidence in joining forces.
“She has already built an amazing platform here,” he said. “Combining her strengths in restaurants, nightlife and emerging concepts with our hotel and resort transactional work creates a very complementary offering.”
Reuter said the addition of the team enhances the firm’s ability to serve hospitality clients navigating a rapidly evolving industry.
“Jim, David and Jeff bring unparalleled experience in hotel and real estate finance, including complex management agreements and innovative capital solutions,” she said. “Together with Mark’s litigation strength and Joe’s experience in intellectual property disputes, their arrival positions us to expand our hospitality capabilities and help clients mitigate risk.”
Butler said the move reflects the growing complexity of client needs. “As our practice grew and our clients’ needs became increasingly global and complex, it was time to find a firm whose capabilities matched the caliber of the work we do,” he said. “At Blank Rome, I immediately recognized that alignment.”
Sudeck highlighted the firm’s ability to support hospitality clients across disciplines and geographies. “With strength in key markets and leading real estate, finance, corporate, tax, labor and litigation practices, we can help clients move quickly and confidently,” he said.
For Myers, the immediate focus following the move is integration and ensuring continuity for clients. “The biggest priority is making sure our clients experience a seamless transition,” he said. “That means getting fully integrated with the firm’s practice groups so we can immediately offer those resources to our clients.”
He said the firm’s depth across real estate, finance, corporate, litigation, tax and labor complements the hospitality practice and creates new opportunities for collaboration.
“Our job now is to show clients exactly what this transition offers,” Myers said. “Here are the offices, the partners and the practice groups that support what you are trying to do.”
Looking ahead, Myers said the firm’s long-term investment in hospitality is what excites him most.
“Blank Rome is not just adding people,” he said. “It is investing in a nationally competitive hospitality platform. Combining our capabilities with an already strong foundation gives us the opportunity to build something substantial.”
