Bird & Bird LLP

Bird & Bird LLP‘s team has ’a grasp of the industry that sets them apart’. It has well-established capabilities assisting well-known clients in complex national and international matters. ‘One of the most sought-after professionals in the sector,’ Karen Friebe helms the practice and harnesses expertise in the remit of complex transactions, advising hotel clients from budget to luxury end on key acquisitions, developments and disposals, as well as in the negotiation of hotel management agreements. Also well-equipped to handle the transactional side is May 2025 arrival Simon Price. Matthew Vance is experienced advising on collateral impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, including force majeure, terminations and closure agreements, while James Fowler specialises in negotiating management and franchising agreements. Franchising across the food and beverage sector, in particular, is an area of focus of both Graeme Payne and Megan Harrison. James Salford departed in April 2025.