Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP

G. Brian Butler is a partner in the Hospitality and Real Estate Development and Finance Practices. Mr. Butler counsels clients in a wide range of hospitality matters, including acquisitions, development transactions, financings, dispositions, management agreements, franchise matters, and public/private and private joint ventures. He focuses his practice on business, leisure, resort, and extended stay properties.

Mr. Butler also represents clients in a variety of other commercial real estate matters, including commercial mortgage loans and securitized financings, the acquisition, financing and disposition of office, retail and industrial properties, commercial and multi-family joint venture portfolio transactions, REIT transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.

Recent Experience

• Representation of purchaser joint ventures in the acquisition, financing and conversion of two urban hotels to the “W” Hotel brand with a total transaction value of approximately $175 million, including all transfer, financing, operating agreements, and third-party leases and operating agreements for destination restaurant and bar facilities in the hotels.
• Representation of multiple purchasers in the acquisition, renovation and conversion to franchise of 10 Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Regency Suites and Hyatt Place hotels, with a total transaction value in excess of $150 million.
• Representation of purchaser joint ventures in the acquisition of two major market Westin hotels, with purchase prices totaling in excess of $140 million.
• Representation of hotel developer/ owner in the negotiation and structuring of a public/private hotel and conference center transaction for a new convention center headquarters hotel to accompany a new 500,000 square foot regional convention center.
• Representation of hotel owner/ operator in connection with $130 million securitized refinancing of 10 hotels located in 8 states across the United States, including the defeasance of various prior securitized loans.
• Representation of hotel developer/ owner in the negotiation and structuring of a mixed use development to include one of the first “aloft” brand hotels which will open in the United States.
• Representation of borrowers on numerous acquisition, development and refinancing loans for various hotel projects throughout the United States, including, for example, loans of approximately $63 million, $36.5 million, $21.5 million, $16 million, and $15 million.

Honors and Affiliations

Listed, Legal 500, Leading Lawyers (Real Estate), 2009

Member, Atlanta Bar Association

Member, Atlanta Hospitality Alliance