Gerard J. Hickel

Gerard J. Hickel

PARTNER
PITTSBURGH
T: 412.752.7786
F: 412.752.7809

A partner in the firm’s Corporate Section, Mr. Hickel has over 20 years of experience advising key players in the hospitality industry, including owners, operators, asset managers, developers and investors.  He has a detailed understanding of hospitality assets and the critical business functions that impact ownership and operation of hotels, resorts, spas, golf courses, condominiums, restaurants and other food & beverage related businesses.  Given his work for both owners and operators, he is uniquely positioned to advise any party at the table. 

Mr. Hickel counsels domestic and international clients on the full range of legal and operational issues that arise over the lifespan of a hospitality operating business, including:
  • Hotel ownership and operations
  • Franchising, licensing and branding
  • Restaurant and spa management agreements and leases
  • Acquisition and disposition of hotels and other commercial property
  • Joint venture negotiations
  • Financing matters
  • Hotel departmental operating agreements
  • Asset management agreements
  • Day-to-day hotel operational matters

An experienced negotiator of hundreds of hotel management agreements across all types of hotels and resorts ranging from branded urban-luxury to boutique branded assets to select service projects, he is intimately familiar with the complex inner-workings of multi-faceted hospitality projects, including the cross-functioning dynamics of individual departments within a larger hotel operating business.
 

RECOGNITIONS

  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law (2024)

Memberships & Activities

  • Member: Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Best Lawyers Designation

NEWS

A Record 87 Whiteford Attorneys Listed in Best Lawyers in America 2024, Ten Selected as “Ones to Watch”

87 lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston have been selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 (copyright 2023 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken S.C.). New practice areas of recognition include CleanTech Law and Entertainment and Sports Law. The lawyers selected are based in the firm’s Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington offices. Client comments are posted on the Best Lawyers website, at bestlawfirms.com.