Hotel & Resort

Hawaii Hotel Attorneys and Resort Transaction Specialists

Starn O’Toole Marcus and Fisher boasts experience in the representation of hotel and resort owners and developers that exceeds international and Hawaii hotel and resort law firms many times its size.

Our Hawaii hotel attorneys have represented persons purchasing and developing hotels ranging from one of the largest resorts west of the Mississippi River to boutique, specialized market properties. The firm’s Hawaii hotel and resort attorneys have represented mid-size hotel management brands as well as assisted clients in negotiating management contracts with the largest brands in the world.

Our successful track record with foreign clients and counter-parties make our attorneys extremely comfortable working with clients from all over the world. The firm’s experience in the acquisition and development of hotels and resorts all over the world command a diversity of cultural experiences and sensitivities that we believe are unmatched in this State.

Hawaii hotel and resort attorney, Kenneth B. Marcus, has represented hotel owners and developers, as well as mid-size brands, for over 45 years. While in New York, Mr. Marcus’ practice included acquiring over $2 billion in hotel properties for various real property owners, and was development counsel to mid-size brands such as Omni Hotels and Doral Hotels & Resorts. Arriving in Hawaii in 1990, the Hawaii hotel attorney has represented acquirers of resorts in Hawaii, Oregon and the Bahamas, as well as currently represents developers of resort projects in Hawaii, Guam and Mexico. He has extensive experience with hotels, branded condominium/condo-hotels, fractional and golf course acquisitions, repositioning and renovation. Mr. Marcus is considered an industry expert and was the appointed author of the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Real Estate Manual on Hotel Management Agreements chapter. Mr. Marcus is a longstanding member of the prestigious International Society of Hospitality Consultants, an invitation-only organization that brings together the leading consultants in the hospitality industry.

Duane R. Fisher is principal Hawaii counsel to one of the largest hotel companies in the world. The Hawaii hotel and resort lawyer works extensively with the client, who is owner of the largest single hotel property in Waikiki. Mr. Fisher counsels the client who oversees an Oahu project that is constantly expanding, along with Big Island resort properties. He has assisted this particular client on a myriad of assignments, including real estate title issues, development issues, contracts with key vendors, concession agreements with the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, and similar matters. The Hawaii hotel attorney has also represented hotel owners in their purchase and sale of hotels on Oahu, and in connection with ongoing operational issues at the hotels, tenant lease issues, real property tax appeals and other matters. He has successfully guided clients through the especially tricky woods of dealing with Hawaii’s State and County agencies regarding land use issues at his clients’ projects.

The law firm’s Managing Director, Norman H.Y. Cheng, worked closely with Peter Starn, Ken and Duane on their respective hotel projects before becoming a director of the firm, and works extensively with one of Hawaii’s most active local development and real estate acquisition organizations. Mr. Cheng has also participated in a variety of legal matters, including real estate transactions, construction agreements, collections, complex corporate litigation, and real estate development.