The Hospitality Law Conference (Presented by Hospitality Lawyers)

Brad Bonnell is Principal of Hotel Security Group, LLC, a hotel security and forensic liability consultancy based in Norcross, Georgia, bringing 31 years of experience as an executive-level safety and security director in the hospitality industry and 15 years of law enforcement experience as a criminal investigator at the local, state, and federal levels.

Diana S. Barber is a lawyer, speaker, consultant, educator, author, and litigation support provider to hospitality companies nationwide. A native of Miami, Florida, she began her legal career as an associate attorney at King & Spalding in Atlanta after graduating cum laude from Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. She then spent more than fourteen years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC, serving as Vice President and Associate General Counsel. Since 2003, Barber has taught at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business, and since 2004 has taught hospitality law to hospitality college students. She currently serves as Of Counsel with Berman Fink Van Horn P.C. in Atlanta, which also serves as general counsel to the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association.

Elizabeth DeConti is a shareholder in GrayRobinson’s Tampa office and one of the original members of the firm’s Alcohol Beverage and Food Team, with more than 20 years of practice focused on the regulation of alcohol beverages and food. She leads the firm’s Regulated Products Section, which includes its nationally ranked Alcohol Law Team.

Jason A. Kron is the Executive Vice President of Business Development, working extensively with Legal 1031 Exchange Services, a subsidiary of Kensington Vanguard. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Jason brings over two decades of experience in the title industry and has focused on expanding Legal 1031’s presence through strategic partnerships and tailored client services. His background includes leading business development efforts at BridgeTrust Title, which was acquired by Kensington Vanguard in March 2022, and owning a regional title insurance agency. In his current role, Jason is dedicated to driving Legal 1031’s growth and enhancing its reputation as a trusted advisor in the 1031 exchange industry.

John Keeling is primarily responsible for sourcing and vetting both hotel acquisitions and hotel development projects for Valencia Hotel Group, and also participates on the firm’s Executive Committee. He brings more than 30 years of experience in hotel management, asset management, brokerage, appraisal, development consulting, and strategic planning to Valencia. A noted lecturer, teacher, author, and authority on hotel matters, he is frequently sourced by respected industry trades, business journals, and newspapers. Previous positions included Senior Vice President of PKF Consulting, Partner with Laventhol & Horwath, and Manager with Marriott International. He served as an infantry squad leader with the 1st Marine Division in Vietnam, where he earned the Purple Heart and Navy Commendation with Combat “V.”

Jonathan Falik is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JF Capital Advisors, where he leads the firm’s hospitality business across equity and debt placement, asset acquisitions and dispositions, portfolio transactions, joint venture structuring, asset management, management company and brand evaluation, and strategic and capital markets advisory services. He has worked on M&A and financing transactions involving well over 2,000 hotels and over $30 billion of transaction value.

Jordan B. Schwartz is a Labor & Employment Partner in the Washington, D.C. office of Conn Maciel Carey LLP, advising employers on a wide range of complex employment-related issues across employer defense litigation, regulatory compliance, and day-to-day employment counseling.

Karen L. Morris is a lawyer, judge, and Distinguished Professor of Law at Monroe Community College in Rochester, New York, a position she has held since 1980. She is the first community college professor to receive the designation of Distinguished Professor from the State University of New York. As Brighton Town Justice, a role she has held since 1994, Morris presides over criminal and civil cases, including lawsuits brought by and against hotels and restaurants. Before beginning her teaching career, she served as in-house counsel for a corporation that operates department stores throughout the United States and thereafter worked as a criminal prosecutor. She is widely recognized across the hospitality industry as a leading authority on hotel, restaurant, and travel law, and pens the column “Legally Speaking” for Hotel Management Magazine.

Kendall Kelly Hayden is a Member of Cozen O’Connor’s commercial litigation practice in the firm’s Dallas office, concentrating in transportation and hospitality law, retail, employment matters, professional liability defense, product liability defense, and construction defect matters. She serves as relationship partner for clients across a wide range of legal needs and is positioned to connect clients with appropriate counsel across Cozen O’Connor’s many practice areas. Hayden’s hospitality client representations include international golf management companies, hotels and restaurants, boutique bed and breakfasts, party suppliers, spas, marinas, and country clubs.

Salvatore Caccavale, CLSD, is Principal of Global Hospitality Security Solutions, LLC, with more than 40 years in hospitality safety and security and an active consulting and expert witness practice on hotel and restaurant security matters.

Stephen Barth, author of Hospitality Law and coauthor of Restaurant Law Basics, is an attorney, the founder of HospitalityLawyer.com, the annual Hospitality Law Conference series, and the Global Travel Risk Summit Series. As a professor at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston, he teaches courses in hospitality law and leadership. He is #3 on Global Guru’s Top 30 Hospitality Thought Leaders & Influencers for 2023. In addition to legal and travel risk mitigation insight, Stephen specializes in communicating the importance of Emotional Intelligence in leadership roles; and has provided valuable insight to many companies including The Methodist Hospital System, Wyndham Worldwide, Dine Equity, Business Travel News and Aramark. His fun, fast-paced presentations provide practical information and solutions to enhance your personal and professional life.

Steven Shapiro is an arbitrator focused on international construction and hospitality disputes, and he teaches, writes, and speaks on complex hospitality issues and construction law at American University’s Washington College of Law, blending a career in law firm practice, construction engineering, and academics. He launched the law school’s Hospitality & Tourism Law program — the sole law program of its kind in the U.S. — and, as its chair, directs the studies of U.S. law and business students while teaching courses in Construction Law, Real Estate Development Law, Contract Drafting, and related topics.