The Hospitality Law Conference (Presented by Hospitality Lawyers)

Andria Ryan is a partner in the Atlanta office of Fisher Phillips and serves as co-chair of the firm’s Hospitality Industry Group. She represents employers throughout the United States in virtually every area of employment and labor law, including defending employment discrimination and harassment cases and handling traditional labor matters such as unfair labor practices and union campaigns. She received the Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Award for her pioneering and lasting contributions to the field of hospitality law. She spends much of her time counseling employers on day-to-day employment and labor decisions and educating employers about prevention and practical solutions to workplace problems, and is a frequent speaker to industry groups and human resources professionals on topics including harassment prevention, maintaining a union-free workplace, avoiding discrimination claims, proper interviewing, and effective discipline and discharge techniques.

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 serves as a trusted advisor to clients in the ever-evolving alcohol beverage and food sectors. For more than 25 years, she has helped clients navigate all aspects of alcohol beverage and food law regulation, licensing, compliance, and promotion. Representing clients in front of state and federal courts and administrative agencies, her expertise is centered on the rules, regulations, trends, and business best practices governing the marketing, sale, and consumption of malt beverages, wine, distilled spirits, and other regulated products. Her clients include major alcohol suppliers, wholesalers, national chain retailers, marketing companies, and other members of the hospitality industry. A worldly and seasoned advisor, Elizabeth is fluent in French and Italian and advises European clients on international and domestic matters.

Jason A. Kron is the Executive Vice President of Business Development at Legal 1031 Exchange Services, LLC, a subsidiary of Kensington Vanguard National Land Services, where he also serves as Exchange Director. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, he brings over two decades of experience in the title industry, with a focus on expanding Legal 1031’s presence through strategic partnerships and tailored client services. His background includes serving as Agency Manager and Attorney at BridgeTrust Title Group a multi-state title insurance operation that was acquired by Kensington Vanguard in March 2022 and fully integrated into the KV platform in October 2024 — as well as owning and operating 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, including equity and debt placement, asset acquisitions and dispositions, portfolio transactions, JV structuring, asset management, management company and brand evaluation, and strategic and capital markets advisory services. He has over 25 years of experience in the real estate and lodging sector and has worked on numerous M&A and financing transactions involving well over 2,000 hotels and over $30 billion of transaction value, $29 billion completed as an advisor and $1 billion as a principal. He has extensive hospitality experience as an agent, advisor, principal, owner, borrower, guarantor, franchisee, lender, and asset manager.

Jordan B. Schwartz is a Labor & Employment Partner in the Washington, DC office of Conn Maciel Carey LLP. He advises employers on a wide range of complex employment-related issues, with a practice that spans employer defense litigation, regulatory compliance, and day-to-day employment counseling. Jordan defends companies against claims of discrimination and harassment, misappropriation of trade secrets, and wage and hour violations, and represents property owners and managers in lawsuits alleging lack of accessibility under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act. He practices across a range of industries, with extensive expertise in the hospitality, club, retail, healthcare, and government contracting sectors. Prior to joining Conn Maciel Carey, Jordan worked at Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. and Kaye Scholer LLP.

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.

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.