John Dent Email and Phone Number

Head of the legal function in the Americas for Ennismore, the largest and fastest growing lifestyle hospitality company. Ennismore's hotel brands include 21c Museum Hotels, 25hours Hotels, Delano, Hyde, Jo&Joe, Mama Shelter, Mondrian, Morgans Originals, SLS, SO/, and The Hoxton.

Legal and consulting services for the lodging industry, including arbitration, mediation, and expert testimony; lodging strategy and development; litigation management; legal department strategy; legal department operations; board support; and continuing education. Representative engagements included:- Hired by global luxury and lifestyle hospitality company to serve as outsourced in-house development counsel in the Americas- Hired as interim Chief Legal Officer by private equity owner of the Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands, as part of senior management overhaul to resolve multi-front litigation, onboard new General Counsel, and prepare the company for the sponsor's eventual exit- Expert witness testimony on behalf of international luxury hotel brand in arbitration over damages for termination of high-profile management agreement- Party-appointed arbitrator in dispute over termination of management agreement and associated branding for high-profile luxury hotel- Party-appointed arbitrator in dispute over termination-on-sale provision in lifestyle hotel management agreement- Negotiation of management and franchise agreements for full-service hotel properties on behalf of pension fund investment manager- Advice to hotel owner regarding rights and obligations in connection with pandemic-related closure

Responsible for the legal, risk management, and corporate secretarial functions of the largest lodging REIT in North America (by unit and room count) and its paired-share operating company. The combined enterprise (NASDAQ:STAY, since taken private) owned approximately 600 properties, employed over 7,000 team members, earned over $1.3 billion in annual revenues, and had an enterprise value of over $6.2 billion.Hired one year after IPO, with the company’s private equity sponsors owning 70% of the stock and controlling the two Boards of Directors. Served as de facto chief strategy officer to new CEO in identifying, evaluating, and recommending strategic options for the company’s post-exit direction. Managed the company’s transition from controlled to non-controlled status, including working directly with Boards and CEO to identify and recruit new independent directors and implement strategic direction. New strategic initiatives included enhanced asset management function, real estate dispositions and purchases, creation of a hotel management platform for third-party hotel owners and creation of a franchise program.

Second-in-command for the legal function at one of the world’s largest hospitality companies (NYSE:HLT) with at the time over 4200 hotel properties under eleven brands in 92 countries and over US$9 billion in annual revenue. Led a team of 35 lawyers and paraprofessionals located at company offices in London, Singapore, Shanghai, Dubai, New Delhi, and the company’s world headquarters in McLean, Virginia. Team's services included legal support for hotel operations; negotiation, drafting, interpretation and enforcement of hotel management and franchise agreements; real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and financing; and asset management.

Responsible for a team of 12 attorneys and paraprofessionals supporting the company's development, real estate, and asset management functions in the Americas.

Interim head of Hilton's global legal function.

Initially responsible for managing defense of major litigation; transitioned to negotiating, drafting, interpreting and enforcing hotel management agreements and related development agreements.

Litigator specializing in cases involving disputes between hotel owners and operators; fiduciary duty and agency; tax and accounting; and real property.