Law Meets Opportunity
Launch Your Career in Hotel Law
Fast-track your path with industry connections and specialized credits. Learn from expert faculty, and grow your career with hands-on experience and invaluable legal insights. Programs in DC & Paris
Thanks to our HTL sponsors for supporting grants and scholarships
What Students Love About The Summer Program
Career Path for Hotel Law
For years, aspiring attorneys in hotel law had limited choices: apprenticeship in a law firm or self-directed study. Now, there’s a better way.
The Hospitality and Tourism Law Program at The American University Washington College of Law offers cutting-edge legal education in hotel law—right in Washington, D.C., the international center of the hotel industry.
This two-week summer program is tailored for:
Law Students: Earn academic credit and build expertise in a growing field.
Practicing Attorneys: Bootcamp to expand your skills and explore roles in law firms, in-house counsel, hotel development, or general management.
Whether you’re launching your career or looking to grow, this program delivers the knowledge and connections to set you apart in hospitality law.
Don’t just study law—shape your future in hotel law, resorts and casinos.
Why This Summer Program?
Stop worrying about how to stand out in your legal career—this program is your solution. It’s designed to help you gain practical skills, expand your network, and differentiate yourself from your peers.
Credits that Count
Stay on track for graduation while gaining specialized knowledge that hiring managers notice. No wasted effort—every credit here moves you closer to your degree and career goals.Connections that Matter
Forget generic networking events, come get back of the house tours, receptions and casino tours. These aren’t just contacts—they’re opportunities.A Specialty That Stands Out
Hotel law and development is a booming, multi-billion-dollar international industry. This program gives you the tools and expertise to stand out in a niche that hiring managers love.Non-traditional Careers for Lawyers
Discover rewarding career paths that are available with a law degree.
Join us in France
The HTL & Ferrandi Paris Experience
Since 2019, the HTL program has come to Paris and Bordeaux for coursework in the Master of Science (MSc) Hospitality Management studies in asset management, franchising, hotel development, and real estate transactions.
Ferrandi Paris, a proud member of the French Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE), trains the elite of gastronomy and hotel management with its flagship school in Paris and campus locations across France.
We invite U.S. students to join us in France and for the Ferrandi students to learn in D.C.
For more information on the opportunities to learn in Paris, along with site tours and cultural events, please contact Steven Shapiro
Everything You Need To Thrive
We’ve designed this program to give you everything you need to grow your career while keeping it engaging, relevant, and practical.
Get a deep dive into topics like:
Legal and economics frameworks in hospitality and tourism
Emerging issues in global travel law
Industry-specific regulations
These courses are tailored to make you job-ready and confident in this specialized field.
Exclusive Social Events & Tours
Meet professionals who shape the industry. You’ll gain access to career-shaping connections—many past students have secured internships or job offers through this program.
Hands-On Experience
It’s not just theory—apply what you learn through interactive sessions, case studies, and real-world insights from leading legal experts. Walk away with knowledge you can immediately put into practice.
Summer Program Dates June 9th-20th, 2025.
Summer Courses Offered
Hotels & Resorts: Essential Topics in Hospitality Law
(LAW 950) Steven Shapiro
Dates. M, T 6/9/-6/10 Credits. 1 Time 9am-5pm
Using a combination of case study, dialogue, and course work, this introductory course provides an analysis of complex legal issues routinely addressed by attorneys engaged in hospitality matters such as: licensing and franchise rights, tort liability, business formation and the complexities of hotel real estate development.
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Taught by Steven Shapiro, along with experts in hotel law, Essential Topics in Hospitality Law traces the economic models of the industry, along with explanations of the terminology and current industry relationships.
We then look at the common agreements in place for types of the hotels, followed with in-depth reviews of common provisions that often define these relationships.
During the course, we investigate issues that are distinctive to the lodging industry while also examining important legal constructs that govern commercial relationships.
Our material looks at topics in contract law, franchise agreements, intellectual property, data security, and dispute resolution.
Policies and Processes
Refunds:
The following is the refund policy for courses registered through our Professional and Lifelong Learning Portal (https://american.catalog.instructure.com/).
Hotels & Resorts: Management Agreements & Franchise Agreements
(LAW 951) Steven Shapiro
Dates. W, TH 6/11/-6/12 Credits. 1 Time: 9am-5p
Probably the single most important area of hotel law, the management, licensing, and franchising agreements necessary to operate most hotels are embedded with complex issues that integrate law, economics, heightened negotiations, and detailed contract drafting. The course explores the many models of hotel ownership and branded chains that allow operations to appear seamless to hotel guests.
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Taught by Steven Shapiro, along with experts in hotel law, the prominent, but not exclusive current model, is for a real estate developer to own, design, and build a hotel.
The hotel owner is often expert in creating the building, but has no real knowledge of the hotel business.
The owner then will enter into a franchise agreement with a hotel company, maybe Hyatt or Marriott, for a brand that properly fits the hotel concept.
At the same time, the hotel owner needs to staff the property, and will engage in a management agreement with a company to provide the general manager, and staff that actually operates the business.
Policies and Processes
Refunds:
The following is the refund policy for courses registered through our Professional and Lifelong Learning Portal (https://american.catalog.instructure.com/).
Gaming: Casinos, Sports Betting & Advanced Topics
(LAW 953) Steven Shapiro
Dates. M, T 6/16/-6/17 Credits. 1 Time 9am-5p
Once the domain of Las Vegas and Atlantic City, gaming operations and casinos now thrive across the country. In addition, massive resort hotels create numerous issues for the hotel attorney. This course examines recent developments in legal and operational areas including: hotel torts; alcoholic beverage regulation; federal, state, and local regulation (including the ADA); Indian and Tribal gaming; and intellectual property.
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Taught by Steven Shapiro, along with experts in hotel law, the Advanced Legal Topics course examines critical legal issues facing the hospitality and gaming industry, including casino operations, sports betting, international hotel development, issues in labor & employment law, plus the many issues facing the hotel general counsel.
Hotel attorneys constantly address scenarios calling for complex legal analysis across multiple disciplines, while novel issues routinely emerge from industry sectors.
Policies and Processes
Refunds:
The following is the refund policy for courses registered through our Professional and Lifelong Learning Portal (https://american.catalog.instructure.com/).
Hotels & Resorts: Transactions and Contract Drafting
(LAW 954) Steven Shapiro
Dates. W, F 6/18/& 6/20 Credits. 1 Time 9am-5p
Clients rely on attorneys not just for legal expertise but also for understanding complex transactions. A well-crafted legal agreement defines responsibilities, allocates risk, and outlines future obligations. Through legal discussions, case scenarios, and hands-on drafting exercises, this class builds on contract fundamentals and equips students with essential practice skills.
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Taught by Steven Shapiro, along with experts in hotel law, the classroom discussions and assignments are rooted in agreements typically in use in the hotel industry.
Class discussions and assignments will look at scenarios, both current matters and hypotheticals, to draft provisions and agreements.
Students will start with the blank page, then learn the foundation to draft agreements.
Policies and Processes
Refunds:
The following is the refund policy for courses registered through our Professional and Lifelong Learning Portal
Eligibility, Tuition & Fees
CERTIFICATE
All participants will be eligible to receive a Certificate of Legal Studies in Hospitality Law and Practice upon completion of the program.
ELIGIBILITY
The Summer Program is open to:
Foreign Attorneys for a certificate.
U.S. Practitioners for a certificate and CLE credit.
WCL & Visiting J.D. and LL.M. candidates for academic credit. Each program is a two-credit ABA course. The Mediation Program is a one-credit ABA course.
Certificate of Attendance (Non-Credit):
$750 per course.
Please be advised that this fee is only for attorneys interested in a certificate and advanced law students enrolled in a foreign law school interested in gaining a certificate of attendance. JD and LLM students enrolled in an American law school interested in gaining ABA-approved academic credit must pay the AU academic credit fee indicated below.
Tuition for WCL Students and visiting JD and LLM candidates from ABA-accredited law schools interested in gaining academic credit:
$2,386 per credit.
WCL JD or LLM students who would like to take summer courses for academic credit do not require a special application. Please enroll through Eagle Service.
Visiting JD and LLM candidates from ABA-accredited law schools interested in gaining academic credit must register through the WCL Office of the Registrar as a visiting student.
For more information about tuition and fees, please contact Steven Shapiro at steven.shapiro@wcl.american.edu.
Steven Shapiro | Director
Hotel law practice has been a leading indicator and global driver as the legal market emerges from the economic downturn. Traditional legal positions are available in law firms, hotel general counsel offices, and in-house attorneys for hotel developers.
Non-traditional legal positions are available as hotel general managers, acquisitions officers, and in the hotel supply chain. The Hospitality and Tourism Law summer program mixes the pragmatic, while rooted in the academic, and we want you to leave with substantive knowledge of the industry, legal and economic risks to the various parties, introductions to industry leaders, and lasting camaraderie with your classmates.
My own career began in the practice of real estate development and corporate law, before making a fundamental career change to construction and engineering, where I use my legal training every day. I invite you also to explore a rewarding career path in the hospitality and tourism industries through your participation in our summer program and get an up-close introduction to our hotel community in D.C.
Meet The Faculty
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John Jacobsen
General Counsel at Penzance
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Steve Goldman
Hospitality Industry Lawyer
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Tara Gorman
Partner at Womble Bond Dickinson
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Samantha Ahuja
Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig's Hospitality Practice
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Carl Hurwitz
Senior Vice President at Marriott International
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Lou Rizzo
Managing Partner at Reger Rizzo Darnall
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Juan Corvinos
Senior Vice President Development at Hilton
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Chris Wallace
Global Franchise Counsel - Choice Hotels International
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Harris Chernow
Partner and Chair at Reger Rizzo Darnell
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Kimberly Wachen
ArentFox Schiff Partner and Co-Chair of Hospitality Group
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Peter Fischer
Co-leader of BakerHostetler’s National Labor Relations
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Mike Pappas
Chief Administrative Officer & Co-General Counsel
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Mike Pickett
Venable - Commercial Leasing
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Andy Wright
Senior Vice President - Marriott International
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Amy King
Vice President Corporate Development At Hilton
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Fayaz Thawer
Managing Partner - Commercial Solutions For You Inc.
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Michael Blank
Principal at Woodmont Lodging, LLC
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Pascal Forotti
Managing Director Pendry Hotels & Resorts
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Emil Hirsch
Carlton Fields
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Vinay Sharma
In-House Counsel and Vice President at Baywood Hotels
Sponsor Our Students in the 2025 Summer Program
Invest in the Future of Hotel Law
The HTL program connects your company with ambitious, top-tier students ready to transform the hospitality industry. As a sponsor, you gain exclusive access to emerging talent and position your organization as a leader in shaping the future of hospitality.
This is your chance to forge valuable relationships, discover promising hires, and welcome the industry's rising stars.
Invest in the future of hospitality—secure your sponsorship today and build lasting connections with tomorrow's industry leaders.
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Meal Sponsor – $500
Support networking over shared meals, where industry professionals and students connect in a casual yet impactful setting.Partial Student Scholarship – $500+
Invest in the future of hospitality by contributing to student scholarships in $500 increments.Program Sponsor – $750
Gain brand visibility throughout the event, reinforcing your company’s commitment to the industry’s future leaders.Tour & Reception Sponsor – $2,000
Host a memorable experience that brings executives, hotel owners, and students together for high-level networking.Keynote Lunch Series Sponsor – $2,500
Get premier exposure by sponsoring a keynote lunch where industry leaders share insights with the next generation of hospitality professionals.Full Student Scholarship – $5,000
Leave a lasting impact by funding a full scholarship, creating opportunities for a promising student to pursue their career in hospitality.