Matthew Pohlman

Matthew Pohlman is co-chair of Goodwin’s Hospitality & Leisure practice and a partner in the firm’s Global Real Estate Industry group. Matthew represents a wide range of sophisticated stakeholders in the financing, acquisition, disposition, development and management of hotels, resorts and other operational real estate assets around the world.

Based in London since 2007, Matthew has advised clients on complex, high-value real estate transactions in over 35 countries, spanning the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. His clients include real estate private equity firms, hotel owner/operators, institutional real estate investors, hotel operators, hotel owners, and ultra high-net worth individuals. He regularly navigates clients through cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions and the challenges and complexities presented by diverse legal systems, cultures, and conventions. Matthew is chair of the London Pro-Bono Committee and a member of the firm’s Pro-Bono Committee.

Matthew is a member of the ULI Hotel, Destinations, and Resorts Council and frequently attends and speaks at major hotel conferences and other industry events around the world.

His recent representations include advising:

• A global private equity firm in the formation of a joint-venture to indirectly own a portfolio of hotels in Italy which also included the negotiation of hotel management agreements and franchise agreements across the portfolio
• Various global hotel operators with respect to corporate matters, co-investments, management agreements for hotels, resorts, branded residential, serviced apartments, and other hospitality related assets as well as the underlying governance documents for the mixed-use projects
• Various stakeholders in the structuring and implementation of governance structures for complex, mixed-use hospitality projects across the EMEA region
• An international private equity firm in the formation of a platform joint-venture, together with the acquisition, debt financing, and third-party management arrangements for a mixed-use hospitality development in Dublin, Ireland
• A private equity firm on a range of real estate, financing and management arrangements in connection with a complex mixed-use real estate development that includes a hotel, branded residential, unbranded residential, two world-class golf courses, an equestrian facility and other leisure facilities, located in the Loire Valley, France
• A global private equity firm in the negotiation of hotel management agreements in connection with debt-equity financing of luxury hotels located in Rome and Venice, Italy
• An international hotel owner-operator in the development, financing and management of a luxury hotel in Florence, Italy
• A UK-based hotel-owner-operator in the development, financing, and management of a lifestyle hotel in London, England
• A global hotel operator on the sale and management-back of a luxury hotel in Hamburg, Germany
• An ultra-high net worth family in the sale of a controlling interest in the Banyan Tree Seychelles Resort
• A European-based private equity firm in various debt-equity financing, acquisition, and recapitalization transactions involving various types of operational real estate assets, including student housing, social housing, hotels, single-family residential projects in Spain, the United Kingdom, and France
• Hotel owners and operators in the negotiation of subordination and non-disturbance agreements with lenders in connection with acquisition, development, and permanent financings for hotel, resort, branded residential and other operational real estate projects across the EMEA region

Matthew is recognized by Chambers UK and Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in the Hotels & Leisure category, in which clients describe him as a “pleasure to work with” and a “true professional who can handle any complex situation with ease."

Other client testimonials include:

• "Matthew Pohlman – extremely prepared, well versed and diligent. Able to communicate complex ideas and concepts very effectively."
• "Matt Pohlman is highly professional, very well experienced, and always makes himself available."
• "We were extremely happy to have him in our corner. Given his depth of experience it was not surprising how smooth the whole process was and his direct communication style with the counterparty’s legal team, helped save time for everyone."
• "As soon as you work with Matthew, you will find him becoming a key partner to secure your deal."
• "Matt Pohlman. Extremely capable and professional."
• "Great team, who are proactive responsive, knowledgeable, and professional."
• "Matt Pohlman, one of the, if not the best hotel lawyer in the business."

Publications include:

• Co-Author, “Hybrid hospitality can drive superior returns for hotel stakeholders,” React News, December 1, 2022
• “Hybrid Hospitality Unpacked: 3 Optimal Ownership and Operating Structures for Hybrid Hospitality Projects,” September 28, 2022
• Co-Author, “How Hotels Can Take Advantage of 'Hybrid Hospitality',” Hotel Management, February 2022
• “Travelodge landlords must decide whether to stay or go,” Property Week, August 2020
• “Renegotiating lease terms in a COVID-19 environment,” Lexis PSL, July 2020
• “European Hotel Owners to Weigh Business Models as COVID-19 Shakes Up Sector,” S&P Global Market Intelligence, June 2020
• Co-Author, “Embracing Technology in Hotels to Enhance the Guest Trust Equation in the COVID-19 Era,” Goodwin Hospitality & Leisure Trend Watch, June 2020
• Co-Author, “Goodwin Collaborates With Deliveroo and Shelley Sandzer to Accelerate Restaurant Sector Recovery,” Goodwin Client Alert, May 2020
• Co-Author, "Evaluating COVID-19's M&A Opportunities,” Hotel Management, April 2020
• “Coronavirus-Ravaged European Hotel Sector Faces Long Road to Recovery,” S&P Global Market Intelligence, April 2020
• “Branded Residences Help Hoteliers Diversify Portfolios,” HotelNewsNow.com, January 2020
• Co-Author, “6 Factors to Consider When Developing an Adaptive-Reuse Project,” Hotel Management, January 2020
• “Mergers and Acquisitions in Hospitality Expected to Accelerate,” Hotel Management, October 2017
• Co-Author, “Mixed-use Projects Expand to Emerging Markets,” HotelNewsNow.com, April 2013
• “Finding Your Perfect Celebrity-Chef Match,” HotelierMiddleEast.com, August 2012
• Co-Author, “Hotel Performance Tested During Arab Spring,” REsource, Summer 2012
• “Celebrity Chefs Can Create Recipe for Success,” HotelNewsNow.com, April 2012
• “Impact of Egypt Unrest on Performance Tests,” HotelNewsNow.com, July 2011
• Co-Author, “Acquiring Hotels: SNDAs Making It Harder,” REsource, Spring 2010

Speaking engagements include:

• Panelist,  “Management Contract Debate and Dispute Resolution,” International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin, Germany, March 2014
• Moderator, “Ensuring Owner/Operator Alignment in the Business Relationship,” Hotel Investment Forum India in Delhi, India, January 2014
• Co-Presenter for “Hotel Management Agreements,” Practicing Law Institute, July 2013
• Panelist,  “Conversions, Renovations and Re-branding,” International Hotel Investment Forum, Berlin, Germany, March 2013
• Moderator, “Maximizing Value in Hotel-Residential Developments,” International Hotel Investment Forum, Berlin, Germany, March 2012
• Moderator, “Global Luxury Hotel Sector,” Americas Lodging Investment Summit, Los Angeles, California, January 2012