Richard Bursby

Richard is recognised as one of the UK's leading advisers to clients in the hotels and hospitality sector. He is Head of the Hotels & Leisure group. Clients describe Richard as a talented and widely skilled commercial lawyer. They value his industry knowledge and his ability to find solutions on complex deals.

Richard's clients include privately held companies and high net worth individuals, families and entrepreneurs needing advice on international corporate and commercial transactions. He's particularly well-known for his experience on hotel management and franchise agreements, TravelTech and branded residences.

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Career

Since 2002	Partner, Taylor Wessing
1997 - 2002	Senior Manager, Andersen Legal Garretts

Education

1993	Admitted as a lawyer, England & Wales
1991	LLB, European Law, University of Bristol

Additional languages

English

Spanish

Expertise

Sectors Hotels, hospitality & leisure Private wealth

Experience

Accor on investment into AGO Hotels	We have advised Accor on their investment into the innovative AGO Hotels platform, including branding arrangements. AGO has secured an initial nine hotels from the Travelodge CVA which will be branded as Ibis budget hotels with the platform open for further hotels to join into 2021. As well as participating in this innovative vehicle alongside AGO management and the landlords, Accor has also committed seed funding to assist with the platform launch and to provide working capital.
Secret Escapes on the acquisition of TravelBird and Pigsback.com	Secret Escapes on the acquisition of Dutch based TravelBird, the online luxury and experience company, and Pigsback.com, the market leading marketplace in Ireland for online hospitality offers.
R&F Properties on high profile development sites in London	Advising on real estate matters, site set up and disposals, construction, finance, planning, infrastructure, highways, and CIL matters across four major development sites. Work is ongoing on this impressive portfolio of developments. The total number of residential units is over 4,000, in addition to retail, office, hotel and leisure floor space uses.

RBH on its appointment to manage the 26 four-star QHotels on behalf of real estate investment company Aprirose	RBH on its appointment to manage the 26 four-star QHotels on behalf of real estate investment company Aprirose, following its GBP535 million acquisition of the portfolio.
Yotel on its USD250m strategic partnership with Starwood Capital Group	Yotel, the luxury hotel chain dedicated to the delivery of smart spaces on its USD250 million strategic partnership with Starwood Capital Group, a leading private investment firm. Also advising on HMA's for projects in London, Singapore Changi Airport, Miami, Boston and San Francisco.
glh hotels on a Franchise Agreement and related suite of agreements for the Hard Rock Hotel	glh hotels on a franchise agreement and related suite of agreements for the Hard Rock Hotel, London together with a Hard Rock Café and "Rockshop" on the site of the current Cumberland Hotel at Marble Arch

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Awards

Chambers and Partners UK 2023	Hotels & Leisure - Band 1: Richard Bursby is well known for his experience in refinancing and management agreements, and also has expertise in dealing with cross-border issues. He regularly acts for both companies and high net worth individuals. "He has a very strong understanding of the hotels & leisure market." "Richard is a very good and collaborative lawyer."
Legal 500 UK 2023	Hospitality and leisure - Leading Individual: ‘Richard Bursby is one of the top experts in our industry and instantly commands respect from other firms we are up against in our contract negotiations. I find this adds huge value to our position from the off.’ ‘Richard Bursby provides great sector knowledge.’
Chambers UK 2022	Hotels & Leisure: "Richard Bursby is well known for his experience in refinancing and management agreements, and also has expertise in dealing with cross-border issues. He regularly acts for both companies and high net worth individuals." "He is very commercial and strategically focused."
Legal 500 UK 2022	Hospitality and leisure (Leading individual)
Chambers UK 2020	Leading individual - Hotels & Leisure (Band 1): Richard Bursby is head of the international hotels and leisure group. One client says: "He has great industry knowledge and is well versed in finding solutions to various issues which arise during deals." He is well known for his experience in refinancing and management agreements, and also has expertise in dealing with cross-border issues.
Chambers UK 2019	Leading individual - Hotels & Leisure (Band 1): "Very capable lawyer" Richard Bursby serves as head of the firm's international hotels and leisure group. He frequently advises clients on domestic and cross-border hotel transactions, and is widely regarded as a "market leader" on hotel management agreements. Sources describe him as "very commercial and practical" and say that "he's very good to do business with."
Chambers UK 2018	Leading individual - Hotels & Leisure (Band 1): Richard Bursby is regarded as one of the leading lights in the industry, offering extensive expertise in commercial matters and in complex transactional work. Clients describe him as "a very sensible, practical and commercially-minded solicitor."

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