Samantha Ahuja

Samantha Ahuja focuses her practice on hotel acquisitions, operations, development and finance, hotel management agreements, licensing agreements, and commercial real estate acquisition and sale.

She advises domestic and international clients on the acquisition and disposition of hotels and other commercial property, hotel management and operations, franchising, licensing and branding, restaurant management agreements, lease negotiations, and casino agreements. She regularly prepares and negotiates purchase and sale agreements, financing and development agreements, and other documents related to the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management, and disposition of real and personal property with a focus on hotels and resorts.

Samantha regularly works on complex transactions involving a combination of hotels, resorts, condominiums, food and beverage facilities, and other shared access amenities. She also advises her clients on traditional and investor financing, joint ventures and capital and legal structures for complex transactions. She works regularly with her clients on piecing together the various aspects of a deal while taking into balancing the business and legal objectives of the client.

Samantha works closely with her clients to address operational issues that arise over the course of ownership. Most recently, she counsels clients on a wide range of blockchain related matters, from anti-money laundering and know-your-customer best practices for cryptocurrency transactions to legal issues associated with novel uses of blockchain within the hospitality industry.

Samantha also serves as pro bono counsel to many affordable housing cooperatives and tenant associations with the District of Columbia. She works with her clients to find alternative financing, investors or other government grants to maintain long-term housing affordability.

Concentrations

•Hospitality and resorts
•Hotel management and operations
•Hotel and commercial real estate acquisitions, dispositions, and financing
•Real estate operations
•Startup companies
•Blockchain

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers , Law Firm of the Year in Real Estate Law, 2015
•Listed, Law360, Rising Stars, Hospitality, 2014-2015
•Team Member, Law360 Real Estate Practice Group of the Year, 2011-2013, 2015
•Listed, Washington Business Journal, Greater Washington Legal Champions Rising Star, 2014
•Team Member, The Legal 500 United States, Top Tier Firm in Real Estate, 2013-2014
•Team Member, Chambers USA Award for Excellence, Real Estate, 2010, 2013