Christy L. Reuter

Biography

CHAIR, HOSPITALITY PRACTICE

Christy Reuter focuses her real estate practice on domestic and global hospitality transactions, notably representing hospitality companies seeking to expand within the United States and in countries around the world. She has negotiated deals in cities throughout the United States and in various countries and cities, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Japan, Turkey, Monaco, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Hong Kong.

Christy provides strategic legal and business counsel to clients at every stage of a transaction. She regularly guides clients through the material business and legal issues in complex transactions, including commercial leasing, joint venture negotiations, operating or shareholder agreements, and license and management agreements.

Prior to joining Blank Rome, Christy served as the chair of the hotel & hospitality group of a New York City-based firm, and as general counsel for the internationally acclaimed hospitality group Cipriani. She also previously served as the Assistant Attorney General for the State of New York in the NYC Litigation Bureau (1995–1997).

Outside the Firm

Christy enjoys going out for dinner, travelling, cooking, and watching the New York Yankees.

Experience

  • Represented TAO Group Hospitality in a multi-transaction deal, which will include the first TAO Hotel, and four TAO-branded restaurants in Orlando, Florida.
  • Represented TAO Group Hospitality in connection with its collaboration with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises to open a private members’ social and dining club in Chicago.
  • Represented Zuma with its leases at The Cosmopolitan Hotel of Las Vegas and the Four Seasons One Dalton in Boston.
  • Represented Nusr-Et Steakhouse and Nusr-Et Fabrika with its leases for its New York flagship and Meatpacking restaurants and its locations in Miami, Las Vegas, Dallas, Boston and Beverly Hills, as well as its affiliated brand, Saltbae, with its flagship in New York City.
  • Represented private members club Zero Bond with its lease in NoHo, New York City.
  • Represented 50 Eggs Hospitality Group in a lease for Chica restaurant, helmed by acclaimed chef Lorena Garcia, in Aspen at The Little Nell Residences and a Yardbird restaurant to open in Denver, 2022.
  • Represented notable New York-based restauranteurs the Poll Brothers in two restaurant leases at Bal Harbour Shops to open in 2024 and a Toku restaurant in the Aventura Mall to open 2023 in Miami.
  • Represented owners of Avra in connection with a 10,000-square-foot lease at the Estates at Acqualina Resort in Miami.
  • Represented notable Chef David Myers in connection with multiple license and management agreements in Miami and in the Middle East.
  • Represented Zuma’s affiliate, Etaru, to open its first restaurant in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
  • Represented the Serafina Restaurant Group in connection with Serafina in the Sky restaurant at The Pod Times Square Hotel, NYC.
  • Represented Mr. C brand with its management agreement at Mr. C Beverly Hills in California and represented owners of Mr. C Seaport in connection with its purchase and construction of the hotel in lower Manhattan.

Recognitions

  • 2021, Hotel and Hospitality Law, listed in Lawyers of Distinction

Affiliations

Professional Activities

Christy is a a member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys.

Credentials

Admissions

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • New York
  • U.S. District Court - Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Education

  • State University of New York at Albany, BA
  • St. John's University School of Law, JD