Take a Look at Our Unique Qualifications
CERTIFIED IN HOTEL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
CERTIFIED IN HOTEL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
CERTIFIED IN HOTEL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
Doug Billings holds a Certificate in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management from Cornell University.
BROAD EXPERIENCE AND NOTABLE RESULTS
CERTIFIED IN HOTEL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
CERTIFIED IN HOTEL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
Doug Billings has represented hospitality clients as both outside and in-house counsel. This gives our firm a unique perspective on the intersection of the hospitality business and the related law. Further, Doug has helped his hospitality clients recover hundreds of millions of dollars in damages from those who have harmed his client's bottom line.
MASTER'S DEGREEE IN GAMING LAW
CERTIFIED IN HOTEL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
MASTER'S DEGREEE IN GAMING LAW
In addition to his extensive legal experience, Doug Billings holds a Master of Law Degree (LL.M.) in Gaming Law and Regulation from the Boyd School of Law at UNLV.
About The Firm
Industry Segments We Can Serve
LODGING: Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Bed & Breakfasts, Mixed Use
GAMING: Casinos, Resorts, Bar Owners, Manufacturers, and other Operators
FOOD AND BEVERAGE: Restaurants, Bars, Caterers, Event Centers, Distilleries, Breweries, Food Trucks, Food Manufacturers
RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT: Golf Courses, Museums, Theme Parks, Casinos, Ski Resorts, and other Entertainment Venues
AFFILIATES: Other businesses that service the hospitality and gaming industries
Legal Services We Provide
Our firm can provide services across a broad range of business-based legal disciplines and practice areas. The issues with which we have experience include:
Business Formation
Commericial Lease Issues
Consulting
Contract Drafting & Negotiation
Crisis Management
Food Safety
Franchise Agreements
Gaming Licensing
Gaming Regulation & Compliance
Government Relations
Hotel Management Agreements
Insurance Coverage and Disputes
Litigation and Arbitration
Pre-Litigation Disputes & Negotiation
Regulatory Compliance
Our Approach
Our Approach
In the hospitality industry, success is built on delivering exceptional service and attention to detail. We bring that same commitment to the services we provide.
While no legal outcome can be guaranteed, we pride ourselves on understanding not only the legal challenges our clients face—but also their specific legal objectives. From day one, we listen carefully, strategize thoughtfully, and ensure that every step we take aligns with your specific goals. Whether navigating a complex dispute or providing day-to-day counsel, our approach is always tailored, responsive, and results-driven.
About Doug Billings
A LIFETIME OF HOSPITALITY
A native of Colorado, Doug spent much of his childhood working at two inns owned by his father in the mountain resort community of Glenwood Springs.
As a result, Doug became enamored with the industry, leading him to enroll in the highly-regarded hotel administration program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Doug ultimately graduated from UNLV in 1988 with a B.S. in Business Administration.
While still attending UNLV in 1987, Doug began working in the school's athletic department, assisting with fundraising, event management and Olympic sports. Doug's tenure in the athletic department coincided with the UNLV Runnin' Rebels 1990 NCAA basketball championship (clearly the greatest college basketball team of all time).
After later graduating from the University of San Diego School of Law, Doug obtained his California law license in 1994. For the first several years of his career, Doug practiced with Thorsnes, Bartolotta, McGuire and Padilla, a premier San Diego business litigation firm. During this time, Doug played a critical role in several cases. For instance, he was instrumental in helping the parent company of Jack In The Box obtain a $58.5 million settlement to recover lost profits suffered as a result of a high-profile e.coli outbreak. Doug also played an important role in securing a $55 million settlement on behalf of the U.S. government in the then-largest non-intervention Qui Tam settlement in history.
In the early 2000's, Doug took a two-year break from the law to serve as the Director of Regulatory Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC. While with the Chamber, Doug advocated for an improved federal rulemaking process, working with businesses throughout the country to ensure that federal regulations were based on sound scientific principles.
Doug returned to business litigation in San Diego in 2003. For many years thereafter, Doug worked with Gordon + Holmes, a highly-regarded boutique law firm that handled business litigation cases throughout the county. After his previously successful representation of Jack in The Box, Doug undertook similar work for several other prominent restaurants, assisting those companies in obtaining tens of millions of dollars from the suppliers of contaminated food products.
While continuing to work with Gordon + Holmes, Doug relocated to Ohio to raise his family. After obtaining his Ohio law license in 2008, Doug had the opportuntity to work closely with the law firm of Arnold & Clifford, another boutique business ligitation firm that many consider to be the best in Central Ohio. During his time in Ohio, Doug also became in involved in commercial real estate sales, taking a particular interest in the purchase and sale of hotel properties. Doug's interest in this field led to him obtaining a Cornell University Certification in Hotel Real Estate Investments and Asset Management.
Once his kids were grown (and since he no longer needed to be at a baseball field or dance competition every weekend), Doug and his wife returned to Las Vegas. While studying for the Nevada Bar exam, Doug obtained a LL.M. degree in Gaming Law and Regulation from the Boyd School of Law at UNLV. And when Boyd Gaming Corporation -- one of the largest casino companies in the country -- needed an experienced hand to assist with litigation management while their associate general counsel was on extended leave, they turned to Doug. In this role, Doug applied his decades of litigation experience and his newfound knowlede of gaming law to manage outside counsel in over 100 cases of ongoing litigation in ten states.
Doug has recently returned to private practice in San Diego, where he continues his representation of hospitality clients. Doug now provides legal and consulting services to clients in both California and Nevada, and he looks forward to assisting you with your legal needs.