Irvin W. Sandman

Irvin works with hotel companies, owners, and investors to structure, negotiate, consummate, and restructure hotel deals of all kinds, to handle operational challenges, and to strategically guide disputes to resolution.

Over the last twenty-five years, Irvin has served as counsel in thousands of hotel matters and transactions regionally, nationally, and internationally.  He has spoken and written extensively about legal and business concepts and strategies to help industry stakeholders anticipate trends and succeed in changing circumstances.  Irvin is the 2008 recipient of the national Anthony G. Marshall Award, given annually to a single attorney for pioneering and lasting contributions to the field of hospitality law.  He holds the highest ratings from AVVO® (10 – Superb) and Martindale-Hubbell® (AV – Preeminent®) and is recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® in the category of Leisure and Hospitality Law.

Irvin utilizes an extensive background of business and hotel industry experience accumulated in over 30 years of practice. Irvin litigated business cases from 1980 to 1983. From 1983 to 1993 he established a recognized corporate recovery and business bankruptcy practice, in which he assisted hotel companies and shareholders in successfully addressing a wide range of corporate, financial, business, transactional, and courtroom challenges. In 1993, Irvin established one of the nation’s first hospitality industry teams. Since then, he has focused exclusively on helping hotel companies succeed.

Irvin is co-founder of the Northwest Hotel Investment Forum, a founding board member and past president of the Hospitality Industry Bar Association, a charter member of the Academy of Hospitality Attorneys, and a founding member of The Lodging Roundtable.  He is the editor-in-chief of the Washington State Hospitality Law Manual, Third Edition, a comprehensive hotel law manual published in September 2012 in coordination with the Washington Lodging Association.

Outside of work, Irvin is a devoted family man, and he avidly enjoys snow skiing, golf, and flyfishing.

Irvin offices primarily in Seattle, Washington, and serves Sandman Savrann’s clients regionally and nationally.

Founding Member, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (2011-)

Charter Member, Academy of Hospitality Attorneys (1997-)

Founding Member, The Lodging Roundtable, Seattle (1998-2019)

Board Member and Past President, Hospitality Industry Bar Association (2009-2015)

Board Member, Seattle-King County Convention and Visitors Bureau (2002-2011)

Chair, American Bar Association Hospitality Industry Liaison Subcommittee (2002-2008)

Co-Chair, American Bar Association Hotels, Resorts and Tourism Committee (2001-2004)

Chair, Washington State Bar Association Creditor/Debtor Section (1988-1990)

• J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1980; UCLA Law Review
• B.A., summa cum laude, University of Washington, 1976

Recent speaking engagements and publications include:

Moderator and Panelist, “Hotel Extended Stay Hotels and Brands–Where Are They Now and Where Are They Going?”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (October 26, 2023).

Program Chair, “Hotel Intelligence and Wisdom from Hotel Industry Luminaries”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April 27, 2023).

Moderator and Panelist, “Hotel Equity and Ownership in the Mercurial, Post-Pandemic World”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (October 20, 2022).

Moderator and Panelist, “Hotel Brands in the Post-Pandemic World:  What has been Learned and What Are the Revitalized Formulas for Success?”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April 21, 2022).

Moderator and Panelist, “Hotel Equity in the New Reality”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (October 21, 2021).

Moderator and Panelist, “Alternative Lodging Concepts”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (October 17, 2019).

Moderator and Panelist, “The Smart Money:  What are Large-Portfolio Hotel Owners Thing and Doing in the Current Environment?”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April 4, 2019).

Moderator and Panelist, “The Evolution of Wellness in Hospitality”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (October 25, 2018).

Moderator and Panelist, “Private Debt Funds”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April 19, 2018).

Moderator and Panelist, “Owner and Management Company Forum:  How Hotel Owners and Management Companies are Navigating Disruptive Climates,” Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (October 23, 2017)

Moderator and Panelist, “Should you go Modular with your next Hotel?”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (October 5, 2017).

Moderator and Panelist, “Repositioning a Hotel for Success”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April 20, 2017).

Moderator and Panelist, “Owner and Management Company Forum–Connecting the Dots Between Owner’s Management Companies and Hotels,” Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (November 17, 2016)

Moderator and Panelist, “Brand CEO Interview—David Kong”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (October 27, 2016).

Moderator and Panelist, “Buy, Sell, Hold or Develop?”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April 21, 2016).

Moderator and Panelist, “Owner and Management Company Forum:  The Art and Craft of Hotel Ownership, Investment and Portfolio Management,” Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (November 16, 2015).

Moderator and Panelist, “Boutique Hotels”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (October 29, 2015).

Moderator and Panelist, “New Hotel Development”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April16, 2015).

Moderator and Panelist, “Owner and Management Company Forum–Hear and Share Big Ideas Impacting Hotel Portfolios,” Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (November 10, 2014).

Moderator and Panelist, “Hotel REITs”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April17, 2014).

Co-Author, “Transacting with a Hotel REIT–What you Should Know”, (April 2014).

Moderator and Panelist, “Soft Brands”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (November 14, 2013).

Moderator and Panelist, “Owner and Management Company Forum,” Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (October 7, 2013).

Moderator and Panelist, “EB5 Hotel Financing”, The Lodging Conference (September 19, 2013).

Moderator and Panelist, “EB5 Hotel Financing”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April 18, 2013).

Moderator and Panelist, “A Round Table of Developers, Capital Providers, Operators and Lawyers,” Hospitality Law Conference (February 11, 2013).

Moderator, “Hotel Equity”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (November 8, 2012).

Moderator and Panelist, “Meet the Brands”, The Lodging Conference (October 4, 2012).

Speaker and Moderator, “WLA’s New Washington State Hospitality Law Manual Comes Alive”, Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (October 2, 2012).

Editor-in-chief and contributing author, Washington Hospitality Law Manual, Third Edition, (September 2012)

Moderator, “Meet the Brands”, Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (April 12, 2012)

Co-Author, “The Lessons of Sheraton v. Castillo Grand” (January 17, 2012).

Moderator and Panelist, “Hotel Debt and Equity,” Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) (November 8, 2011).

Moderator and Panelist, “Owner and Management Company Forum:  ‘Post-Meltdown (?)’ Strategies and Opportunities,” Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (October 3, 2011).

Moderator and Panelist, “Let’s Make a Deal:  7 Steps to a Successful Post-Meltdown Acquisition,” The Lodging Conference (September 21, 2011).

Moderator and Panelist, “Northwest Hotel Performance; Issues Facing the Industry,” Northwest Hotel Investment Forum (NHIF) Inaugural Meeting (May 12, 2011).

Co-Author, “‘Push Me – Pull You’ — In the Transition to a Better Economy, the Brands Get Tough,” (March 1, 2011).

Co-Author, “The Hotel Industry Recovery:  Where We Are, the Black Swans, and Current Strategies for Owners and Buyers,” (January 18, 2011).

Moderator and Panelist, “Owner and Management Company Forum:  Post-Meltdown Strategies and Opportunities,” Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (October 11, 2010).

Moderator and Panelist, “Restructuring, Disposition, and Acquisition of Distressed Hotels,” The Lodging Conference (September 23, 2010).

Co-Author, “Meltdown Opportunities for Hotel Buyer: ‘The Hotel Restructuring’ and the Acquisition Out of Bankruptcy,” (June 1, 2010).

Moderator and Panelist, “Acquisitions of Hotels and Hotel Paper—Seizing the Opportunity,” Hospitality Law Conference (February 3, 2010).

Moderator and Panelist, “Owners and Management Forum on Positioning, Financing, and Opportunities,” Washington Hospitality Association Annual Convention (October 6, 2009).

Moderator and Panelist, “A Guide to Completing Hotel Deals in a Troubled Environment,” The Lodging Conference (September 23, 2009).

Co-Author, “Entering the Asset Management Game – A Guide to Successfully Making the Transition,” (September 17, 2009).

Co-Author, “Hotel Owners, Lenders and Stakeholders Square Off: Equitable Subordination,” (May 27, 2009).

Co-Author, “Hotel Loans in Trouble – Pointers for Lenders,” (April 3, 2009).

Presenter, “International Hotel Development Deals: Common Considerations That Apply in All International Transactions,” Hospitality Law Conference (February 9, 2009).

Moderator and Panelist, “International Hotel Development Deals: Approaches and Considerations,” Hospitality Law Conference (February 9, 2009).

Author, “Approaching the International Hotel Project Intelligently,” (January 23, 2009).

Presenter and Panelist, “Ask the Experts, Best Practices Panel,” Washington Hospitality Association annual convention (October 6, 2008).

Moderator and Panelist, “The Formula for a Successful Joint Venture,” The Lodging Conference (September 25, 2008).

Program Co-Chair, “Buying & Selling Hotels Workshop” (August 18, 2008).

Moderator and Panelist, “Strategies for Buyers: Fitting the Plan to the Property,” Buying & Selling Hotels Workshop (August 18, 2008).

Presenter, “Negotiation, Documentation and Closing the Deal,” Buying & Selling Hotels Workshop (August 18, 2008).

Author, “Troubled Condo Hotel Workouts – The Time Has Arrived,” (July 25, 2008).

Moderator and Panelist, “Hospitality Real Estate Transactions Workshop,” Hospitality Law Conference (February 11, 2008).

Moderator and Panelist, “Condo Hotel Financing and Legal Issues,” The Lodging Conference (September 27, 2007).

Author, “When a Condo Hotel Implosion appears Imminent, What Can Be Done?” (September 1, 2007).

Author, “What’s New in Condo Hotels?” (May 24, 2007).

Author, “Condo Hotels, Three Years into the Concept,” (May 24, 2007).

Author, “What is a Condo Hotel, Why does it Work, and Why is it Challenging?” (May 24, 2007).

Author, “Troubled Hotels and the Renegotiation of Management Agreements,” (April 18, 2007).

Presenter, “Condo Hotels, Three Years into the Concept,” Hospitality Law Conference (February 8, 2007).

Panelist, “Sidestepping SEC Trouble: Complying with Securities Laws,” NACHO Condo Hotel Summit (November 30, 2006).

Panelist, “Condo Hotels from a Legal and Financial Perspective,” The Lodging Conference (September 20, 2006).

Moderator and Panelist, “Condo Hotel Development,” The Lodging Conference (September 20, 2006).

Moderator and Panelist, “Condo Hotels – The Product and the Plumbing,” Hospitality Law Conference (February 2, 2006).

Co-Author, “Condo Hotels: How Developers and Owners’ Associations can Avert a Hotel Implosion,” (January, 2006).

Panelist, “Condo Hotels,” The Lodging Conference (September 30, 2005).

Moderator and Panelist, “Mixed-Use Review,” The Lodging Conference (September 29, 2005).

Moderator and Panelist, “Hotel Revolution – Are we Becoming a Condo Nation?” American Bar Association Joint Fall CLE Meeting (September 15, 2005).

Moderator and Panelist, “Acquisition, Development and Financing Issues: Focus on Condominium Hotels,” The Hospitality Law Conference (February 4, 2005).

Moderator and Panelist, “Mixed-Use/Hotel Condominium Development,” The Lodging Conference (September 20, 2004).