Parker Hudson Adds Former Marriott In-House Counsel to Corporate Practice

ATLANTA, May 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Steven M. Goldman as a partner in the firm's Atlanta office. Goldman joins Parker Hudson after 20 years as senior-level in-house counsel for three of the nation's largest hotel systems. His arrival bolsters the firm's transactional capabilities in franchise, distribution and hospitality, and provides clients with a full-range of legal services related to developing, operating and growing franchise and hospitality systems both domestically and globally.

"Steve has first-hand experience managing the evolving challenges and regulatory issues that arise on a daily basis in a multi-national corporation's legal department," explained G. Wayne Hillis, Jr., managing partner of Parker Hudson. "He helps our clients draw a connection between their companies' strategic plans and actionable legal solutions, and he appreciates the demand for predictability in budgeting that in-house lawyers require."

Goldman is a commercial lawyer with extensive experience in lodging, franchise, distribution, licensing, and bankruptcy and receivership matters. For most of his in-house career he was responsible for all matters related to developing and operating international franchise lodging systems.  He was most recently based in Washington, D.C. as executive vice president, assistant general counsel and a corporate officer of Marriott International. In this capacity, he oversaw the growth of the company's franchised hotels and global system of over a dozen core brands. Before joining Marriott, Goldman played much the same role as division general counsel for Sheraton and was senior litigation counsel for Holiday Inns. 

"Many franchise attorneys help their clients only in the early phases of formation, but Steve's background in solving ongoing, operational challenges, including those related to international expansion, adds depth to our practice and allows us to provide transactional support to clients at all stages of business, from start-up to maturity," adds Hillis. "These capabilities complement our firm's existing strengths in franchise and distribution litigation." 

Throughout his career, Goldman has been involved in leadership roles with a number of legal and trade organizations, including the American Bar Association, the Atlanta Bar Association, the International Franchise Association, the National Franchise Council and the North American Securities Administrators Association.

Goldman earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Vermont and his law degree from the University of Georgia School of Law.

Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP is a mid-sized law firm with an integrated collection of exceptional boutique practices in bankruptcy; commercial finance; corporate and mergers and acquisitions; employee benefits/ERISA; employment and civil rights litigation and counseling; franchise, distribution and global licensing; health care; litigation; real estate; and tax. With more than 70 attorneys and two offices in Atlanta and Tallahassee, Fla., the firm offers clients superior legal talent with excellent service, lower overhead and efficient billing rates. For more information, visit the firm's website at www.phrd.com.

SOURCE Parker, Hudson, Rainer & Dobbs LLP