Overview
Cliff Risman is a veteran real estate lawyer who represents companies that develop, own, operate, and finance hotels and resorts around the world. As co-chair of the firm's Hospitality & Leisure Industry Team and a member of the Real Estate Practice, Cliff is described by clients in Chambers USA as “very practical and always accessible.” Clients choose Cliff over competitors because he speaks the language and fully understands every aspect of their business — from securing capital, structuring deals, and negotiating management contracts, to guiding clients through labor, tax, food and beverage and operational matters and disputes.
Cliff represents luxury and boutique hotel and resort owners, developers, brands, operators and management companies, private equity firms, family offices, and other investors in their highest profile projects around the world.
He understands how to best tackle the various agreements that arise in real estate law, he knows the hospitality industry and its unique business and economic issues, and he has guided clients through many complex development, acquisition, financing, and operating matters, receiverships, workouts, and dispute resolutions. Cliff ensures that clients are protected, focuses intently on their broader business goals, and knows how, where, and when to push to get the deal done as quickly as possible.
He also represents leading marketing, technology and other vendors and service providers that provide important services to the hospitality industry and has represented the following clients throughout the United States and abroad:
- Aimbridge Hospitality
- Archtower Capital
- Belmond Hotels (f/k/a Orient Express)
- Brook Partners
- Canyon Equity
- Capella Hotel Group (f/k/a West Paces Hotel Group)
- Caydon USA
- Centurion American
- Colony Capital
- Coury Hospitality
- Gencom Group
- Grupo Inmobiliario Mosa
- Grupo Posadas
- Hall Group
- HCW Development Company
- Hines
- Hixon Properties
- HN Capital Partners
- Hudson Advisors
- Invited (f/k/a ClubCorp)
- KSL Capital Partners
- Lone Star Funds
- LW Hospitality Advisors
- Morgans Hotel Group
- Mosaic Real Estate
- Nexus Luxury Collection
- NYLO Hotels
- Omni Hotels & Resorts
- Revolution Resorts
- Ryman Hospitality (f/k/a Gaylord Entertainment)
- Spire Hospitality
- Texas Central Partners
- Traditions Management
- Vail Resorts
- Veritex Bank
- Westdale Real Estate
Professional Affiliations
- Member, International Society of Hospitality Consultants
- Member, Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys
- Member, Global Alliance of Hospitality Attorneys
- Director and Past President, Hospitality Industry Bar Association
- Member, Urban Land Institute
- Member, State Bar of Texas
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Real Property Section
- Member, Dallas Bar Association
- Member, International Association of Attorneys and Executives in Corporate Real Estate
- Member, The Real Estate Council
Community Involvement
- President and Chairman of the Board, Dallas Contemporary Museum
- Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dallas Art Fair Foundation
- Co-Chair, Tribute to Fallen Heroes
Honors & Awards
- Honored, Anthony G. Marshall Hospitality Law Award, presented by HospitalityLawyer.com (2018)
- Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of:
- Leisure and Hospitality Law (2013-2024)
- Real Estate Law (2013-2024)
- Recognized, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (Tom Wicker ed., Chambers & Partners)
- Leisure & Hospitality (Nationwide) (2009-2023)
- Real Estate (Texas) (2009-2015, 2018)
- Recognized, The Legal 500 United States
- Real Estate (2013)
- Recognized, Texas Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business, as published in Texas Super Lawyers Magazine
- Real Estate (2003-2017)
- Recognized, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ system
Education
- Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 1984)
- Syracuse University Whitman School of Management (B.S., magna cum laude, 1980)
Admissions
- Texas (1984)