Nelson F. Migdal

Nelson F. Migdal

Washington, DC recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2007
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Greenberg Traurig

629 Best Lawyers awards

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Awarded Practice Areas

Leisure and Hospitality Law Real Estate Law

Biography

Nelson F. Migdal focuses his practice on hotel acquisitions, operations, development and finance, large mixed-use projects, condo hotels, hotel management agreements, general commercial real estate acquisitions, commercial leasing, lender representation, and the representation of property owners on telecommunications matters.

Nelson is experienced in representing clients in connection with matters relating to hotels, commercial real estate, and telecommunications. Nelson's practice emphasizes the acquisition, management and disposition of hotels, shopping centers, apartment buildings and other commercial property. Nelson has prepared and reviewed commercial leases, purchase and sale agreements, partnership agreements, multiple building covenants, corporate documents and other documents related to the acquisition, financing, development, leasing, management and disposition of real and personal property. He has also represented nationally recognized institutional property owners on telecommunications and building access matters.

Greenberg Traurig

629 Best Lawyers awards

Visit Firm Profile
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Overview

  • Albany Law School, J.D., graduated 1978
  • Hofstra University, BA, graduated 1975

  • New York, New York State Bar Association
  • District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar

  • D.C. Council, Friends and Alumni Network - Development Chair
  • Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys - Vice President
  • Albany Law School Law Review - Member
  • BBYO Friends and Alumni Network - International Co-Chair
  • Georgetown Hotel and Lodging Legal Summit Advisory Board - Member
  • Global Hotel Symposium 2013 - Program Chair
  • International Society of Hospitality Consultants - Member
  • Justinian Society - Member
  • ULI Hotel Development Council - Member
  • New York, New York State Bar Association
  • District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar
  • D.C. Council, Friends and Alumni Network - Development Chair
  • Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys - Vice President
  • Albany Law School Law Review - Member
  • BBYO Friends and Alumni Network - International Co-Chair
  • Georgetown Hotel and Lodging Legal Summit Advisory Board - Member
  • Global Hotel Symposium 2013 - Program Chair
  • International Society of Hospitality Consultants - Member
  • Justinian Society - Member
  • ULI Hotel Development Council - Member
  • Albany Law School, J.D., graduated 1978
  • Hofstra University, BA, graduated 1975

Client Testimonials

In the middle of negotiating a very complicated transaction, I reached out and retained the services of Nelson. Although he was brought in a month after the transaction negotiations began, he quickly reviewed all existing documents and was up to speed within a day and started contributing immediately. He was available at any and all hours and responded to requests quickly and thoroughly. He is very knowledgeable in his discipline and is a "get the deal done" type of attorney. I highly recommend his services.

David Crabtree (Planet Hollywood International Inc.)

Orlando, FL

Nelson has shown great leadership in managing an international team of attorneys and hotel developers in an island nation that has never seen a project of this scale. He has been very responsive and his expertise, commitment, and integrity are without question. I would recommend him and his firm without hesitation.

Theodore Adams, III (Unified Resorts Ltd.)

Nelson and his supporting staff of professionals provide a timely, thorough, and "team" approach to all legal aspects in a hotel real estate transaction. What impresses me most is Nelson's sincerity and round-the-clock availability for one of the busiest and most-respected attorneys in the hospitality arena.

John DePaul (National Hospitality Holdings, LLC)

Wynnewood, PA

Nelson is a true professional. He takes the time to understand his client's business and needs. He maintains a schedule for a transaction and insures that his clients stay on that schedule while insuring that nothing slips through the cracks. At times I feel that he is a member of the DRI staff and he is definitely a team player. In my real estate world there are attorneys who are deal "makers" and those that are deal "killers". Nelson is absolutely a deal maker.

Christian Spitz (DRI Development Services, LLC)

Washington, DC

Nelson is one of my most trusted advisers. He possesses a truly rare combination of exceptional legal knowledge, currency, a warm, magnanimous, even-keeled personality, and the ability to select and cultivate an extraordinary team that enables his well-deserved success.

Michael Schroeder (Graeter's Inc.)

Cincinnati, OH

Awards & Focus

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Leisure and Hospitality Law
  • Real Estate Law
Special Focus:
  • Commercial
  • Hospitality
  • Hotels
  • Real Property Law
  • Resorts
  • Tax Certiorari
  • Workouts and Restructurings
Awards:
  • AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5
  • SmartCEO, "Legal Elite," Real Estate Law, 2007-2008
  • Aquatics International, "Waterparks Power 25," 2007-2008
  • "Smart Lawyer Choice Award," 2008
  • "Best USA Law Firm For Real Estate & Environment," The International Legal Alliance Summit, 2011
  • Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2011-2012
  • The Washington Post, "Washington DC's Top Real Estate Lawyers," 2008-2013
  • Winning Team, Chambers USA Award for Excellence, Real Estate, 2010, 2013
  • The Legal 500 United States, "Top Tier" Firm in Real Estate, 2013
  • Super Lawyers magazine, Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, 2013
  • Chambers USA Guide, 2007-2014

News & Media

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Case History

Cases
  • Areas of Concentration
  • Hospitality and resorts
  • Hotel management and operations
  • Real estate acquisition, development and leasing
  • Telecommunications
  • Significant Representations
  • Owner's Counsel for the acquisition of the Bethesda Marriott.
  • Counsel to MGM for National Harbor, Maryland.
  • Owner's Counsel for a portfolio transaction for Latin and Central American hotels.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Conversion of the Bristol Buenaventura Resort, Panama.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Acquisition of the Beach House, South Carolina.
  • Owner's Counsel for the TRYP by Wyndham, Panama.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Hyatt Place, Baltimore.
  • Purchasers' Counsel for the Renaissance Arts and Pere Marquette, New Orleans.
  • Counsel for Hard Rock Holdings, Philadelphia.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Acquisition of The Sanderling Resort & Spa.
  • Owner's Counsel for the 5 Beekman Hotel.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Capella, Washington, D.C.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Yotel New York Hotel.
  • Part 2
  • Counsel, Boutique Lodging & Lifestyle Association (BLLA).
  • Owner's Counsel for the NoMad Hotel.
  • Seller's Counsel for the Courtyard Navy Yard Hotel.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Tucker's Point Resort, Bermuda.
  • Owner's Counsel for TRYP by Wyndham, Quebec City, Canada.
  • Licensor's Counsel for the Planet Hollywood Master Global License.
  • Counsel for Hard Rock Holdings, Northfield Park, Ohio.
  • Counsel for Hard Rock Holdings, Eurovegas, Hungary.
  • Counsel for Hard Rock Holdings, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
  • Counsel for Hard Rock Holdings, Cancun Palace Resort, Aventura Palace Resort, Vallarta Palace Resort, Mexico.
  • Owner's Counsel for The Trump Ocean Club in Punta Pacifica, Panama.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Trump SoHo.
  • Owner's Counsel for the St. Regis, Hamilton, Bermuda.
  • Owner's Counsel for a large mixed use resort in Costa Rica.
  • Owner's Counsel for Echelon Place, Las Vegas.
  • Owner's Counsel for an extended stay portfolio acquisition.
  • Acquisition of the Fairmont Washington Hotel.
  • Owner's Counsel for the Fairmont Bar Harbor, Maine.
  • Development and management of the Hilton Branson Landing Convention Center Complex.

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