Candace M. Fitch
	Partner	Pratice Area:
		Hospitality Law and Regulation
	Office: 202-589-1834
	Direct: 202-589-1836
	Fax: 202-589-1819

Ms. Fitch is a partner focusing on all aspects of Hospitality Law and Regulation.

Areas of Practice:

With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ms. Fitch represents a wide array of restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and liquor and wine retailers.  Ms. Fitch counsels hospitality clients on a variety of issues, including assisting hotels and restaurants with entity formation, and obtaining licenses and permits required to operate in the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland.  In addition, Ms. Fitch prepares voluntary agreements and security plans as required to obtain licenses.

Ms. Fitch also counsels clients on commercial leasing issues specific to the hospitality industry.  She represents clients in transactional matters, including the purchase of existing businesses, assets and the transfer of all licenses and permits.  In addition, Ms. Fitch negotiates contracts for hospitality clients in the Meetings and Events industry.

She also represents licensees and license applicants before the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Alcoholic Boards.  In addition, she assists with real property acquisitions and sales and registered agent services.  Furthermore, she represents clients before agencies and neighborhood committees.

Professional Qualifications:

Ms. Fitch is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia.  She is a part-time faculty member in the International Institute of Tourism at The George Washington University, a Committee Member of the Convention Industry Council Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Contracts Panel and a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).

Education:

J.D., New England School of Law, 2004

B.S., Cornell University, 1991

A.O.S., Johnson & Wales University School of Culinary Arts, 1988

Speeches:

Graduation Speaker at the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business Events Management Programme.  Sponsored by The George Washington University.  November 2009.

Negotiating Better Hotel Contracts.  Presented at HSMAI Meetings Quest in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Sponsored by The George Washington University.  September 2009.

Risk Management:  Legal and Ethical Safeguards.  Presented at HSMAI Meetings Quest in Austin, TX.  Sponsored by The George Washington University.  November 2008.

 Risk Management:  Legal and Ethical Safeguards.  Presented at HSMAI Meetings Quest in St, Louis, MO.  Sponsored by The George Washington University.  September 2006.

Negotiating Hotel Contracts.  Presented at the AICPA and CPA/SEA Interchange Conference in Austin, TX.  July 2006.

Risk Management:  Legal and Ethical Safeguards.  Presented at HSMAI Meetings Quest in Boston, MA.  Sponsored by The George Washington University.  September 2005.