Firm Overview

Recognizing the increasing number of attorneys in need of a hotel expert to guide them through hotel and hospitality industry standards and practices, career-long hotel executives Steve and Skip Stearns formed THE HOTEL EXPERTS (THE) in 2002.

The Stearns brothers have over 70 years of combined hotel management experience. Skip’s responsibilities were primarily as a corporate officer while Steve’s years were spent in senior management on hotel sites in daily operations.  Their varied hotel training and professional experiences afford inquiring attorneys a broader knowledge base than the typical sole practitioner serving as a hotel expert, litigation consultant or expert witness.

Building on the advantages of offering more than one hotel expert to the specialized needs of each lawsuit, THE HOTEL EXPERTS practice has grown to include associates with highly specialized hotel and hospitality expertise in Boston, New Orleans, Phoenix, San Francisco and Tampa.  In addition to the basics of day-to-day hotel operations, THE’s associates offer professional restaurant ownership and experience, human resources, professional training, teaching and cultural diversity experience, standards development and inspection for compliance, corporate behavior, brand management and franchising knowledge.  THE HOTEL EXPERTS works with attorneys to determine who is most knowledgeable and location appropriate to deliver effective support in each case.

THE HOTEL EXPERTS has been disclosed in over 100 cases covering 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  THE has appeared both for and against hotel properties, owners, operators, franchisors and individual litigants.

THE HOTEL EXPERTS is skilled at research and developing recommendations for discovery and deposition questioning.  As litigation consultants, THE can provide strategic direction.  As testifying expert witnesses, THE associates deliver unbiased opinions and reports as well as impartial testimony at deposition and trial.

THE HOTEL EXPERTS maintains a library of North American hotel company operating standards manuals, university level textbooks used to train aspiring hotel, restaurant and hospitality executives and relevant industry articles published in the most visible hotel industry trade publications.

Hourly fees may be obtained by contacting Steve Stearns. THE HOTEL EXPERTS will not charge more than ten hours per calendar day when traveling for site inspections, deposition or trial.  Retention of THE HOTEL EXPERTS is only effective upon receipt of retainer.  Minimums, retainer amounts and other applicable terms are disclosed and agreed upon prior to retention.