Industry Attorney Cecelia L. Fanelli Joins Steptoe & Johnson LLP

Addition reinforces firm's Hospitality, Hotels & Resorts practice

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. August 19, 2010

August 18, 2010 - Steptoe & Johnson LLP announced today that Cecelia L. Fanelli joined as a partner in the Litigation Department in the firm's New York City office. Ms. Fanelli brings more than 30 years of experience in litigation, dispute resolution, arbitration, mediation, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Her practice focuses on commercial litigation in the hotel, real estate, and banking industries.

“Cecelia's exceptional reputation in the hospitality industry makes her an important addition to Steptoe,” said Roger E. Warin, Chairman of the firm's Executive Committee. “Her practice is an ideal match with Steptoe's current work with owners, lenders, and non-branded management companies in the hotel industry. We expect this practice to grow as hotel owners and lenders focus on improving operator performance and pushing into new markets.”

“Cecelia is a true star,” said William M. Bosch, leader of Steptoe's Hospitality, Hotels & Resorts practice, “and we are thrilled to be teaming up with her to provide the most comprehensive litigation expertise in the hospitality industry.”

Andy Perel, the managing partner of Steptoe's New York office, noted that “Cecelia and Bill Bosch first worked together when a client that had engaged them separately recognized what a superb team they would be. Having them both in one firm provides an extraordinary capability for the sophisticated hospitality entities Steptoe represents.”

Ms. Fanelli has represented dozens of entities both domestically and internationally, including developers, builders, owners, and operators of hotels and resorts, as well as lenders, franchisees, and franchisors. She has successfully represented clients and secured several multimillion dollar victories in hotel industry litigations and complex real estate litigations and workouts. Ms. Fanelli has defended lenders against multimillion dollar liability and antitrust claims and has tried a number of trademark infringement injunction and damage claims.

“Steptoe provides an ideal array of talents to serve the clients I represent,” said Ms. Fanelli. “The firm's international capabilities are crucial, especially in Asia, where I have longstanding client relationships among Asian hotel owners and investors. Its multinational, transactional, tax, and restructuring experience will be invaluable to businesses in the hotel and hospitality sector. Steptoe is widely recognized as one of the nation's leading litigation firms, and its experience devising and implementing strategies for resolving disputes is particularly developed in the representation of hotel owners and lenders.”

Ms. Fanelli joins Steptoe from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and received her J.D. from Cornell Law School and her B.A. from University of Pennsylvania.

About Steptoe & Johnson LLP
Steptoe & Johnson LLP is an international law firm widely recognized for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in complex litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in guiding business transactions. The firm has 500 lawyers in offices in Beijing, Brussels, Century City, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, and Washington. For more information, visit steptoe.com.