OVERVIEW

Typical assignments for this expert involve Financial Feasibility, Economic Damages, Lost Profits, Management and Franchise Agreements, Brand Affiliation Issues, Standards of Care, and Hotel Operations. Kenneth Free is a highly credible resource who carries broad and deep knowledge of the hotel business and associated enterprises. His perspectives derive from authentic experiences, tempered by an appreciation for the academic and legal concepts pertinent to expert witness assignments.

Prior to opening his own firm in 1992, Mr. Free worked in senior positions with three major hotel companies in real estate development, finance, and operations. His last corporate position was as Director of Real Estate Administration for Hilton Worldwide, where he was responsible for review and approval of all acquisition and development projects worldwide and for negotiating certain transactions of key strategic importance to the corporation.

• MBA - Finance, Bloch School of Business & Public Administration
  University of Missouri in Kansas City
  
  
• BS - Hotel Administration, Harrah College of Hotel Administration
  University of Nevada in Las Vegas
  
  
• Registered Resort Professional (RRP) - American Resort Development Association
  
  
• Master Hotel Supplier (MHS) - American Hotel & Lodging Association
  
  
• Real Estate Broker licensed by the California Department of Real Estate.

Mr. Free’s company, Straightline Advisors, provides Advisory and Expert Services for Hotels, Resorts, Resorts, Casinos & Shared Ownership (Timesharing, Fractionals, Condo-Hotels). These services may be in relation to new properties going through the development or pre-development stages, those that are open & in need of fundamental change, or in any situation where disputes have arisen among the stakeholders.

• Development Planning
• Financial Feasibility
• Project Financing
• Management & Operations
• Economic Damages, Lost Profits, & Business Interruption
• Strategic Planning, Market Repositioning, & Workouts for Distressed Properties
• Brand/System Affiliation or Conversion Issues; Management Contracts & Franchising
• Management or Marketing Company Dispute Resolution
• Analysis of Case Merits
• Standards of Care
• Director/Officer Conduct

Please visit the Hotel Expert Witnesses web site for a complete Statement of Qualifications, including Career History of the Principal, List of Engagements & List of Clients