News Type: Media Mentions

Lara Shortz shares her insights on navigating the legal aspects of AI in hospitality in a Q&A just published by Hospitality Tech. As hotels increasingly adopt smart technology—from automated check-ins to algorithm-driven shift scheduling—Lara comments on how these innovations can trigger labor disputes, union scrutiny, or unintended biases in workforce management. Her key advice? Balance technological advancements with a genuine respect for the people on both sides of the check-in desk to avoid pitfalls and protect brand reputation.

Our continued expansion in New York is on full display in a recent article in Law360 announcing the arrival of Ling Kong (partner), Seth Liebenstein (partner), and Gerad Soman (senior associate). The story showcases the firm’s commitment to high-stakes transactional, real estate, and cross-border work, while shining a bright light on our ability to attract innovative, entrepreneurial legal talent. M&R is on a growth trajectory, and we look forward to even more fantastic hires on the horizon—in NY and across all our offices.

With trade tensions rising and tariffs reshaping global markets, Hooman Yazhari provided insight to Private Equity International on how these shifts may present opportunities for U.S.-based private equity firms. As he explained, firms whose portfolio companies are less reliant on imported goods could find themselves well-positioned to navigate the disruption—and even capitalize on it—by replacing foreign suppliers within affected supply chains. With market volatility comes strategic advantage, and Yazhari’s commentary underscores how firms can stay ahead amid economic uncertainty.

Madison Dini weighed in on the growing wave of M&R consolidation in the medical aesthetics and medtech industries in an article for MedEsthetics. With interest rates declining and economic conditions stabilizing, Madison anticipates a surge in deal activity as manufacturers and tech providers seek to streamline operations, acquire competitors, and drive long-term growth.

Hooman Yazhari shares insights in Private Equity International on how tariffs could create a surprising opportunity for mid-market private equity firms. While many fear the disruptions from a shifting trade policy, Yazhari points out that firms with largely domestic portfolios—those not heavily reliant on international supply chains—may actually benefit. By stepping in to replace foreign suppliers and maintaining resilience against import-related cost pressures, these firms could find a silver lining amid the turbulence.

In a recent Fortune article published this week, Hooman Yazhari shared his perspective on how uncertainty in global trade can put VC dealmaking on pause. Hooman notes that many investors may choose to sit tight rather than commit capital in an unpredictable climate. With liquidity events top of mind for the startup ecosystem, stability will be key in the months ahead.

M&R served as music counsel to Cutting Edge Media Music (as lead investor and manager) in the creation of a joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery, a game-changing transaction which is one of the largest and highest valued music rights deals ever and covers almost 100 years of music copyrights. The joint venture, covered by Billboard, contains over 400,000 compositions and song cues—including the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings franchises, DC Comics movies, as well as TV shows such as Friends, Game of Thrones, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Succession, and The White Lotus. The M&R team was led by Michael Poster, our Music Acquisitions & Financing Chair, along with associates Claire Hoffman, Mehdi Sinaki and law clerk Hannah Kang.

Lara Shortz has provided her insights to Hotel Dive on the NLRB’s uncertain future and its impact on the hospitality industry. In the wake of the Trump administration’s actions impacting Board leadership, Lara explains how thousands of cases have been left in limbo, prolonging labor disputes and creating regulatory uncertainty for employers navigating compliance and union issues. With federal labor policy in flux, she advises hospitality businesses to proceed with caution.