Mark L Morris

Practice Areas

As the Chair of the Firm, Mark oversees all aspects of firm operations and works closely with senior leadership and staff as well as the managing partners of each office to implement legal, administrative and organizational strategies.

Mark previously served as Firmwide Managing Partner for six years, managing the day-to-day operations of Fox Rothschild and leading the firm through numerous high-profile lateral acquisitions and office openings.

Mark is also a former Managing Partner of the firm's Philadelphia office, a former chair of the Real Estate Department and former Chair of the Hospitality Practice.

Ranked as a leading real estate lawyer in Pennsylvania by Chambers USA, Mark has more than 35 years of experience as a real estate practitioner with a practice that centers on significant transactional work, including office buildings, residential developments, industrial parks and shopping malls and centers.

His practice also has a particular focus on representing clients in the hospitality industry. He takes a lead role in the sale, acquisition, development and management of full-service and limited-service hotels throughout the United States. He is skilled in the negotiation of franchise and management agreements on behalf of his franchisee clients and has worked closely on their behalf in negotiating with major franchisors such as Marriott, Choice and Hilton on transitioning franchisees and resolving disputes.

Recent Matters

- Represent owners of large commercial office buildings in leasing work, including two clients who own more than 2 million square feet of space in Philadelphia and its suburbs.

- Negotiate management agreements, construction contracts, development agreements and similar contractual arrangements among various parties involved in the development and operation of real estate.

- Represent owners and developers in the acquisition, sale and financing of multi-family, retail, office and industrial projects, including conduit financing, rendering of complex legal opinions and workouts concerning distressed assets.

- Negotiate complex joint venture agreements between institutional investors and real estate entrepreneurs.

A familiar face within the hospitality community, Mark has written and spoken on matters of interest to executives in the industry, as well as to shopping center owners and tenants. He has taught at the Institute for Paralegal Training in Philadelphia and lectured on commercial leasing topics to developers and retailers.

Career

Mark is a former Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania. He founded the “Beyond School Walls” program at Fox Rothschild, which pairs thirty mentors from the firm in rewarding relationships to help needy children from a local elementary school. He is also a member of the Philadelphia Real Estate Council, the Asian American Hotel Owners Association and the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association | Pennsylvania Bar Association | Philadelphia Bar Association

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Bar Admission: Pennsylvania

Education