From the Back of the House to the Courtroom: Steven Shapiro on Hospitality Law That Actually Helps

Most hotel owners don’t need more legal theory—they need lawyers who understand how hotels actually work. That’s exactly what Steven Shapiro is training his students to become.Steven is the Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Law Program at American University Washington College of Law. In this episode, he and Chase talk about why hospitality law isn’t just about contracts, and why every law student should walk a hotel kitchen line or tour a property before they give legal advice.From franchise agreements and liability to emotional intelligence and real-world risk, this episode explores how legal education can support hotel owners, developers, and operators in more meaningful, strategic ways.Whether you’re a hotelier hiring legal help or just curious what a great hospitality lawyer should look like—this conversation lifts the curtain on a rarely discussed side of the industry.