Former Highgate Hotels Deputy GC Justin Mapes Joins Locke Lord as Dallas Partner

(DALLAS) February 15, 2022 – Justin Mapes has joined Locke Lord’s Dallas office as a Partner in the Firm’s Real Estate and Real Estate Finance Practice Group and Hospitality Section, bringing a strong general real estate skill set and expanding the Firm’s already strong capabilities in the hospitality space.

Mapes, who is licensed to practice law in both Texas and New York, joins Locke Lord from Highgate Hotels in Dallas, where he served as deputy general counsel responsible for the legal affairs of the hotel management and investment platforms in connection with the acquisition, management and operation of approximately 400 hospitality assets located across the United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America and Europe. Previously, he served as vice president and associate general counsel at Goldman Sachs, managing and supervising the legal affairs of the Portfolio Management, Real Estate, Loan Asset Management and Specialty Lending Group divisions.

“Justin’s broad base of experience in real estate, real estate finance and hospitality transactions as well as his dynamic background encompassing both senior in-house roles and private practice make him a fantastic addition to our Dallas office and national practice. We are eager for him to collaborate with lawyers across the Firm to serve our clients,” said Robb Stewart, Dallas Partner and Co-Chair of the Firm’s Real Estate and Real Estate Finance Practice Group.

Prior to his work in-house, Mapes spent more than eight years in private practice in Dallas, where he garnered significant general real estate and corporate finance experience. Most recently, at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, he focused his practice on real estate and commercial transactions with an emphasis on financing transactions and the acquisition, development and sale of improved and unimproved real property.

“Having spent his entire career in Dallas, Justin has a broad network and extensive local industry knowledge. His holistic understanding of the landscape and the challenges and opportunities our clients face complements the Firm’s deep roots in Dallas, which trace back more than 130 years,” said Locke Lord Dallas Office Managing Partner Elizabeth Mack. “We are thrilled to welcome Justin at the start of a promising year for the Dallas market and the Firm.”

“I am excited to return to private practice at Locke Lord, a firm I have admired for its strong national platform, renowned real estate and hospitality groups and highly collaborative culture. It is a great time to join the Firm’s Dallas office, and I look forward to contributing to its long-standing tradition of best-in-class client service,” Mapes said.

Locke Lord lawyers provide sophisticated legal services to clients throughout the world for the acquisition, development, permitting, construction, financing, leasing, management/operation and disposition of real estate. The Firm’s clients include corporations, major financial institutions, real estate developers, private equity, pension and other investment funds, individual investors, family offices, REITs, public agencies, educational institutions, insurance companies, health care systems, nonprofit organizations, homebuilders and contractors.

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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service law firm with global reach and 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs in the United States and around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 130 years and is a leader in the middle market arena. Locke Lord focuses on providing the highest levels of commitment, quality and service to clients across its five Key Sectors: Energy and Infrastructure; Finance and Financial Services; Insurance and Reinsurance; Pharmaceutical; and Private Equity. In addition, the Firm advises clients across a broad spectrum of other industries, including fund formation, venture capital, health care, public finance, real estate, technology, cybersecurity and white collar, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.