Joshua Grimes
Joshua L. Grimes is a Philadelphia-based attorney specializing in serving the hospitality industry. Among his clients are meeting and event planners, associations, trade groups, hotels, restaurants, convention and conference facilities, and tour operators.
A former aide to Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, Mr. Grimes served as General Counsel for Philadelphia’s annual “Welcome America!” festival and The Philadelphia Festival of the Arts. He also wrote the City of Philadelphia’s Special Events Policy governing events in public venues. Mr. Grimes continues to serve as General Counsel of Historic Philadelphia, Inc. and Lights of Liberty, Inc., two organizations marketing Philadelphia’s historic assets to visitors.
In his current law practice, Mr. Grimes meets the specialized legal needs of hospitality industry professionals. His work on behalf of association meeting and event planners ranges from incorporation issues to liquor liability, insurance, contract drafting and review, music licensing, employment issues, and ADA compliance. Mr. Grimes’ advice helps planners protect themselves and their organizations from potential risks and damages, and thereby reduce the likelihood that they will face costly legal problems in their work.
Mr. Grimes also represents hotels, tour operators, convention centers and meeting facilities. His work for hotels includes contract negotiation, franchise and management agreements, property sales, labor issues, and civil litigation. Mr. Grimes was in charge of legal matters for the opening of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and recently counseled a major university on matters relating to the operation of a new arena/convention facility.
Mr. Grimes is Legal Counsel to the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association and a member of the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys. He is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia.
A frequent author and speaker on hospitality law topics, Mr. Grimes served as an Adjunct Professor of Hospitality Law in the Temple University School of Tourism and Hospitality Management for 7 years. He is also a columnist for Convene, Successful Meetings Magazine, The Meeting Professional, Association Executive, and Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine.
In April 2003, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) designated Mr. Grimes as a PLATINUM SERIES SPEAKER. This honor was bestowed in recognition of Mr. Grimes’ expertise in legal issues relating to the meetings industry, as well as his excellent presentation and group facilitation skills.
Mr. Grimes has appeared at international conferences of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), the Canadian Association of Exposition Managers (CAEM), the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI), the International Special Events Society (ISES), the International Association For Exposition Management (IAEM), the International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), and the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).
In June 2004, Mr. Grimes was named a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” by Philadelphia Magazine and Law & Politics.
Mr. Grimes is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and The George Washington University National Law Center.
