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Paula A. Argento, ESQ.

Director of Advisory Consulting and Business Development

PROFESSIONAL CONSULTING

  • Negotiation of international and domestic debt and equity financings, real estate transactions, joint ventures, limited liability company agreements, management and operational contracts, international sales and licensing agreements, reorganizations and workouts, and merger and acquisitions (M&A).

  • Trusted adviser to corporate boards and management of public and private companies, on finance, securities compliance and reporting matters, public and private financing , creation of investment vehicles, strategic acquisitions and joint ventures.

  • Diverse industry consultations include: hospitality and commercial real estate, aviation, international food and wine, luxury goods, sustainable clothing, entertainment, social media, manufacturing, financial services, medical device, and innovative technologies.

  • Strategic advisory and due diligence for investment committees, private equity funds, pension plans and family offices. 

  • Specialty advisory in federal, state, and international licensed and regulated industries, including banking, finance, aviation and communications.

  • Structural and due diligence advisory to SPACs, private equity funds, opportunity zone funds, business development corporations, and other specialty investment vehicles.. 

  • Legislative and regulatory advisory on federal, state, regulatory and grant making projects. Coalition building with Washington, DC lobbyists and law makers on issues affecting major US industries and associations.

CREDENTIALS

  • Boston University Law School, LLM, Banking and Finance Law, 1989 

  • Catholic University Law School, JD, 1981       

  • Boston College, BA, magna cum laude, 1978
    John R. Betts Award for an Outstanding American History Student 

  • Cornell School of Hotel Administration and SC Johnson College of Business

    2019 Advanced Real Estate and Hotel Asset Management Certificate-Professional Development On Campus Program.

  • Investment, Valuation, Deal Structuring, and Capital Markets, Strategy, Risk Management, and Asset Management.

  • 2014 Cornell Hotel Real Estate Investment and Asset Management Certificate

    Six course hospitality real estate development program with emphasis on financial analysis, investment strategy, relations between owners, lenders, managers, and franchises, and management of hospitality investment.

    2019 Family Office Investment Certification Institute - Qualified Family Office Professional.

    LEADERSHIP

  • US Senate Judiciary Committee, Washington, DC, Staff Attorney 1981-1983.

  • Counsel to preeminently rated Washington, DC corporate and securities law firm 1998-2001.

  • CEO and Counsel, Argento Venture and Hospitality Group, 2001-present.

  • Partner, Argento & Associates Law Firm, Washington, DC 2001-present.

  • Advisory Board Member to the Boutique and Lifestyle Lodging Association, 2014-2018, and 2016 Co-Chair and Board Member of the Year. 

  • Advisory Board Member to Luxury Hotel Advisors of Newport Beach, 2020-present=

    World Bank capital analyst and panelist in the awarding of humanitarian micro-cap funds to entrepreneurs in developing countries. 

  • United Way of Greenwich volunteer auditor for program funding recipients.

  • Lawyers Committee for the United Way of the National Capital Area, fundraiser.

  • Lawyers Committee on Human Rights, successful winner of an INS appeal for a Chinese refugee.

    REPRESENTATIVE CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS

  • $5 billion insurance business transfer of AARP’s member health insurance services from Prudential Insurance to United, Metlife, and Seabury and Smith.

  • $1 billion leveraged buyout and hostile takeover of international US based lumber and paper company.

  • $125 million debt and equity investment facility of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX in publicly traded wireless television corporation.   

  • $100 million refinancing of Eastern Airlines Pilots Pension Fund real estate holdings through Bank of Chicago.

  • $80 million offshore insurance finance facility for electric power investors in Seabrook.

  • $20 million financing of domestic cellular telephone system through debt, equity and equipment lease facilities; and review of initial public offering.

  • $20 million project finance facility for Qualcomm cellular telephone system for the Republic of Georgia.

  • $10 million bankruptcy reorganization of Chapter 11 Silicon Valley internet incubator, through bridge loans, private placement and merger into public company with ongoing SEC 1934 Act reporting and corporate counsel responsibility.

  • $15 million bridge loans and private placement of Country Roads Communications, a rural local exchange company consolidator (RLEC), and merger into US public company.

  • $10 million limited liability member hostile takeover negotiations with Puerto Rico based cryptocurrency bank.

  • $10 million bridge loans and private placement of Jeweler’s Edge, Inc., a Beverly Hills based e-commerce wholesale exchange of fine and estate jewelry.·      

  • $10 million bridge loans and private placement of African cellular telephone company.

  • $5 million private placement and negotiation of joint venture, and sales and marketing agreement for IATA-Bidjet, a joint venture online commercial aircraft trading floor.

    REPRESENTATIVE HOSPITALITY TRANSACTIONS 

  •  Advised executive management of a family owned five hotel and casino portfolio in Northeast Nevada, with branded FAA licensed casino airline, on $16m buyout offer and $28m  family counteroffer.

  • Advised Meiwah International, Washington, DC, on partnership with Federal Owens to develop Cam Rahm Bay luxury hotel, villa, and condominium resort with 650 hotel rooms, 250 villas, 18 hole championship golf course, 150,000 sq. ft. retail, marina with 100 slips, 150 workforce housing units. Interface with Ambassador of Viet Nam in Washington, DC.

  • Advised on evolving federal opportunity zone regulations and drafted $50m Hawaiian Islands Opportunity Zone Fund Private Placement Memorandum and Operating Agreement, for investing in and developing hotels, multi-family, and business improvement districts in Hawaii.

  • Advised on hotel opportunity zone investments for development of a Philadelphia Moxy Hotel adjacent to Temple University, a Hilton Garden Inn located in Inner Harbor Baltimore, and a Marriott, brand to be determined, in downtown Washington, DC.

  • Review of $400 million Ritz Carlton San Francisco hotel due diligence for  presentation to buyers.

  • Advised on potential financing for Grand Bahamas film studio, theme park and hotel casino project.

  • Advised San Diego owner/operator and early pioneer of an all suite hotel concept on potential purchase and financing of Northwest regional 18 suite hotel portfolio.

  •  Review of $45m Private Placement Memorandum for refinancing and renovation of Hilton Kingston Jamaica..

  • ·Advised on $100m financing and purchase and sale agreement for a bank owned 2000 room Reno hotel and 115,000 sq. ft casino, presented by confidential offering memorandum.

  •  Advised on offering and financing of  the sale of a Dominican Republic all inclusive resort, with 176 luxury suites and villas, five pools, and  luxury spa, within the 33,000 beach front acre gated community of Cap Cana, with an award winning Jack Nicklaus designed golf course. Advised on feasibility of terminating management contract and substitution of manager.

  •  Advised on a $30m financing to complete construction of an additional 100 hotel rooms for a 31 room Puerto Rico hotel and casino in bankruptcy reorganization.

  •  Advised on a $171,334,000 financing for a 5 star boutique 60 suite and villa resort and 48 slip marina development project on a private island in Abacos, Bahamas.

  •  Advised on development of a 881 unit luxury hotel, master golf course, and condo project in Huahine, French Polynesia, near Tahiti.

  •  Advised on financing $65m of outside equity for a Fairmont Austin Convention Center hotel project.

  • Due diligence regarding the acquisition and renovation of a Monaco based boutique hotel and brand.

  • Advised on financing for a West Point adjacent 128 boutique full service hotel development project with meeting space, restaurant and wedding venues.

  •  Advisory on a new development project for a 111 room boutique hotel with 44 condominiums on the Finger Lakes, New York.

  • Due diligence for the distressed purchase of an award winning and renovated independent resort, spa club and wedding destination in Stowe, VT that had not achieved necessary occupancy and rate, and had run through eight managers in a short period of years.

  • Due diligence and investor presentations for the development of a Montreal boutique 125 room hotel to adjoin a long established art center with licensed successful restaurants in up and coming commercial and residential neighborhood.

  • Review and advisory of hotel acquisition and redevelopment package for a downtown Monterey, CA boutique hotel, and downtown Rosewood, CA hotel opportunity zone redevelopment project, sponsored by Carmel based award winning master architect and engineering firm.  

  •  Introduction and initial negotiation between MGM Hakassan and Jack Parker Corporation regarding a potential sale of Le Parker Meridian and the accommodation of the family matriarch in her current and historic hotel apartment.

  • Presentation and drafting of $12m private placement memorandum for an initial flagship 48 bed assisted living facility in Houston, TX for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer patients, along with negotiation and structuring of management agreements and regulatory protocols.  

  • ·Advisory to notable Chinese restaurant owner in Washington, DC and Bethesda, MD regarding a high end private label food packaging deal, with potential sales for catering, cruise ships, hotels, casinos, airlines, Cotsco and other warehouse food chains.

  •  Advisory to Genoa based specialty Italian food and wine food supplier to cruise, government (NATO), and hospitality venues, on opening retail and hospitality distribution relationships in the US. Devised marketing, warehouse, and expansion plan. Opened executive level channels to Target, Kroger, Big Y, Harrison Teeters, and BJ’s Wholesale Club, and advised on contract negotiation.

  •  Advisory to owner/manager/investors of historic 18 acre 150 room Midwest resort and spa, wedding and group destination with outdoor pool and 25,000 sq. ft. spa. Seeking to replace $3.5m equity limited partner and to provide an additional $3.5m renovation equity to increase spa by 6-8 treatment rooms. 

     

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