California hotel operators should take a fresh look at their policies for renting rooms to unaccompanied minors. Recent demand letters aimed at California hotels have raised concerns about blanket age-based rental restrictions, especially where those policies appear on hotel websites, third-party booking platforms, or brand-controlled reservation pages. For hotel owners, general managers, and hospitality operators,…

If you have been thinking about buying a business, or preparing to sell one, there is an important SBA development worth watching closely. Effective July 4, 2026, eligible borrowers will be able to combine an SBA 7(a) loan and an SBA 504 loan for up to $10 million in total SBA-backed financing. That is double…

Purchasing commercial real estate in California is one of the largest financial commitments a business owner or investor can make. Whether you are acquiring a retail center in San Diego, repositioning an office building for conversion, or purchasing a hospitality asset along the coast, the due diligence period is your best opportunity to uncover risks,…

On April 1, 2026, the Ninth Circuit issued an important decision for California employers in O’Dell v. Aya Healthcare Services, Inc. The court ruled that plaintiffs cannot use a few mixed decisions about arbitration agreements to knock out arbitration for an entire class of employees. In other words, just because an employer loses on arbitration with some…

Operating a hotel in California means managing risk in one of the most plaintiff-friendly legal environments in the country. From slip-and-fall accidents near pools to assaults in dimly lit parking structures, hotel owners and managers face a higher duty of care than many other businesses. For California hotel operators, understanding where liability exposure exists and…

Protecting Your Investment Before You Sign Entering into a franchise agreement is one of the most significant business decisions you will ever make. It’s not just a contract—it’s a long-term relationship, often lasting 15 to 20 years, that will shape your financial future and operational freedom. At DPA Attorneys at Law, we represent franchisees with one…

In 2025, California enacted a series of new employment statutes that expand employer notice duties, tighten recordkeeping and pay transparency requirements, broaden certain leave and rehiring protections, and add new compliance considerations for tips, worker mobility agreements, and labor relations. Most changes take effect in 2026, with several provisions extending into 2027 and beyond. Below…

Effective December 1, 2025, all covered hotel employers in the City of Los Angeles must ensure that every Room Attendant completes a Public Housekeeping Training Program conducted by a City-certified Public Housekeeping Training Organization (PHTO). DPA Attorneys at Law has been officially certified by the City of Los Angeles as an approved PHTO and is authorized to provide this required training to hotel…

Effective December 1, 2025, all covered hotel employers in the City of Los Angeles must ensure that every Room Attendant completes a Public Housekeeping Training Program conducted by a City-certified Public Housekeeping Training Organization (PHTO). DPA Attorneys at Law has been officially certified by the City of Los Angeles as an approved PHTO and is authorized to provide this required training to hotel…