Picture of Robert E. Braun

Bob represents clients in corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, financing, franchising, licensing, joint ventures and strategic alliances, with an emphasis on hospitality and on new and emerging technologies.  

As Co-Chair of the JMBM Cybersecurity and Privacy Group, Bob counsels clients on privacy and security, information technology, software development and licensing, and electronic commerce transactions. He is the co-author of the Cybersecurity Lawyer Forum blog, lectures frequently on technology issues, and has been quoted by Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, American Lawyer, American Banker, Law360, Los Angeles Business Journal, Daily Journal, and other media, on cybersecurity law issues. He is recognized in the Southern California listing of Super Lawyers as a “Top Rated Technology Transactions Attorney.”

As a senior member of JMBM's Global Hospitality Group, Bob specializes in the negotiation of hotel management and franchise agreements, the acquisition and divestiture of hotels, resorts, restaurants and other hospitality properties, hotel and hospitality workouts and turnarounds, and ongoing operating issues of hospitality properties. Bob is a frequent author and lecturer on hospitality issues. 

Representative Experience
  • Counseling a variety of companies, including Fortune 1000 companies, on breach notification requirements
  • Representing cloud-based software licensors
  • Designing privacy and security compliance programs for non-profit companies, professional service providers, financial providers and Internet-based companies
  • Advising hotel owners on enhancing relationships with hotel managers and brands
  • Designing management structures for boutique hotel brands
  • Negotiation of licensing and service agreements for Internet-based software service programs
  • Negotiation of hotel management agreement for a portfolio of 29 hotels throughout the United States
  • Negotiation and closing of a foreign investment in a hotel fund covering 10 hotels in the Southeastern United States
  • Advising a hotel management company in the divestiture of a portfolio of branded hotel properties
  • Representation of a high technology manufacturer in a series of strategic acquisitions
  • Establishment of a hotel brand based on sustainable energy principles, including LEED certification
  • Negotiation of a five-star mixed-use hotel development project, including a hotel, condominiums, luxury residences, retail and office space in Dallas, Texas
  • Negotiating the purchase and sale of multiple companies, including manufacturers, financial services providers, entertainment companies and medical practices
Education

J.D., UCLA School of Law, 1981

A.B., University of California, Berkeley, 1978
with highest honors

Bar Admissions State Bar of California
U.S. District Court, Central District of California
Associations

Editorial Board of the California Business Law News, a publication of the State Bar Business Law Section

Franchise Law Committee, State Bar of California

Advisory Board, Information Systems Security Association, Los Angeles Chapter

International Association of Privacy Professionals

Member, Business Law Section, American Bar Association; Cyberspace Committee, Banking Law Committee

American Bar Association

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Operation Hope, Inc.

Hurdle Jumpers, Inc.

Frequent lecturer on securities, information technology challenges, legal challenges facing emerging businesses, and hotel and hospitability issues

Chair, 33rd Annual Securities Regulation Seminar, Los Angeles County Bar Association, October 2000

Chair, Business & Corporations Sections, Los Angeles County Bar Association, 1997-1998

Executive Board of Judges, Moot Court Honors Program, UCLA

National Order of Barristers, UCLA

Awards & Recognition
  • Rated AV by Martindale Hubbell
  • Recognized as one of Los Angeles Magazine's Southern California's Best Lawyers, 2008-2012
  • Selected as a Southern California Super Lawyer, 2004, 2008-2022
Languages
Hebrew
Cybersecurity Law Blog
  • Website analytics are a key part of understanding whether a website "works," and how to improve it; they arose almost at the same time that companies…
  • On Monday, October 17, 2022, the California Privacy Protection Agency Board issued revised regulations to the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018…
Hotel Law Blog
Videos

At the Association for Corporate Growth’s 2011 conference in Los Angeles, Bob Braun discusses how JMBM works with middle market companies to meet their unique challenges.

Co-chairs of the Jeffer Mangels Cybersecurity and Privacy Group, Robert E. Braun and Michael A. Gold, discuss why companies need a cybersecurity training program.