Joshua Bernstein, Hospitality Sector Team Co-Chair, spoke to Law360 on potential trends in the hospitality sector in 2021. He predicted an increase in virus-related litigation, with particular attention on force majeure, or “act of God,” suits. He also indicated that news of the COVID-19 vaccine was cause for optimism in the industry, predicting an uptick once people start to feel comfortable traveling and eating in restaurants again.

"With the recent news about the vaccines, while the hospitality industry is still greatly suffering right now, there is hope on the horizon," Bernstein said. "The next year to two years, once the vaccines are available for a larger portion of the population, we'll see an uptick in the hospitality market. But the next six months are going to be difficult."