Joseph B. Pereles, Esq., joins JAMS with over 40 years of legal and business experience, including 29 years as senior vice president of development and general counsel for a privately held hotel company. In that role, he was involved in various areas of operation for 135 hotels in 24 states. He is known for his deep understanding of complex business issues, particularly in the hospitality industry, and for managing events of mass effect.

Mr. Pereles has managed and resolved a wide range of disputes in the business and nonprofit spaces, including insurance recovery, labor and employment matters, commercial contracts, and significant national and international crises, including Hurricane Katrina, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and an aviation disaster.

Mr. Pereles has a lifelong commitment to public service. He has served the American Red Cross for decades, from national vice chair of the American Red Cross National Board of Governors to personally joining disaster response teams. As a member of the National Board of Governors, he served on a task force that changed the governance structure for the American Red Cross. The high-level task force, including five members of academia and five members of the National Board of Governors, achieved congressional approval for its recommended changes.

As a mediator and arbitrator, Mr. Pereles emphasizes active listening, respect, empathy and practical problem-solving.

Representative Matters

• Member of the International Federation of the Red Cross’ Compliance and Mediation Committee, working with several international Red Cross societies to resolve governance and other issues affecting their good standing within the international Red Cross movement
• Shareholder disputes
• Franchise agreements
• Tax matters, including tax-free reorganizations
• Contracts for purchase, sale and lease of land; equipment; and products of all kinds
• Corporate governance
• Trademark disputes
• Personal injuries, ranging from slip-and-falls to fatalities
• Insurance claims, including coverage issues and complex business interruption claims
• Real estate, including environmental, land use and boundary disputes

Honors, Memberships, and Professional Activities

Memberships and Affiliations

• International Federation of the Red Cross, Compliance and Mediation Committee, 2014–2024
• Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, 2000–2025
  • Member, 2000–2025
  • President, 2010–2012
• American Red Cross, National Board of Governors, 2005–2014
  • National Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Governance and Board Development Committee, 2008–2014
• American Red Cross, National Philanthropic Board, 2014–2024
  • Chair, 2020-2024
• American Red Cross, St. Louis Chapter and Board of Directors, 1986–2005, 2018–2025
  • Chair, Board of Directors, 1998–2000
• Missouri Bar Disciplinary, 2021–2025
  • Hearing Officer
• Be the Narrative, 2021–2025
  • Co-Founder and Chairman
• St. Louis Jewish Federation, 2022–2025
  • Board Member
• St. Louis Jewish Community Relations Council, 2015–2021
  • Board Member, 2015–2019
  • Chair, 2019–2021
• Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA), 2021–2022
  • Board Member
• Congregation Shaare Emeth, 2005–2016
  • Member, Operating Committee, 2005–2016
  • President, 2011–2014
    
    

Selected Awards and Honors

• National Red Cross Harriman Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service, American Red Cross, 2015
• JProStl Partnership Award, Jewish Federation of St. Louis, 2023

Background and Education

• Senior Vice President, Development, and General Counsel; Drury Hotels Company, LLC; 1990–2019
• Associate and Partner; Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.; 1978–1990
• J.D./MBA, Washington University, 1978
• B.A., University of Utah, 1974