Kenneth C. Free

MBA- Finance, University of Missouri, Kansas City, 1979.
BS- Hotel Administration, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 1972.
RRP (Registered Resort Professional), American Resort Development Association.
MHS (Master Hotel Supplier), American Hotel & Lodging Association.

hotels, resorts, timeshares, hospitality, resort shared ownership

Kenneth Free, Straightline's Principal, can oftentimes be an excellent expert designee. Over the years he has served as expert witness before judicial bodies in many states of the USA, as well as in France, Egypt, Dominican Republic, and the British West Indies. While typically appearing before courts of the state, he has also served in cases before bodies of arbitration, including JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc.) and the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (a World Bank entity).

Mr. Free can be a solid expert witness for hotel disputes because of his deep real world experience, his academic credentials, and his demeanor of credibility. He is a true expert in hotels, resorts and related hospitality products. He does not venture beyond this industry as others sometimes do in venturing into it. There have been “expert” witnesses who purported to be masters within this unique industry, but who in reality were generalists or perhaps were knowledgeable in other industries such as commercial real estate or office buildings. The hotel business is a different animal because it is a mix of real estate and daily operations combined with significant marketing and branding components. Some “hotel experts” muddle their way through a case; Mr. Free can focus like a laser on the real issues.