The Journey of
Eck, Conley & Richardson
(ECR)

Origins: Eck, Collins, & Richardson

Founded in 1969 by Frank Eck, Eck & Collins entered the timeshare industry in the late 1970s. Eck was a pioneer in crafting the legal and title structures that enabled timeshare development throughout the Southeastern U.S. In 2010, Philip W. Richardson joined the firm as a partner and the firm’s became Eck, Collins, & Richardson.

Richardson’s background includes in-house counsel roles with leading timeshare developers such as Peppertree Resorts and  Starwood Vacation Ownership, then a subsidiary of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. His experience spans legal operations, development, licensing, and compliance across the industry.

Eck, Collins, & Richardson served all the leading developers and managers in the timeshare industry. Eck, Collins, & Richardson was licensed in more than ten states including VA, FL, TX, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In 2022, Barbara Overton—formerly Deputy General Counsel at Marriott Vacations Worldwide —joined the firm as Of Counsel.

Parallel Growth: Hayes, Johnson, & Conley

Hayes, Johnson, & Conley was formed in 2016 to consolidate the work of Joe Gunter and Cody Hayes, two attorneys who were instrumental in shaping the legal and title frameworks for timeshare development in the South-central and Midwestern U.S..

Joel Johnson and Chris Conley grew their legacy, founding Hayes, Johnson & Conley.

Hayes, Johnson, & Conley provided title, escrow, foreclosure, and inventory management services across numerous jurisdictions, including AR, MO, LA, TX, and OR,. Conley holds title licenses tied to his law practice in multiple states, while Johnson and Conley collectively covered key legal jurisdictions for the timeshare industry.

The Merger

In 2024, Eck, Collins, & Richardson and Hayes, Johnson, & Conley merged, forming the Eck, Conley & Richardson (ECR). This merger united the strengths of the two firms, creating one of the most experienced and geographically comprehensive legal teams in the timeshare and resort development industry.

Together, Eck, Conley, & Richardson offers clients full-spectrum services across:

• Real estate and resort development
• Timeshare regime structuring and registration
• Title, escrow, trustee, and foreclosure services
• Complex brand licensing and compliance
• Inventory transactions and repurposing of legacy resorts

With legal and title licensure spanning more than 20 states, Eck, Conley, & Richardson continues to serve leading developers, hospitality brands, and resort operators with a combination of legal depth, industry insight, and operational reach.