The top lawyer at a major U.S. hotel company says his “mantra” at work is that he and his legal colleagues are partners who participate fully in business decisions.

Alan Rabinowitz, executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of Accor North America in Carrollton, says he approaches his job with a vision: He must focus on his company’s business interests and become part of the solution in achieving its goals. A subsidiary of an international company based in France, Accor North America operates Motel 6, Studio 6 and other hotel chains across the United States, Canada and Mexico.