HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE IN the MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA Doing business in the region offers unique opportunities and challenges, and with this comes a need to understand the cultural, economic and political nuances that exist across the Middle East and Africa. We can help you overcome the many unique challenges you face across all areas of law, whether you are an owner, manager, franchisee, franchisor, operator, investor, developer or lender.
EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK IN AFRICA Advising the Saudi Egyptian Touristic Development Company on its borrowing to finance the expansion of its offering in Egypt. Acting for the Public Investment Corporation (representing the Government Employees Pension Fund) in a joint venture on the acquisition of the iconic V&A Waterfront development in Cape Town. The deal has been valued at US$1.2 billion, the largest single asset real estate transaction to date in South Africa. Advising a group of local Kenyan investors on a proposed recreational facility and real estate project in Rwanda. Advising Dubai World in relation to various business interests in the Rwandan Tourism Sector, including acquisition of hotels. Advised a French consortium in a large scale real estate development project in mauritius. The advice concerned investment laws, real property transfer, parcelling of land permits, land titles and transfer. Advising six casino operators on concessions and outsourcing agreements relating to operation of casinos within hotels in Egypt. Also advised a health spa operator and a restaurant operator relating to the same development. Advising the indirect sale of a property portfolio, including the Grand Hyatt Cairo Hotel, the Park Hyatt Cairo Hotel and the Sheraton, Hurghada. Legal advisors on a syndicated loan involving PTA Bank, Kenya Commercial Bank and Rwanda Development Bank in relation to the financing of the construction of a four star hotel in Kigali. Advising the Pula Group on the proposed acquisition of various plots of land on the coast of Kigamboni, Tanzania for the development of a five star hotel and golf resort. Advising leading international hotel operators on labour, employment and immigration issues in relation to hotels in Egypt. Providing advice to a major international hotel operator on the doctrine of force majeure under Egyptian law in the context of the Arab Spring and the consequences of this on the performance of hotels. Advising a major international hotel operator on the consequences of the sanctions applied against the former Libyan government. Advising a hotel company based in the Maldives in relation to the registration of its intellectual property rights in the Middle East and wider region. 02 Hospitality and Leisure in the Middle East and Africa
EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK IN THE MIDDLE EAST Negotiating management agreements and related ancillary agreements such as technical services agreements, license/royalty agreements, centralized services agreements, non-disturbance agreements etc. Advising on whether a branch or subsidiary is required in order to operate a hotel in various countries throughout the Middle East. Advising a government entity on a number of hotel management agreements and ancillary agreements for two hotel developments in Abu Dhabi, including negotiations with major international hotel operators. Advising on litigation before the local court arising from a management agreement. Advising an international hotel operator on the impact on an existing hotel management agreement of a hotel owner in Dubai securing financing against the hotel which was under construction, including giving advice on the enforcement of guarantees in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. Advising a high net worth individual on the potential acquisition of a hotel under development on the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Advising a purchase in Qatar on the acquisition of three hospitality assets in Doha (namely, services residences, and a hotel and wellness centre under construction). Drafting suites of hotel management agreements for two new hotel operating brands, both based in Dubai. Registering intellectual property rights in the region for hotel operators. Providing advice on employment related matters both at a policy level and on matters which arise in the operation of a hotel. Advising some of the largest international hotel operators on various aspects of their developments and operations including providing local law reviews of the suite of hotel management agreements, advising on permanent establishment issues and providing title and corporate due diligence. Advising the developer of an extensive number of hotels in Mekkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on numerous hotel operating agreements, franchise agreements and the sale of branded residences. Advising the asset managers of a leading hotel chain on complex real estate issues relating to a number of hotels within mixed use developments in Dubai, including advice on obtaining the best structure for the assets. Advising a Dubai based investment company on the proposed acquisition of a hotel in the Emirate of Fujeirah. www.dlapiper.com 03
MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA CAPABILITIES DLA Piper s global Hospitality and Leisure group consists over 200 lawyers who are sector experts in corp experience enable us to deliver commercially robust advice. In our role as business advisors for our clients, we know the sector, its key players, and its unique concerns and resort businesses; leisure and sports operators; hospitality and F&B operators as well as financiers ow Drafting and negotiating hotel management agreements for new hotel developments Morocco Algeria Tunisia Libya Advising on branded F&B offerings, in particular, the invitation of such F&B with hotel operators Licensing advice relating to hotel, F&B and leisure operations Cape Verde Gambia Guinea Bissau Guinea Sierra Leone Senegal Liberia Mauritania Mali Burkina Faso Côte d'ivoire Ghana Togo Benin Equatorial Guinea Niger Nigeria São Tomé and Príncipe Cameroon Gabon Chad Centra African Rep Congo Angola Dem Rep the KEY DLA Piper has established market knowledge and deal experience working across the continent DLA Piper Africa* Namibia B Providing employment law advice to hospitality operators S A 04 Hospitality and Leisure in the Middle East and Africa
orate, real estate, finance, franchising and employment specialist legal advice. Our knowledge and. We have a broad spectrum of industry clients in the sector, including leading global and regional hotel ners and banks operating in the sector across the Middle East and Africa. CAIRO القاهرة KUWAIT CITY مدينة الكويت DUBAI دبي Structuring and drafting branded residences/services apartments arrangements RIYADH الرياض l ublic Rwanda Sudan SUDAN South Sudan Eritrea JEDDAH Ethiopia UgandaKenya MANAMA المنامة Djibouti Somalia DOHA الدوحة ABU DHABI ا بو ظبي MUSCAT مسقط Key (Middle East) DLA Piper Offices Advising on leisure operations, including amusement parks, health and fitness facilities, spas, leisure complexes, golf courses, cinemas, marinas, nightclubs etc. ocratic ublic of Congo Zambia otswana Malawi Zimbabwe Burundi Tanzania Mozambique Swaziland Madagascar Seychelles Mauritius Providing advice relating to the financing of hotel and leisure developments outh frica Lesotho Advising on construction matters and disputes in the hospitality sector www.dlapiper.com 05
About us From the quality of our legal advice and business insight to the efficiency of our legal teams, we believe that when it comes to the way we serve and interact with our clients, everything matters. DLA Piper is an international legal practice with lawyers across Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Contacts Tom O Grady Head of Real Estate Practice Group Middle East T +971 4 438 6322 tom.o grady@dlapiper.com Helen Hangari Senior Legal Consultant T +971 4 438 6326 helen.hangari@dlapiper.com FOR MORE INFORMATION To learn more about DLA Piper, visit www.dlapiper.com. 06 Hospitality and Leisure in the Middle East and Africa
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