Hospitality in the UAE

1. Hospitality
Our team acts for a wide number of individual hotels
and hotel groups both in the region and internationally.
We have acted for the largest privately owned lifestyle
company in the UAE with over 35 different outlets and
their respective branches; we have assisted them in
acquiring and developing franchises and in executing their
growth plans in the region.
In addition, we represent various fashion houses in their
hospitality operations in the region as well as two different
Tier A hotel operators.
This depth of expertise and experience means our lawyers
have a detailed understanding of the sector and regularly
advise clients in compliance matters with the relevant
regulation and laws.
Hotel management and operations
Our recent hotel management experience includes
advising on:
• Operating and Management Agreements
• Joint Venture Agreements
• Technical Service Agreements
• Non-disturbance agreements.
We have also recently advised on supplementary
agreements relating to intellectual property, marketing
agreements and support services.We are also well-placed
to assist in facility management agreements, franchise
agreements and on the implementation of setting up
the most viable corporate structures for purposes of
operations and management.
We recently advised the following clients on a variety of
hotel management matters namely:
• Cavalli – Cavalli Square Hotel – China
• Morgans Hotel Group – Hudson Dubai
• Studio M Hotel Group
• Steinberger Hotel Group – Intercity Hotels.
www.bsabh.com

2. Our wider hospitality experience includes:
• Acting for a large international hotel chain on
the acquisition of a AED360m 4-star hotel in Jumeirah
Beach Residence (JBR) in Dubai.
• Advising on the restructuring of Dubai Aqua
Dunya projects at Dubailand, and the Islamic finance
arrangement for the operation of hospitality utilities
within the Aqua Dunya project at Dubailand.
• Acting on the joint venture development of ‘a small city’
in a Dubai Freezone, facilitating hotels, restaurants, clubs,
conference halls, residential buildings and office space
between several global luxury brands.
• Advising Pragma Group International on a US$33m
multi-franchising of luxury food and beverage, and
entertainment outlets under the Cavalli brand.
• Advising a high profile lifestyle company on the
purchase of a theatre and production company in Dubai.
• Advising private equity fund sponsors and owners
of various high-end fashion brands on the structuring of
a fund and subsequent fund raising activity.
• Advised a contracting group on the 25% stake in
Fairmount Hotel,Ajman.
John Peacock
Senior Associate, Hospitality,
Commercial Real Estate
T: +971 4 3685555
john.peacock@bsabh.com
John is an admitted attorney and property conveyancer
since 1995; he specialises in a vast range of corporate
matters including commercial contracts, and advises on
hospitality, all aspects of property transactions, including
strata developments.
John regularly advises on international commercial and
property matters, including joint ventures, hotel and
restaurant management, trademark licensing and property
development plans incorporating strata plans. He has
assisted clients in the drafting, review, and operation of
strata plans for large composite property developments.
John holds a Bachelor of Arts-Law Stream from the
University of Cape Town and a Baccalaureus Procurationis
from the University of South Africa. He is an admitted
attorney of the High Court of South Africa and
conveyancor of the High Court of South Africa.
ABU DHABI · BEIRUT · DUBAI · ERBIL · MUSCAT · RAS AL KHAIMAH · RIYADH · SHARJAH
T +971 4 368 5555 F +9714 368 5000
Level 6, Building 3,The Gate District Precinct, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC),
PO Box 262, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
www.bsabh.com
Hospitality