Entertainment, Tourism and Hospitality

Our Lawyers act for owners and operators of chains of restaurants and leisure companies. Our services include providing advice as well as drafting and negotiating franchise contracts and M&A transactions in the industry. We also advise and represent clients on operational and employee issues.

We have long-standing relations with companies within all areas of the media and entertainment industry; our media law specialists have significant familiarity with the commercial conditions affecting companies within these sectors. Our legal expertise covers the entire regulatory regime of media law. We also have great knowledge of the different types of contracts, industry agreements etc., which are used in connection with production and distribution of motion pictures, TV programmes, radio programmes, music, books, periodicals and other forms of entertainment.

Our lawyers have represented both local and foreign clients in respect of defamation disputes. We have also advised clients on such disputes abroad.

Examples of our lawyers’ experience include:

• Representing the owner of a chain of restaurants in arbitration proceedings in Dubai in relation with the breach of a franchise agreement.
• Representing the owner of a trademark in the food industry in arbitration proceedings in relation with the breach of a franchise agreement in Kuwait.
• Acting as sole arbitrator in an ICC arbitration related to the breach of joint venture agreement related to the establishment of a chain of restaurants in Saudi Arabia.
• Advising several major Lebanese chains of restaurants on entering the Arab gulf markets, including through franchise agreement.
• Advising a Saudi owned group in the acquisition and renovation of a boutique hotel in Beirut.
• Acting as arbitrator in a dispute concerning the design of a five stars hotel in Beirut Central District.