The fitness industry is experiencing an unprecedented period of growth with rising consumer demand for health and wellness services creating strong expansion opportunities for fitness brands globally present compelling prospects – combining mature markets with emerging regions where demand for premium fitness offerings is accelerating franchising has emerged as a highly effective model for growth It enables brands to scale efficiently while benefiting from the knowledge and local networks of in-market partners cross-border franchising also introduces legal and regulatory complexities that brands must navigate carefully to ensure sustainable success The post-pandemic recovery of the fitness sector has been remarkable and continued investment in new concepts are all driving growth Global brands are already moving fast to seize the opportunity The trend is clear: strong brand identity and a clear concept are now essential to thrive in the evolving fitness landscape Franchising enables fitness brands to expand into new markets while mitigating financial risk and operational complexity The rise of at-home fitness platforms has created more discerning customers while established brands with a clear USP (unique selling proposition) – like F45’s functional training or Gold’s Gym’s legacy strength focus – are thriving brands like Equinox are redefining fitness with high-end experiences and wellness retreats Today’s fitness consumers are looking for: Franchising provides a powerful vehicle to deliver this at scale – but only if it's backed by a sound legal and operational framework Expanding a franchise internationally requires thoughtful legal and operational structuring to protect the brand Fitness franchisors must take a holistic approach that spans legal A poorly structured franchise risks not only legal disputes and inefficiencies but also damage to brand reputation and customer trust Franchise growth is not limited to traditional brick-and-mortar gyms New avenues are emerging – particularly in the hospitality space and the continued evolution of the fitness consumer now is the right moment for brands to scale internationally through franchising success depends on doing it right – from a legal Fitness franchises that invest in well-structured compliant models will be best positioned to capture this growth and thrive in the long term Email me karolina.cotronei@dentons.com Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates This website and its publications are not designed to provide legal or other advice and you should not take You will now be taken from the global Dentons website to the $redirectingsite website 大成 is a partnership law firm organized under the laws of the People’s Republic of China and is Dentons' Preferred Law Firm in China with offices in more than 40 locations throughout China Dentons Group (a Swiss Verein) ("Dentons") is a separate international law firm with members and affiliates in more than 160 locations around the world please see dacheng.com/legal-notices or dentons.com/legal-notices Privacy and University Policies Wayne State University © 2023 TEHRAN- Ten feature-length documentaries will be competing in the international section of the 18th edition of Iran International Documentary Film Festival Cinéma Vérité My Unfulfilled Life” directed by Rogier Kappers from the Netherlands “Gingerbread for Her Dad” by Alina Mustafina from Kazakhstan and “Return” by Katja Fedulova from the Czech Republic are among the highlights of the lineup a man in his fifties who seemingly has it all: a city apartment he grapples with a persistent sense of unfulfillment.  he embarks on a journey to learn the glass harp and realize his dream of becoming a street musician This documentary comedy explores the unpredictable nature of people’s aspirations filled with unexpected twists and turns along the way "Gingerbread for Her Dad" follows three generations of women from a single family as they journey from Kazakhstan to Poland in search of the grave of the man who connects them—a man who lost his life during World War II they mend fractured relationships and confront the lingering traumas of the post-colonial Soviet era a strong woman in her mid-30s whose husband is arrested as a political prisoner she embodies the struggles of the Muslim Crimean Tatar community which has faced persecution throughout history another resilient woman navigating the harsh realities of life under occupation both women show remarkable dedication to their families and culture The film highlights their strength and dignity but also their moments of deep vulnerability as they confront the emotional toll of their circumstances.  The festival will also screen “Love Me A Little Bit” directed by Tommaso Cotronei from Italy Who Will Come Knocking” by Maja Novakovic from Serbia and “Yalla "Love Me A Little Bit" delves into the impact of Western oil multinationals in Nigeria whose life is a constant struggle for survival as he navigates a harsh routine: fetching water siphoning diesel from pipelines to sell by the roadside Set against the striking landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina Who Will Come Knocking” explores the inner intangible dimensions of life through a contemplative lens The film follows an elderly man living in isolation capturing the poetic rhythms of his daily routines through dreamlike visuals he finds solace and comfort in his simple existence.  who made the journey from Lebanon to Brussels with friends 42 years ago invites him to recreate that trip together for the first time.  they encounter bullet-riddled walls in Bosnia and the haunting remnants of communism while a now-impermissible route through Syria symbolizes a changed world Their journey is filled with both serious discussions and lighter moments enriched by the surprise company of two hitchhiking girls.  Spain and Chile will also be screened in this section of the festival.  Iran’s major international festival for documentary films will be held in Tehran from December 8 to 15 The Documentary & Experimental Film Center (DEFC) is the organizer of the event The festival tries to express the relationship between reality and truth through documentary films This year’s edition of the festival will have several sections including the national competition Photo: A scene from “Gingerbread for Her Dad” by Alina Mustafina from Kazakhstan Raising a flag over a Middle East hotel was for many years achieved largely by a hotel management agreement (HMA) This assisted owners (then unfamiliar with the ins and outs of operating international brand hotels) to quickly establish their properties and gave the brands access to a new exotic and growing market without compromising on brand standards the region's hospitality market is rapidly maturing and diversifying Coupled with an increasing range of brands across all scale ratings there has been a noticeable shift to franchise (including third-party operators and heightened owner engagement) predominant in North America and widespread in Europe may not have been considered when HMAs for most Middle East hotels were first entered But as these agreements approach expiry or renewal their owners may have a golden opportunity to explore alternatives This could include a switch to franchise or a half-way step in the shape of a manchise agreement Some forward-thinking owners may already have a manchise agreement in place and find themselves considering when to make the switch to franchise the benefits of franchise can be significant greater control over budgets and operations So how can the owner of a Middle East hotel best realise such advantages The gaining popularity of franchise and manchise in the Middle East is partly driven by the desire of local owners to realise additional benefits from leveraging their operational expertise and local knowledge gained through years of investment and exposure to the hospitality market Some owners may have amassed a portfolio of assets with home-grown as well as international brands and concepts international brands are increasingly confident in the ability of local hotels to thrive under a franchise arrangement Thinking has moved beyond cookie-cutting to embrace maximisation of the unique resources available to each owner and property many brands have set aggressive growth targets to add flags above more and more properties requiring a range of strategies beyond HMAs it is important to recognise at the outset that franchise may not be suitable for all Each owner must realistically assess its own abilities strengths and weaknesses before proceeding not all brands and scale ratings will be available some international brands will not entertain franchise for their premium or lifestyle offerings For those owners wishing to make the switch To better understand these factors and their interplay with wider strategic objectives an owner may supplement advice from its internal teams with specialist hospitality consultants and professional advisers This team should include specialist hospitality lawyers because all these factors will intersect (in some way) in the new agreement with the brand If an owner has a manchise arrangement in place some principles may already have been addressed (e.g conditions for conversion) and the form of franchise agreement may have been agreed Whilst this may impose some limits on negotiations and it is wise to review the agreement to ensure its terms are current and appropriate before signing Some key considerations (non-exhaustive) for the owner may include: The foundation for a mutually rewarding long-standing relationship often lies in the first steps Focus should then move to fundamental principles of agreement and recording them (with advice from hospitality lawyers) in the heads of terms Failure to do this can severely undermine the owner's position The brand may require that the hotel is upgraded to meet its latest brand standards The property improvement plan (PIP) and scheduled refurbishments can raise serious concerns for money-conscious owners Key points for negotiation may include the extent of any works timeframe for implementation and any assistance the brand will provide The brand may be willing to provide a financial incentive known as key money This often takes the form of an upfront payment to help secure the new agreement and support the owner (for example Key points for negotiation may include the structuring of payments and any repayment obligations of the owner (e.g The owner should seek to understand the degree of flexibility under the franchise agreement and how this aligns with its own vision for its business Some franchise agreements afford much greater discretion to the owner on what it can and cannot do Key points for negotiation may include pre-approval (in the heads of terms and franchise agreement) and clarification of the approvals process The owner will need to arrange an executive team for each hotel This may involve "recruitment" of personnel who are considered to be seconded from the brand to owner Retaining the existing team often makes sense where the same brand continues as franchisor Key considerations may include brand approval of the executive team (particularly where a new brand is being introduced) recruitment timelines and any complications from clustering arrangements at the property but owners should still pay close attention to these provisions in the new agreement The number of sub-brands and concepts managed by the international brands is constantly growing replicating an old approach or standard wording may not afford the comfort envisaged by the owner Key points for negotiation may include the area duration and any loss of protection in certain circumstances (such as owner default) The provisions of a template HMA on what should happen at the end of the term often represent the minimum to protect the brand's primary interests and may be inadequate to deliver an orderly handover transition planning should begin well in advance with the key terms set out in a conversion or termination agreement Key considerations may include notice periods for termination or preventing renewal of the HMA books and records (including future reservations) communications with vendors (including OTAs) and joint public announcements on changes affecting the hotel (to be issued at an agreed time) The owner should seek to understand the legal regime for franchising in the location of its hotel at the time of writing there is no requirement in the UAE for the brand to provide a franchise disclosure document This contrasts with the regime in Saudi Arabia where the disclosure document will contain important information otherwise difficult to obtain (e.g There can be risks and pitfalls for the unwary loss of revenue and increased potential for dispute with the brand These problems can be compounded by the relatively long term of the franchise agreement (although it may be shorter than an HMA) An owner can mitigate these risks through careful analysis and negotiation of the term sheet and franchise agreement because the brand will have competing concerns and resist wide-ranging changes to its standard terms as with any long-term business relationship there will always remain the potential for disputes to arise Some key areas (non-exhaustive) of concern for owners may include: The task of transitioning from an HMA to franchise (particularly where a new brand is being introduced) should not be underestimated The parties should pay close attention to specified timelines (notice periods etc.) and obligations (including any termination payments Clear and accurate communication and cooperation are critical Failure can quickly result in escalating tensions and disagreements that may require legal intervention Where brand standards are not clearly defined or determinable or can be changed at the brand's discretion there is a risk of requirements being imposed that the owner could not anticipate or meet This could have an impact at the outset (e.g failing conditions for conversion to franchise) and during the term Key considerations may include clarifying the way the brand controls the standards structural changes) and means for deciding disagreements (e.g These programmes represent a significant draw for owners relative to their popularity and ability to drive business the brand will have significant control over how the programme is operated Key concerns may include the value an owner receives for honouring rewards costs incurred in redemption and how the brand uses its programme to generate revenue (e.g The franchise agreement may impose restrictions on transfers discretion for the brand and fees/costs payable by the outgoing and new owners This can be an exacting and unwieldy process at the time the owner is trying to complete a complex sale transaction Because of the way hotel franchises operate (essentially a right to use a hotel brand and system for a period the owner's ability to terminate may be very limited This can make it difficult and costly to achieve termination without a claim for default or wrongful termination During negotiations on the franchise or manchise agreement it may be possible to modify the approach for resolving disputes instead of hearings in the English courts or arbitration in Paris alternatives could include arbitration in the Dubai International Financial Centre under the rules of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre or in Riyadh under the rules of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration This may deliver proximity for both parties (many brands have a corporate office in the region) with proceedings conducted confidentially under the English language Successfully navigating the shift from management to franchise will be critical for many owners but hotel franchise is undoubtedly a complex area involving sophisticated documentation and a wide range of practical The multi-disciplinary hospitality team at Dentons would be delighted to assist with your hospitality transactions whether that involves advising on franchise or manchise arrangements Please do not hesitate to contact us should you wish to discuss any of the issues raised in this article or require further information on the support we can provide Email me nick.simpson@dentons.com Email me Email me joe.carroll@dentons.com Email me zahra-rose.khawaja@dentons.com © 2025 Dentons. All rights reserved. Attorney Advertising. Dentons is a global legal practice providing client services worldwide through its member firms and affiliates. This website and its publications are not designed to provide legal or other advice and you should not take, or refrain from taking, action based on its content. You are switching to another language. Please click Confirm below to continue. You will now be taken from the global Dentons website to the $redirectingsite website. To proceed, please click Accept. things you may have missed while you were sleeping and links to the best writing from SI’s reporters on the ground in Tokyo It’s already been a history-making week in Tokyo for the U.S as Lee Kiefer became the first American to win gold in the women’s individual foil While the men struggled in the individual events The women could conceivably medal in that event as well And let’s not rule out the épée and sabre teams they’ve done a wonderful job just getting to this point They’re making their country proud—and I’m not just saying that because they could come after me with a sword Olympic fencing looked very different in 1920 any female competitors (the first didn’t arrive until ’24) who fought for Italy in World War I before winning his five gold medals—two individual and three team—at the Antwerp Olympics a single-Games mark that stood unsurpassed until 1972 and coach Hollywood stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Errol Flynn and be called the greatest swordsman who ever lived by Time magazine—was also a member of the 1920 Italian team Perhaps the most interesting thing about the brothers Nedo was that they both fought duels against the same Italian sportswriter a sort of interwar Skip Bayless with a death wish Dueling was commonplace among early blue bloods across Europe some 40,000 aristocrats died in man-to-man combat between 1600 and 1789 this form of score-settling was far less prevalent the practice was outlawed by Benito Mussolini (who himself nearly killed a newspaper editor in a 1921 duel that lasted 75 minutes) as Europe was gripped by nationalistic fervor competitive fencers were prone to settling disagreements with duels the fencer—assuming that the centuries-old traditions of his business have properly permeated his mind and heart—does not and must not argue Both Nadi brothers served in the Italian cavalry in World War I but in his book he explained the four reasons he hated that assignment: He didn’t like walking; he found it unrealistic to be expected to lug around a third of his body weight in gear; he was prone to catching colds; and he found that the company was unbearable.” “I loathe peasants,” he went on “Their job and work may be noble and inspiring and all that Aldo does not always come off in the best light in The Living Sword almost half of which is devoted to documenting his romantic exploits reads something like what a letter from Alexandre Dumas to Penthouse Forum might have interspersed with tawdry details such as: “Wasn’t it enough that I should the night in her bed Nedo and Aldo had been raised by one of the leading fencing instructors; their father 26-year-old Nedo established himself as the very best in the world It was perhaps in Belgium for those Games that Aldo was introduced to the art of the duel but he supposedly fought an impertinent member of the Italian weightlifting team The affair ended quickly when Nadi knocked the weapon out of his foe’s hand Aldo’s beef with Cotronei—an Italian fencing editor known for his overzealous prose; or “the most powerful and redoubtable gentleman of the whole Italian press”—is far better documented Aldo attended an exhibition between Lucien Gaudin of France and Candido Sassone of Italy and at a luncheon the next day he remarked loudly how Gaudin had clearly won Upon hearing an Italian assert that his own countryman had lost to a Frenchman the offended editor shot Aldo a dirty look Cotronei published a story declaring that Sassone had been the victor Nadi was convinced that Cotronei had acted out of national pride “and no champion belonging to fascist Italy could possibly be defeated by any foreign and non-fascist champion let alone in the presence of the Number One.” Whatever the reason he would later declare Cotronei’s reporting had called him a “mascalzone,” which only sounds like a Taco Bell fusion dish but in fact roughly translates to “rogue” or “rat.” Nadi was on the next train to Milan The duel itself took place in the paddock of a horse track The Living Sword has a remarkable chapter on dueling in general and l'affaire Cotrenei in particular But this was the first proper duel for Aldo Nadi who quickly realized how different the fight would be from fencing in which the object is to bide your time and attack strategically so as not to allow one’s opponent the chance to get comfortable A fencer who nicks an opponent on the arm a split second before getting hit in the gut scores a point A dueler who nicks an opponent on the arm a split second before getting hit in the gut could be in the market for a new spleen Nadi walked past two doctors (each combatant brought one) setting up what he described as “a hideous assortment of surgical instruments.” The assistants or seconds (of which each combatant brought two) a strip roughly 30 yards long and marked at each end with a stake If a fencer retreated past that limit with both feet he would be disqualified and branded a coward A second attached a silk handkerchief to Aldo’s wrist The fencer put on his glove and gripped his épée narrower and pointier than a sabre—and much more dangerous in a duel the only difference being that the pointe d’arrêt The assembled crowd of journalists and fencers gathered around “Halt!” The doctors attended to the wounds repeatedly nicking Cotronei on the arm and on the chest wounds tended and swords sterilized following each the two men drank champagne together with their doctors and seconds later that night Then Nadi went off to bed with a woman he’d picked up in the lobby he was not the most famous Italian fencing master who around the turn of the 20th century was known as the master of the modern sabre—but who achieved much of his success in Hungary Santelli’s Hugarian squad was expected to compete with Italy and France for top honors the Italians and the French were locked in a tight battle in their four-team round-robin finals match Gaudin and Italy’s Aldo Boni were tied at 4–4 (bouts were first to five points) when referee György Kovács of Hungary awarded the decisive touch to Gaudin who didn’t understand a word of the vitriol—but Santelli was sitting nearby and offered to translate the verbal assault Once officials understood what had been said Boni was ordered to apologize or be disqualified and he and his teammates left the competition in support singing a fascist hymn on their way out of the arena Exactly what happened next is not 100% clear nor is Cotronei’s role in the genesis of the controversy What is certain is that the Italians were livid that Santelli had spoken up against their team—and helped his own squad’s gold medal chances in the process Santelli’s train home from Paris stopped in Turin according to a story in The Times of London he was met on the tracks by a member of Italy’s team Colombetti did not give Santelli a traditional friendly welcome Instead of a kiss on the cheek Santelli received a punch with Cotronei picked to uphold the Italians’ honor a member of Italy’s 1920 gold medal-winning sabre team wasn’t about to let his father risk his life against a man half his age so he invoked a rule in the dueling code that allows a son to take his father’s place (Think of Katniss offering herself up as a tribute to save Prim Cotronei found himself facing the prospect of dueling an Olympic champion Convinced that these were special circumstances Mussolini gave his blessing and waived the ban Cotronei and Giorgio Santelli faced off on a barge in the Adriatic Sea toyed “with the idea of cutting off Cotronei’s head.” He settled which ended the bout minutes after it began was only the second-oddest duel involving an Italian fencer to arise from the 1924 Games was at the center of the other one as well During pool play in the men’s individual sabre competition in Paris each of the 12 fencers faced off once against the others competitors from the same country had their matches against each other first After Oreste Puliti expended precious little energy in winning all three of his bouts against his countrymen Kovács ruled that the other Italian fencers had purposely let him win Puliti happened upon Kovács in a music hall and in what was becoming an unwelcome trend for Kovács he didn’t understand the language—so Puliti slapped him across the face and asked: Do you understand that for somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 rounds and 90 minutes at which point the affair was finally stopped by concerned spectators Kovács pledged to back Puliti’s fight against the IOC suspension resulting from the slap in Paris And with that the bloodied combatants kissed one another on the cheek not—usually—to inflict harm upon one’s opponent but to have each combatant come away satisfied Often that means one or both parties issues some sort of apology or at least acknowledges that they might have overstepped their bounds the sportswriter gave a speech in which he admitted to wrongly thinking Nadi was a coward Giorgio Santelli explained the air-clearing nature of duels: “Over here in America a woman making ready to give a party will say I must remember that So-and-so is not speaking to So-and-so if two men are not speaking in the morning they will fight a duel in the afternoon and thus will be available for the entertainments in the evening.” Santelli didn’t reconcile with Cotronei until nearly eight years after their duel at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles Much had changed by the time of those 1932 Games Santelli and Aldo Nedi had emigrated to America where both found plentiful work as fencing instructors It was reported in ’28 that he’d been cast in a forthcoming movie called Splendid With Swords A blind item that appeared in newspapers declared “Film experts who watched Nadi’s [screen] tests at Turin declare he is destined to pin more feminine hearts on his rapier as a screen star than even Valentino.” In the end eventually appeared in To Have and Have Not (’44) as a bodyguard alongside Humphrey Bogart Cotronei even expressed gratitude to Santelli for hitting him in the face with a sabre had severed a nerve under Cotronei’s left eye causing him to squint—and giving him a bona fide reason to wear a monocle Nedo got up and went to give some pointers to his fencers and he was convinced that Santelli had been giving Nadi advice according to a story that ran in the Los Angeles Times “making remarks wholly detrimental to Santelli.” “And it was a real fist fight!” the Times proclaimed “They almost had to call out the National Guard.” Italy came away from the competition in L.A but Nedo Nadi’s troops failed to win any of the three team events Nadi was mad at Cotronei not just for the insult; he also thought that the writer’s frequent duels—this would be his ninth—were making the sport look bad He feared that someone would eventually get seriously hurt so he decided to end Cotronei’s dueling career once and for all but the most oft-told story is that Nadi struck for Cotronei’s gut and would have delivered a lethal blow had he not hit the writer’s belt buckle Cotronei quit on the spot and never dueled again Time carried a short notice in its Who Won section: “Nedo Nadi onetime (1912 and 1920) Olympic and now world’s professional fencing champion: a duel with one Adolfo Contronei [sic] Milanese sports editor who had criticized the organization of Italy’s last Olympic foils team; by pinking Editor Contronei in the arm And with that came the end of the remarkable time in the sport’s history when the pen and the sword were all too often indistinguishable More SI Daily Covers: • Inside Alex Cora's Second Chance• How Noah Lyles Recaptured His Former Life• In the Pool, Caeleb Dressel Is the Ultimate Spectacle MARK BECHTEL The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Registration for the Vertical MRO Conference in Kelowna B.C. is now open! Click here to learn more. The Leonardo AW169 light intermediate twin engine helicopter’s operational capabilities and range of options will grow further with the launch of a 5,100-kilogram (11,243-pound) IGW kit and an 11-seater configuration fully compliant with the IOGP (International Association of Oil & Gas Producers) Report 690 Both will be made available for the aircraft version with skid landing gear The 5,100 kg (11,243 lb) kit for the AW169 skid version originally conceived to meet government and defense requirements for missions like troop transport and combat operations will also respond to evolving civil and public service market needs leveraging multiple operational and performance benefits Key factors to this capability expansion are the inherent growth potential of the type not requiring modifications in the design of critical components delivering greater engine and transmission power as well as improved aerodynamics in all conditions and for all applications Compared with the standard 4,800 kg (10582 lb) maximum take-off weight the extra 300 kg (661 lb) available with the 5,100 kg IGW kit allows the embarkation of three more passengers or the addition of fuel for approximately one hour of operations Existing operators of the type’s version with skids will be able to retrofit the 5,100 kg IGW kit to enhance their aircraft’s capabilities fully compliant with the IOGP Report 690 (Offshore Helicopter Recommended Practices) will introduce a new modular fuel tank system and two additional Type IV emergency exits in the cabin increasing the total number from four to six The 11-seats configuration will be available for the skid-fitted version in combination with the 5,100 kg IGW kit This solution will allow the type to satisfy even more demanding offshore transport requirements in terms of payload This configuration will allow a radius of action of up to 75 nautical miles with 11 passengers therefore offering capabilities typically achievable with types with a MTOW exceeding 5.5 tons (intermediate class) at a light intermediate class cost of operations as well as granting latest safety standards compared with legacy helicopters It will also deliver greater sustainability versus aging types in the relevant weight category thanks to a more efficient powerplant The certification of the IGW increase is expected in 2024 while the 11-seater configuration with new modular fuel tank is planned for certification in 2026 These latest operational capabilities will add to the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) certifications of the skid undercarriage and unique IFR the AW169 became the only modern CS29-certified aircraft able to offer all undercarriage solutions further demonstrating the versatility by design of the type The AW169 is also the only helicopter in its weight category that features advanced SAR modes The performance increase packages previously developed had already enhanced engine performance and capabilities transmission ratings and available payload through engine software updates and aircraft aerodynamics modifications making the type the helicopter with the best power-to-weight ratio in its class The introduction of the AW169 has expanded Leonardo’s presence in the emergency medical service market and added more operators for law enforcement It further reinforces the company’s leadership in the multi-engine VIP market providing operators with one more option fitting between the popular AW109 series and the bestselling AW139 models It also adds one more solution for shorter-range operations supporting the energy sector and allows Leonardo to play a growing role in the new wind farm support field its dual-use design has responded to a range of government homeland security and defense requirements for missions like surveillance with around 170 units delivered from the Vergiate final assembly line (Italy) to operators in over 30 countries The global fleet has logged in excess of 170,000 flight hours in all kind of operations and conditions The fleet leader has exceeded 3,700 flight hours in EMS operations in Sweden This press release was prepared and distributed by Leonardo and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Bell 525 Walkaround: The First Commercial Fly-by-Wire Helicopter Bell 505 Contact seller for price Year: 2022 Click on the button below to send an email to our team and we will get to it as soon as possible Have a story idea you would like to suggest Dubai—Dentons has advised Reigate Grammar School International Limited on a landmark collaboration with Bright Capital Investment to establish a group of premium British curriculum schools across the UAE Reigate Grammar School is a leading independent UK school and its launch in the UAE follows a growing trend for UK school brands to be operated by local and international investment companies and education groups enhancing the stature of premium UK curriculum schools in the UAE and aligning with the goals of the UAE Vision National Agenda The collaboration is part of Bright Capital Investment's commitment to becoming one of the largest educational platforms in the UAE and the partnership is set to enhance educational opportunities and foster global learning experiences The Reigate Grammar Schools in the UAE will be co-educational all-through schools and will follow the National Curriculum of England and Wales The Dentons team in the UAE was led by partner Ross Barfoot with support from senior associate Karolina Cotronei Ross is regarded as the "go-to" lawyer for the education sector in the UAE and Middle East He stated: "Dentons is proud to be at the forefront of this landmark collaboration The synergy between Reigate Grammar School's educational excellence and heritage and Bright Capital Investment's strategic vision will have a profound impact on the educational landscape in the UAE and sets a new standard for international educational collaborations." international director of Reigate Grammar School International Limited stated: "Ross and the team at Dentons are the best in market and have guided us through the negotiation and finalisation of this exciting collaboration with Bright Capital commercially astute and know the education sector and the intricacies of these transactions inside and out." Reigate Grammar School (Reigate Grammar School-UK) was founded by Alderman Henry Smith in 1675 young people have been educated on the same site a historic market town 15 miles south of the City of London Reigate Grammar School UK is recognised as one of the premier co-educational independent day schools in the UK offering the very best academic education with equal prominence placed on the arts sport and a rich extra-curricular programme It is ranked in the top 20 for academic performance in the UK with 98% of students receiving offers from top universities Reigate Grammar School-UK was awarded School of the Year by Tatler and in 2019 the school received the prestigious UK Independent School of the Year award for Wellbeing and Pastoral Care Reigate Grammar School was named School of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards The school is a prominent HMC school and Headmaster The first line of one of the school's most recent ISI reports asserts that "the quality of the students' achievements and learning is exceptional" The school is one of a small number of world-class schools to have been a global pioneer in High Performance Learning (HPL) focusing on the development of global citizens advanced performers and enterprising learners The Good Schools Guide gave Reigate the compliment "happy kids Reigate Grammar School International is wholly owned by Reigate Grammar School and licenses oversees and manages the international Reigate Grammar Schools currently operating in Saudi Arabia Bright Capital Investment is a school operator and an investment company which aims to create one of the largest educational platforms in the UAE Its target is to cover the complete education spectrum from pre-primary to secondary levels Bright Capital Investment prides itself on the operation and expansion support it delivers to school developers and the education sector in general Bright Capital has investments in Bright Learners Private School and three campuses of Star International Schools in Dubai Redefining possibilities. Together, everywhere. For more information visit dentons.com Email me ross.barfoot@dentons.com D +971 2 613 1520 Email me jiten.patel@dentons.com Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a major target market for international franchise brands Overseas brands often opt for franchising in this region as the easiest way to enter the market in light of the foreign ownership restrictions for companies that wish to trade in the territory While most of the jurisdictions that form the GCC do not have franchise laws per se (except for the newly introduced Franchise Law in Saudi Arabia which came into effect in 2020) they regulate franchising through commercial agency laws The aim of these rules is to protect the local franchisee from termination by the foreign franchisor without legitimate grounds making it difficult for the foreign franchisor to replace the local partner usually some form of registration with a local government authority is required Under the commercial agency laws the franchisee may have certain statutory rights including: These provisions are not favourable to foreign franchisors and for this reason many foreign franchisors sought to avoid registration as a commercial agency by various means Most franchise agreements included an express prohibition of local registration In light of changes to the local legislation franchisors need to reconsider this strategy in relation to some GCC countries and take a closer look at the effect of registration as a commercial agency and its implications Prior to a recent change in its legislation Oman was one of the territories where franchisors would be advised to avoid registration as a commercial agency and prohibit the same in the franchise agreement This is may no longer be a viable strategy as an agreement that has not been registered is unenforceable locally Franchisors urgently need to review their approach franchisors would avoid registration because a franchisor was obliged to pay the franchisee compensation if a registered contract was terminated or not renewed (other than in certain limited circumstances) Termination of an agency or refusal to renew the same upon its expiry used to give the local agent an automatic right to compensation without a requirement to prove a breach fault or negligence on the part of the franchisor and the agency contract may now be terminated in accordance with its terms The right to compensation has been removed from the legislation and while there is still the possibility that a court could decide the appropriate compensation due to a registered commercial agent compensation would be awarded only in a limited number of scenarios such as breach of contract by the franchisor since the removal of the right to compensation the courts in Oman no longer award compensation to registered commercial agents for non-renewal or termination (in the absence of a breach of contract or abuse of rights) the main commercial reason for refusal to allow registration is no longer present the remaining provisions of the Commercial Agency Law in Oman continue to make it difficult to not renew an agreement that is due to expire They do so by imposing certain minimum notice period requirements together with a process of deregistration of the commercial agency which makes it more time consuming and challenging to walk away from a relationship The local franchisee must consent to taking the agreement off the register and only after the relationship is deleted from public records this can make things difficult if the former franchisee is non cooperative it is worth assessing whether avoiding registration as a commercial agency does not lead to a greater risk than the consequences of registration itself Failure to register an agreement effectively means that the local courts will not enforce the agreement locally This also applies to any foreign awards or judgments obtained in reliance on such agreements This could cause issues for the foreign franchisor if they wished to enforce any awards around non-competition restrictions or liquidated damages locally It is not possible to undertake any business activity in Kuwait without a local branch or a local (registered) commercial agent This formal requirement effectively forces foreign franchisors to elect commercial agency as their means of entering the market Similar to other jurisdictions in the Gulf a commercial agent gains additional protection overriding the governing law of the contract and its express provisions including a right to compensation when the contract ends and difficulties with terminating or not renewing the agreement Another big red flag for Kuwait is the potential tax liability on royalty fee income The UAE currently does not impose an automatic registration for franchise agreements This means that provisions prohibiting registration may still be included in agreements for the UAE but not without caution – a franchise agreement should be carefully reviewed If a given relationship ticks all of the ‘agency boxes’ This is not going to change if and when the new draft legislation enters into force only UAE nationals may register as commercial agents This makes the risk assessment exercise easier when considering whether a franchise agreement might be registered locally or not commercial agency will still be largely reserved for UAE nationals certain exceptions for international companies are being considered so commercial agency registration may become open for other franchisees In addition to other implications discussed above once a commercial agency is registered in the UAE the draft legislation provides that the franchise relationship will have to be exclusive – only one commercial agent will be permitted for the whole of the UAE or for an individual emirate registered commercial agents will be eligible to receive commission on all transactions in connection with the branded business concluded within their area of responsibility While the draft law aims to facilitate the termination of registered commercial agency (which currently is very difficult the right to compensation for the former agent will remain and a compensation claim may be made by the exiting agent not only against the principal but also against the incoming agent The highlights above provide a summary of the main issues worth considering before franchising in the GCC If you would like to discuss how this may affect your existing or planned franchise relationship Email me babette.mwood@dentons.com La Naples ring road announced that to finalize the works maintenance and resolve other important issues new evening/night closures will be implemented these closures will be scheduled only in the late evening in order to minimize possible inconvenience for citizens 9 and 10 March 2023 to 6,00 am on the following days the ramp in the direction of the "Tangenziale di Napoli/Raccordo di Soccavo" (pertaining to the Municipality of Naples) below the viaduct will be closed “Arena S Antonio” and coming from “via De Ruggiero/via Caldieri” (for vehicles coming from the ordinary road system the recommended alternative entrance ramp is “Vomero” from “via Cilea”) 9 and 10 March 2023 to 6,00 am on the following days and from 0,00 am to 6,00 am on 9 March 2023 the “Camaldoli/Arenella- Zona Ospedaliera" in the direction of the motorways with the consequent obligatory exit "Camaldoli" in the direction of the motorways (for vehicles coming from Pozzuoli it is possible to return to the "Arenella" entrance junction with an alternative route: via Gabriele Jannelli via Marino and Cotronei) and the entrance junction "Camaldoli" in the direction of the motorways (for vehicles coming from ordinary roads the alternative entrance "Arenella" is recommended) 9 and 10 March 2023 to 6,00 am on the following days the exit ramp towards "via Pigna" will be closed ( for vehicles coming from the "Vomero" toll booths the recommended alternative exit ramp is "via Caldieri") 9 and 10 March 2023 to 6,00 am on the following days and from 0,00 am to 6,00 am on 9 March 2023 the "Fuorigrotta/Italia" section of motorway will be closed 90" (connection link via Agnano agli Astroni/Tangenziale) in the direction of Pozzuoli with the consequent obligatory exit "Fuorigrotta" in the direction of Pozzuoli (for vehicles coming from the motorways it is possible to return to the link link via Agnano agli Astroni/Tangenziale called "Italia' 90" with alternative route: via Cintia via Agnano agli Astroni) and the entrance junction "Fuorigrotta" in the direction of Pozzuoli (for vehicles coming from the ordinary road system alternative entrance recommended to the link road via Agnano allo Astroni/Tangenziale called “Italia '90”) from 23,00 pm on 10 March 2023 to 6,00 am of the following day the "Doganella" exit will be closed in the direction of Pozzuoli (for vehicles coming from the motorways the recommended alternative exit "Secondigliano") 16 and 17 March 2023 to 6,00 am on the following days the ramp in the direction of the "Tangenziale di Napoli/Raccordo di Soccavo" (pertaining to the Municipality of Naples) below the viaduct will be closed “Arena S from 23,00 pm on 13 March 2023 to 6,00 am of the following day the "Zona Ospedaliera/Camaldoli" section of the motorway will be closed in the direction of Pozzuoli with the consequent obligatory exit "Zona Ospedaliera" in the direction of Pozzuoli (for vehicles coming from the possible recommended return to the "Camaldoli" entrance junction with an alternative route: via Pietravalle Jannelli and the entrance junction in the direction of "Arenella" (for vehicles coming from ordinary road network alternative entrance recommended "Camaldoli") 16 and 17 March 2023 to 6,00 am on the following days and from 1,00 am to 6,00 am on 16 March 2023 the “Camaldoli/Arenella- Zona Ospedaliera" in the direction of the motorways with the consequent obligatory exit "Camaldoli" in the direction of the motorways (for vehicles coming from Pozzuoli it is possible to return to the "Arenella" entrance junction with an alternative route: via Gabriele Jannelli the exit ramp towards "Naples centre/Stadium" will be closed (for vehicles coming from the "Fuorigrotta" toll booths alternative exit ramp recommended in the direction of “Soccavo”) from 22,00 pm on 14 March 2023 to 6,00 am on the following day via Agnano agli Astroni) and the "Fuorigrotta" entrance junction in the direction of Pozzuoli (for vehicles coming from ordinary roads an alternative entrance is recommended to the link road linking via Agnano agli Astroni/Tangenziale called "Italia '90") from 23,00 pm on 16 March 2023 to 6,00 am the following day the exit ramp towards "via Caldieri" will be closed (for vehicles coming from the "Vomero ” alternative exit ramp recommended in the direction of “via Pigna”) we earn a commission from qualifying purchases through ticketing links This commission does not entail any additional price for the user.