Agency

Our Team has specialized in agency, distribution, and franchising matters for decades and has witnessed the oscillation of the UAE agency related legislation and the impact that the numerous legislative changes have had on foreign brands during the last three decades.

Supported closely by the Hadef & Partners Dispute Resolution Team, our Agency, Distribution, and Franchising Team can provide specific advice on the impact of the UAE agency laws on brands looking to enter into or currently the subject of franchise, distribution, and agency arrangements in the UAE.

Because we understand the legal aspects and background in depth, our team can assist with the entire life cycle of a distribution relationship, from drafting the relationship documents to the termination of the relationship. In addition to such specialist advice, our Corporate Team can assist with setting up legal structures in the UAE, our Regulatory & Licensing Team can advise on the regulatory and licensing regime affecting the distribution and sale of products and services in the UAE and our Trade Marks & Brand Protection Team can advise on how to protect a brand’s intellectual property portfolio when doing business in the UAE.

• Advising a premium water distributor regarding its local agency arrangements, including advising on the contentious termination of the incumbent agent, drafting a new distribution template addressing distribution, exclusivity, targets, product import, sale and purchase, and other relevant matters, and assisting with the appointment of a new agent.
• Drafting a template distribution agreement for a premium non-alcoholic drinks distributor seeking to create a network within the UAE to distribute its products to various entertainment venues and customers within the premium hospitality sector.
• Advising a local UAE distributor regarding its appointment by an international brand to distribute ATMs exclusively through the UAE.
• Advising an international premium gym provider on the contentious termination of its area (regional) franchise with a UAE-based master franchisee.
• Advising an international polyurethane foam products provider in relation to the documentation to be entered into with a UAE-based manufacturing and distribution company.
• Assisting an international oil and gas drilling fleet provider with rebutting its appointed distributor’s assertions that it could not exercise its contractual termination at will right.
• Advising a British multinational consumer goods company on its local distribution arrangements, UAE labelling and import and export regulatory matters.