Today a New Route to Global Markets: Saudi Arabia’s Special Economic Zones – Incentives and Economic Substance Requirements
In this article, Steeve Zouein and Muhanad Zeitounie explore how Saudi Arabia’s Special Economic Zones are opening new routes to global markets and offering attractive incentives for foreign investors. They explain that while the opportunities are significant, businesses must demonstrate genuine economic substance in the Kingdom to fully benefit from the SEZ framework.
Force Majeure and Contractual Obligations in the Gulf: What Businesses Need to Know
In this article, Carl Daou and Mona Mirza examine how force majeure operates across Gulf jurisdictions and why it is often misunderstood as a broad escape from contractual obligations. The piece highlights that impossibility — not difficulty or cost — is the true legal threshold, and that procedural discipline is as critical as substantive rights. It further explores how the UAE’s demonstrated governmental and infrastructural continuity raises the bar for invoking force majeure, urging businesses to adopt a more precise, evidence-based approach when navigating disruption.
The War in the Middle East may Affect the Performance of Commercial Contracts
The war in the Middle East is affecting not only human life but also commercial, international commercial contracts and investment decisions. Dr. Umut Metin, Managing Partner of EPTALEX MTN, shared important assessments with the Turkish media (IHA) regarding the potential legal implications of war on commercial contracts and international business relations.
Invest in the Future: Saudi Arabia’s Tax Reforms Pave the Way for Global Growth
Our Senior Associate, Steeve Zouein, highlights Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive tax and investment reforms under Vision 2030, designed to strengthen its position as a global hub for business and foreign investment.
The Legal Battle Over AI-Generated Art and Intellectual Property Rights
In this article, our Junior Associate Jamil Ghssoub explores how U.S. copyright act applies to the case of Disney, Marvel, Universal and others vs. AI image generator Midjourney, while also comparing regional copyright protections in Lebanon, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
Revolutionizing the Saudi Business Landscape: New Commercial Registration and Trade Name Laws
No more complicated CR processes or branch-by-branch bureaucracies. From Arabized trade names and pre-incorporation protections to the streamlined Single National Commercial Registration (SNCR), these updates unify the commercial registry, simplifying company tracking and management like never before by encompassing all branches and replacing the previous requirement for separate registrations per branch.
Chanel Slingbacks are back in the spotlight—not on the Runway, but at the center of a legal battle over claims of “Parasitism.”
In December 2020, Chanel claimed that Jonak was engaging in Parasitism by creating products that closely mimicked Chanel’s designs, therefore, leveraging Chanel’s established brand image to attract consumers.
The legal repercussions of the ongoing events in the Middle East on contractual obligations
he ongoing conflict in the Middle East is raising important legal questions around contract enforceability. How do such situations affect contractual obligations and liability? From the legal interpretation of Force Majeure under Lebanese law to the role of good faith, this article unpacks the complex impact of war on contracts and highlights the need for well-drafted Force Majeure clauses to navigate these turbulent times.
American Girl vs Zembrka, A Fight for a Unique Doll Identity
In March 2021, the American dollmaker “American Girl” LLC filed a lawsuit against the Chinese company “Zembrka,” accusing them of counterfeiting and trademark infringement.
The Cloud is down: any compensation?
In this article, Dr. Aline Tanielian explores the legal challenges and potential hurdles faced by companies seeking compensation for losses caused by a Cloud outage. She delves into the implications of service provider terms and the critical need for legal and technical safeguards in the ever-reliant digital landscape.