Mishcon De Reya Advises Group François On Dubai Joint Venture With Keybourne Hospitality Group

(MENAFN- Mid-East Info) Mishcon Dubai supports partnership behind Café François's planned DIFC opening in early 2027 Borderless Finance. AI-Native.

Your digital companion for smarter everyday choices. Built for how you live, earn, and grow. Move money at your pace with AI-powered finance, all in one tap.

Join the waiting list. Earn

Mishcon de Reya is advising Group François, the group behind London restaurants Maison François and Café François, on its joint venture with Keybourne Hospitality Group to bring Café François to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in early 2027.

The planned opening marks a further step in Group François' international expansion, building on its established presence in London. Beyond the Dubai launch, the joint venture also provides a framework for the partners' wider ambitions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Building upon its existing relationship with Group François in the UK, Mishcon de Reya is advising on all aspects of structuring, negotiation, brand protection and implementation of the joint venture arrangements. The firm will continue to provide corporate, intellectual property and commercial legal support as the partnership develops and the partners pursue their plans for the region.

The Mishcon team was led by Sandeep Dhama, Partner in Corporate, Rob Flaws, Partner in Technology and Innovation, and Callum Blundell, Corporate Associate, working with Relationship Partner for Group François, Hayley Cross, Partner in Emerging Companies.

Sandeep Dhama commented:“It is a pleasure to work with Group François and support them on the establishment of its joint venture as they bring an established restaurant brand into a new market. This is the first in a series of transactions that the UAE team has been working on in the leisure and hospitality sector and highlights our ability to help leading brands grow their businesses internationally.”

François O'Neill, Founder, Group François commented:“This marks the third major restaurant deal I have secured with Mishcon de Reya, and it has been great to work with Callum Blundell again, having previously worked together in the UK before his move to the UAE. Sandeep Dhama, Rob Flaws and Callum have guided us through our first joint venture and our first venture outside of the UK. They steered the whole process and have been brilliant to work with. I have also worked with Hayley Cross for over eight years, making this another successful chapter in a longstanding relationship with the firm.”

About Mishcon de Reya LLP:

Mishcon de Reya is an independent law firm, which now employs over 1400 people, with more than 650 lawyers offering a wide range of legal services to companies and individuals. The firm has grown rapidly in recent years, showing more than 40% revenue growth in the past five years alone.

With presence in London, Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore and Hong Kong (through its association with Karas So LLP ), the firm services an international community of clients and provides advice in situations where the constraints of geography often do not apply.

The work the firm undertakes is cross-border, multi-jurisdictional and complex, centred around three increasingly entwined and connected sectors: the Innovation Economy, Private Wealth and Capital, and Real Estate. The firm is known as a disputes powerhouse with a formidable capacity firmwide for dispute resolution.

About Group François:

Group François is the restaurant group founded by François O'Neill alongside partners Ed Wyand (Operations) and Matthew Ryle (Executive Chef). Bringing together Maison François in St James's and Café François in Borough Yards, the group takes inspiration from the brasseries and cafés of France, with a focus on seasonal cooking and warm hospitality. Maison François opened in September 2020 as a modern French brasserie, with an all-day menu inspired by the dining institutions of Paris, Alsace and Lyon. The restaurant features an open kitchen and an in-house bakery producing fresh breads and pâtisserie. Downstairs, Frank's operates as a deli by day and a wine bar by night. Café François is an all-day French brasserie in Borough Yards, serving coffee, house-made pâtisserie and brasserie classics including rôtisserie chicken and steak frites. The restaurant and its Market Bar welcome guests throughout the week, with Saturday brunch and Sunday Roast à la Rôtisserie completing the offering.

MENAFN06112026005446012082ID1111924978