Innovative law firm Temple Bright has advised YOO Hotels & Resorts on a strategic alliance which gives the international hotels group a foothold in the South American market.
As a result of the deal between YOO Hotels and InterCity Hotels, five hotels will be developed in Brazil over the next five years under the new design-led YOO2 brand.
YOO2 is a luxury offering aimed at global travellers searching for ‘local soul’. YOO2 hotels are tailored to reflect the quality of the location and the Brazilian deal enables the launch of the first clutch of YOO2 hotels in a vibrant and exotic location. 
In addition to its alliance with InterCity Hotels in Brazil, YOO Hotels & Resorts will be announcing several other hotels projects in various countries in the coming months, including projects in Bali, the Philippines, St Vincent and Thailand.
YOO Hotels & Resorts CEO Marco Nijhof said: “We are excited to see the YOO2 brand launching in the Brazilian market. South America is a natural first step for a brand associated with eclectic design and a special creative flavour.
“We are especially delighted to be launching this initiative with InterCity, in our view the perfect partner to bring YOO2 to life in Brazil.
“We were advised on this deal by our longstanding legal partner David Sanson, pictured, who recently moved to Temple Bright in Shoreditch. David has been able to give us more dedicated attention as a result of his move and I believe his new firm is justified in considering itself the adviser of choice for innovative, high-growth businesses like ours.”
David Sanson added: “YOO Hotels is a dynamic operation which is expanding fast in the global hotels market, with the Brazilian launch of YOO2 being a pivotal move. I feel greatly privileged to be involved in the group’s Executive Committee and to have input on strategy. This is an enhanced role for a lawyer enabled by the flexibility of Temple Bright’s business model.”
Temple Bright has adopted a groundbreaking partner-only model which enables fixed pricing and hands-on involvement from experienced lawyers on all aspects of clients’ affairs. The firm has been appointed by YOO Hotels & Resorts as legal counsel to the group, and will be working closely with it on hotel development projects in jurisdictions around the world.
Temple Bright co-founder Tim Summers said: “YOO Hotels has the distinction of being our first global hospitality and leisure client. This is to the credit of David Sanson, a hotels specialist par excellence who is leading our practice in this sector.
“Since launching in Bristol in 2010 and opening our London office in 2013, we have seen a steady development of Temple Bright’s profile and aspirations. This international deal is further evidence that we can compete and operate effectively in a market normally reserved for City law firms.
“We believe that among the current group of UK firms structured along non-traditional lines, we are the only one regularly doing City level deals of this kind going head to head with the big names.”
