Alyona Antonenko

Alyona advises on franchise, management (including white-label HMAs) and lease agreements, drafts key money and development documentation, handles operational matters, and develops templates and delivers training  for in-house legal and commercial teams across EMEA.

• Advised Wyndham Hotels & Resorts on a strategic alliance with Cygnett Hotels & Resorts to launch La Quinta® by Wyndham and Registry Collection Hotels® by Wyndham brands, co-branded with Anamore (Cygnett’s five-star brand) in South Asia, targeting 60 hotels.
• Negotiated, on behalf of the owner, franchise and ancillary agreements with Marriott for Billesley Manor Hotel’s conversion to Tribute by Marriott, as well as the HMA with TROO Hospitality (the new manager).
• Led rebranding transactions for Wyndham, including a portfolio of 12 hotels across multiple jurisdictions (Austria, Canary Islands, Turkey, UK and Spain)
• Advised Wyndham on the franchise agreement with a large real estate developer in Russia for a 469-room Ramada Encore by Wyndham hotel in St Petersburg, Russia, as part of a mixed-use development.
• Acted for an owner in negotiating a hotel management agreement for a spa and golf hotel in the UK;
• Advised an owner on terminating the existing hotel management agreement with the manager and then prepared and negotiated a new HMA with a replacement manager for a Hilton Garden Inn hotel in the UK.
• Advised an owner on terminating the HMA with the outgoing manager and subsequently negotiated a new HMA with a replacement manager for a Holiday Inn hotel in the UK.
• Advised Wyndham on the franchise agreement for the Ramada by Wyndham hotel in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as their first hotel in the country(including coordination of all IP issues) .
• Advised Wyndham on various operational matters for hotels under different Wyndham brands in the EMEAA region.
• Advised Marriott on negotiation and successful signing of over  20 franchise agreements under various Marriott brands in the UK, Europe and Russia.
• Advised Marriott on franchise agreements for a 133-room Moxy and a 150-room Renaissance hotels in Bordeaux, France.
• Acted for  Cycas Hospitality on a hotel management agreement with Niveda Realty and Marriott International to operate the new 153-room Moxy Liverpool City Centre hotel.
• Advised Cycas Hospitality on rapid operator transition for the Staybridge Suites and Indigo hotels in Dundee by negotiating a new HMA and ancillary agreements under tight deadlines
• Advised Marriott on development of a single-envelope, 144-room Moxy hotel and a 92-room extended-stay Residence Inn hotel in Slough, UK, to be operated by Cycas Hospitality and leased by Slough Borough Council.
• Negotiated a management agreement for  serviced apartments in London (St. Paul) for Jurny, Inc. enabling it to implement  pioneering proprietary technology (SaaS-based management solutions) , acting for Clockwork Group.
• Advised IHG in negotiations on a multiple development agreement with a major developer in Russia, for the development of 15 hotels, and the launch of the Holiday Inn Express brand throughout Russia.
• Drafted and negotiated the management services agreement and comfort letter for flexible serviced offices in Manchester, acting for one of the largest real estate management companies in the UK.

Alyona advises on a wide range of commercial matters, including franchise and management agreements in relation to commercial premises (Offices & Restaurants & Bars) and leases, development and technical services agreements, guarantees (corporate, rental), NDAs, and complex supply and clustered services arrangements, wholesale distribution agreements, commercial agreements in the F&B and retail sectors:

• Negotiated consultancy and services agreements for luxury hotel F&B outlets, spas, wellness centres, and Michelin-starred restaurants.
• Templates (franchise and management agreements).
• Training on Franchise and Hotel Management agreements to in-house commercial teams and C-suite.

In the past Alyona advised on a wide range of corporate matters:

• Provided strategic legal advice on mergers and acquisitions, group reorganisations, private equity investments, and joint ventures, including for public and private companies.
• Drafted and negotiated shareholder agreements and constitutional documentation for various corporate clients, including UK REITs, life sciences companies, and international financial advisory firms.
• Led due diligence and structured complex transactions involving cross-border elements and regulatory compliance.
• Delivered legal support to in-house teams, including precedent management and regulatory submissions.

Alyona advises on consultancy and services agreements for luxury hotel F&B outlets, spas, wellness centres, and Michelin-starred restaurants, ensuring alignment of commercial, operational, and brand interests across complex hospitality projects.

• Developed and implemented hospitality contracts for award-winning chefs and Michelin-starred concepts (F&B areas at Raffles hotel with Chef Mauro Colagreco, including a Michelin star restaurant).
• Negotiated F&B consultancy and operational agreements for luxury hotels and high-profile restaurateurs   (Hotel Indigo in Chester for for the restaurateur and chef Mike Robinson).

Alyona advises major retail and F&B clients on licensing, supply, and distribution agreements, franchising, and brand protection.

• Advised on the licensing, services and branding agreement for Spa (Guerlain) at Raffles hotel.
• Drafted a license agreement for the gym (Pillar) at Raffles hotel.
• Advised on the services agreement for the creation of original perfume compositions for the Raffles hotel.
• Developed the supply agreement template of luxury hotel amenity products for Vanity Group.

Recommended in Lexology Index: Global Leader – Hospitality 2022- – 2024

Member of the Energy & Environmental Alliance Legal Committee (EEA) supporting ESG legal frameworks for the hospitality industry.