Whitewell advises on the acquisition of Encore Theatre

Whitewell has advised Antonio Diaz´s group of companies (artistically known as “El Mago Pop”) on the acquisition of Encore Theatre. This will give Antonio Díaz a base of operations in the United States where he will be able to programme his show and prepare new show formats for his various american projects (mainly on Broadway but also in other major american cities).

This operation has been advised by Whitewell (Spain) and Husch Blackwell (USA). The spanish team has been led by Morad Maanan (partner) and Borja Villacañas (partner). The USA Husch Blackwell team has been led by Andrew Hodgson and supported by Bert Seefeldt and Aaron Chickos.

Morad Maanan, partner at Whitewell Legal, has been in charge of leading this operation. He holds a degree in Law from the University of Granada, a Master’s Degree in Business Law and Legal Practice from the Business School of the CEU San Pablo University, a Course in Business Administration from Imperial College Business School and legal and business studies at the Escuela de Empresa (EAE). He has developed his professional career in several leading international law firms, such as Clifford Chance, Roca Junyent and Carles Cuesta.

He has been recognised as one of the “Top 50 Iberian Lawyer Rising Stars” in Spain and Portugal (Iberian Lawyer, 2020) and combines his professional activity with teaching, giving classes in some of the most prestigious Spanish universities (CEU San Pablo, University of Navarra and ISDE Law Business School, among others).

He specialises in M&A and corporate law, and also intervenes in commercial litigation and corporate disputes, as well as in public law and regulated sectors. He has participated in different transactions advising clients, both public and private, in matters related to the real estate market, such as acquisition, refurbishment, commercialisation (sale and lease) and transfer of all types of real estate.

Borja Villacañas is graduate from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Master’s Degree in Access to the Legal Profession from the Universidad Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE) and Master’s Degree in Business Law (ICADE – DEUSTO). He has developed his professional career in several national law firms, such as Rodríguez Piñero y Cebrían, Grupo Vilde and Carles Cuesta.

He is specialised in litigation and conflict resolution, as well as intervening in insolvencies and restructurings, and in commercial transactions. He has been involved in litigation before various courts and in numerous insolvency and restructuring proceedings involving national and international groups of companies and individuals.

The purchase of the Encore Theatre, one of the main theatres in Branson (considered in America as the “family Las Vegas”, with about 12 million visitors a year), with a surface of 9,000 square metres and 2,800 seats. In Branson, Antonio Diaz will have business neighbours such as Tiger Woods and Dolly Parton.

With the acquisition of the Encore Theatre (which will be renamed “Branson Magic Theatre”), Antonio Díaz will have a base of operations in the United States where he can programme his show and prepare new show formats for his various American projects (mainly on Broadway but also in other major American cities).