Dentons has advised London-based Education group Riverston on its joint venture arrangement with Dubai-based Tarbia (part of Daud Investments and the Belhasa Group) to establish Riverston throughout the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The new company, Riverston Tarbia LLC, will operate multiple Riverston Children Centres and early intervention nurseries initially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and thereafter in other GCC states, a specialist Riverston Training Academy, and a number of new Riverston International Schools throughout the territory.

Riverston specialises in providing deliberately non-selective but high quality integrated and inclusive personalised education with a focus on students with special educational needs.

Partner Babette Marzheuser-Wood, who led the deal, commented, "Dentons was delighted to have worked with Riverston on this joint venture to support the needs of students with special educational needs.

"We have a genuine commitment to educational institutions and a reputation for proactive representation of schools, colleges and universities, education associations and foundations, and other education-related organisations. We have been advising educators for many years on their international projects and have in-depth knowledge of the regulatory, transactional and business needs of companies operation in the education sector."

Professor Michael Lewis, Executive Chairman of the Riverston Group said, "I am delighted, after considerable research into the Gulf education market over many years, to have signed an agreement with Tarbia, part of two of the largest and most exciting business groups in the GCC. That they have chosen Riverston as their partners in their first venture into the GCC education market is testament to the excellence Riverston provides in the niche ‘non-selective’ marketplace. The success we have enjoyed in supporting UK students with mild/moderate special educational needs within a mainstream setting has been considerable, and to be able to take our proven model and open multiple facilities throughout the Gulf with such an enthusiastic local partner is hugely exciting’.