About us

We are committed to the Middle East and have had a continuous presence here for over 30 years.

We have offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain and have extensive experience working in Saudi Arabia. We advise our client base of regional and international financial institutions and companies in their activities across the GCC and internationally.

We have over 60 lawyers based throughout the Middle East and offer expertise in corporate law, banking and Islamic finance, project finance, infrastructure, real estate, construction and dispute resolution. We are one of the largest and most highly regarded international law firms in the region.

We act for, and alongside, international financial institutions such as HSBC, RBS, Standard Chartered, JP Morgan and Rothschild, regional financial Institutions such as Emirates NBD, private equity players such as Abraaj Capital and corporates such as DP World.

We are committed to building a team of locally qualified lawyers and ensuring that all our lawyers understand, appreciate and can advise on key local law issues.

We advise on projects in:

Financial Institutions

Assisted with the Middle East aspects of the sale of HSBC Insurance Brokers Limited, and related businesses and companies within the HSBC Group, to MMC UK Group Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.

Energy

Advising the commercial banks and ECAs (including KEXIM and China Exim) on their support for a bidding consortium in relation to the Power and Water Purchase Agreement, the EPC Contract, the Operation and Maintenance Agreement and related documents.

Infrastructure, mining and commodities

Advising the lenders to the IRTIBAAT Consortium (constituted of Macquarie Capital/Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank/Al Jaber Transport/Besix/Mouchel Middle East/Transfield Services International) in relation to its bid for the UAE’s first PPP road project, the US$2.65 billion Mafraq to Ghweifat highway. The road project will serve as a strategic link between the UAE and neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The bid financing package included financing from a variety of sources.

Transport

Advised KFH as Islamic mezzanine debt provider on two highly structured ship financings for Ocean Tankers and Wellard Holdings. The structures combined conventional senior debt and Islamic mezzanine debt using head charter / sub charter arrangements, and instead of the put and call options relating to the underlying ijara asset (i.e. the vessel), the put and call option related to the shares in the head charterer.

Technology and innovation

Advising Dubai-based Riyada Managers Limited, the SME investment platform of Abraaj Capital, on its investment in Majal Holdings Limited, the parent company of IT consulting and software solutions provider E3 FZ-LLC.