The Legal 500

Charles Russell LLP provides a ‘superb service’ and ‘clear, concise and well-researched advice’. It ‘knows and understands its business’, and is ‘always focused on the needs of the client’. Clients also praise the firm’s ‘interest in forming long-term partnerships over short-term gains’, and its ‘ability to call on strategic partners in a wide range of jurisdictions’. Tom Briggs is ‘a calm and measured presence on transactions’, and real estate and construction expert Simon Green is ‘an up-and-coming star’ who gives ‘first-class advice’. The team advised Bahrain Real Estate Investment Company (Edamah) in relation to numerous corporate, financial and commercial matters, including various joint venture arrangements.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is one of the main advisers to the government of Bahrain. In 2012, the team advised the Ministry of Finance on the sale of a 40% stake in Bahrain’s Al Hidd power and water plant to Malaysian independent power producer Malakoff Corporation Berhad. Harnek Shoker is ‘an excellent lawyer’ who maintains ‘excellent relationships with other law firms, enabling transactions to be completed efficiently and in a timely manner’.

Recent work for the corporate and M&A team at Trowers & Hamlins includes representing three banks – Capivest, Capital Management House and Elaf Bank – on their landmark $400m merger and integration. Bill Jefferies is the lead partner.

Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP advised Bahrain Islamic Bank as fund company and placing agent on the setting up of retail fund Bahrain Islamic Money Market Fund. Joanne Emmerson Taqi heads the practice.

With a solid reputation as one of the best local firms in the Bahraini market, ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners advises local and international companies, and is also instructed by international law firms seeking in-depth local knowledge.

EAH Law was appointed as local counsel to the National Bank of Bahrain and the Ministry of Finance as sponsors of a $500m food development fund, which is to be established in Bahrain to support local development of the agricultural sector. It also advised Arcapita on Bahraini law relating to its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the US.

Hassan Radhi & Associates remains a well-respected name for corporate, dispute resolution and finance work in Bahrain.

Haya Rashed Al Khalifa Attorneys at Law & Legal Consultants handled numerous high-profile deals, notably acting as Bahraini legal counsel to Sberbank on its $3.53bn acquisition of Turkey’s DenizBank from Dexia.

Zeenat al Mansoori & Associates has strong corporate capabilities and delivers ‘quality, timely and consistent support’. It advised Bahrain Labour Fund in relation to its private sector programmes, which saw the injection of more than $440m into the private sector. Amel Al Aseeri is the key figure for corporate matters.

Newly merged firm Zu’bi & Partners, Attorneys & Legal Consultants acted as Bahraini counsel for a major private equity firm on the $1bn acquisition of a stake in a listed Bahraini bank.