The Legal 500

A & T Najdawi Law Office’s strong corporate and commercial practice is complemented by a robust litigation and arbitration practice under the headship of experienced litigator Thaer Najdawi. In 2010, the firm advised Orange (Jordan) on its negotiations with Jordan Telecom Group, and is legal adviser to the National Resources Authority. The firm, praised by clients as ‘reliable and trustworthy’, has been appointed to advise and reform the Jordanian fiscal legislative system, and has been appointed as counsel to the Executive Privatisation Commission supporting the EU-funded Public Private Partnership Programme in Jordan.

Four-partner Ali Sharif Zu’bi Advocates & Legal Consultants is Jordan’s largest firm, with a robust corporate practice, headed by Ali Sharif Zu’bi, that acts for OPIC, HSBC and the Aqaba Petroleum Company. The firm, praised by clients for its ‘appropriateness of advice, depth of strength, and value for money’, is currently advising a major international power company in connection with the acquisition of a majority stake in a Jordanian power producer; and has acted for the Transport and Warehousing Group Co KSC (the City Group) on its proposed acquisition of a controlling interest in the City of Amman’s public bus company. The firm also acts for JPMC on two separate acquisitions of controlling stakes (value $500m) in two fertiliser and chemical companies.

International Business Legal Associates – IBLAW, a five-partner firm founded by Jordan’s Foreign Minister Salaheddin Al-Bashir, who has recently rejoined the firm, is expanding with additional lawyers and has seen a significant increase in its corporate activity with clients that include Apple, Vodafone Group plc and Nissan Motor. The firm recently advised Business Park Company on the establishment of Amman’s King Hussein Business Park Development Zone, and, in association with Clifford Chance, represented JMC in the sale of a majority stake in the company. The firm has a strong IP practice prosecuting trade mark cases in the domestic courts, and drafted Jordan’s TRIPS-compliant IP legislation. Major banking clients include Bank of Jordan and Western Union.

Four-partner firm Khalifeh & Partners continues to expand and has a leading energy and infrastructure practice. The firm’s enviable client list includes Kingdom Electricity Energy Investments PSC. The firm works closely with international firms including Allen & Overy LLP, Shearman & Sterling LLP and Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. Haitham Hussein, who spent ten years with two international London firms, is an experienced corporate and banking lawyer and is singled out by clients for his capital markets expertise and for providing ‘value for money and innovative thinking’. The firm’s recent work includes advising the government on a $750m debut issue of sovereign Eurobonds, the largest in Jordan’s history, while it is currently advising a Jordanian listed company on a $78m investment in a medical city project in Instanbul.

Al Tamimi & Company opened its Jordan practice in 2008 and now has five lawyers. The firm, headed by Khaled Saqqaf, offers expertise in Islamic finance and maritime law, and frequently advise clients on integrated cross border corporate work. In 2010, the firm advised Petra Aluminium on the $30m restructuring of Petra Group, and advised ABB on due diligence matters. The firm was recently appointed to the panel of Standard Chartered Bank in Jordan and the Arab Potash Company and is developing its M&A practice.

Three-partner firm Nabulsi & Associates is headed by Omar Nabulsi, who has held a number of jobs in government. The firm has a working relationship with UK firm Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP and its well-known banking and finance practice also advises on construction, and offers a specialist litigation practice. The firm is local counsel to Worley Parsons and provides legal advice to the JAEC on nuclear energy regulations. Clients include Zain Jordan and recently won a major competition dispute for the company before Jordan’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission.

Rajai K.W. Dajani & Associates, a corporate firm headed by partner Yousef Khalilieh, is the local representative of White & Case LLP. The firm is involved in major transactions including advising on Yahoo!’s restructuring and acquisition of Maktoob.com; and represents the US government development agency, Millennium Challenge Corporation, on its funding to qualifying countries for economic and infrastructure development in Jordan.

Safwan Moubaydeen Law Firm in association with SNR Denton is an 11-lawyer firm working closely in partnership with international firm SNR Denton. The firm represents Adidas Levant as local counsel; and Great Amman Municipality in the Wadi Amman initiative – the largest single development of its kind in Amman for many years. It recently advised Riverhawk Worldwide LLC on a joint venture agreement with King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) on the AMP-137 advanced multi-mission platform vessels.

A Ghniem & Partners Law Firm is a nine-partner corporate practice advising local and regional clients. The firm is currently advising a foreign bank on a joint venture with German and Gulf investors; and advising on an agency agreement to five large US companies in Jordan. The firm also has litigation expertise.

Abdul Karim Al Fauri & Associates is a three-partner firm with extensive experience in the energy sector. It has a close relationship with the Jordanian government and is currently advising the Ministry of Finance on Jordan’s fiscal reforms. The firm has a formal association with Trowers & Hamlins LLP, where name partner Abdul Karim al Fauri spent ten years. Prominent clients include Bloomberg and Visa.

Full-service Abunameh & Partners Law Firm has three partners, headed by Ibrahim Abunameh, with notable local and regional clients including Geophysical Services Center Ltd and Dead Sea Bazar Co. The firm recently advised Al Karmel Aviation on a major aircraft lease agreement. The firm offers expertise in arbitration.

Three-partner firm Aljazy & Co has recruited additional lawyers in the past year, reflecting a growing practice headed by experienced arbitrator Omar Aljazy. The firm’s corporate practice recently represented Nautilus trust in the Middle East in connection with the registration of offshore companies in Jersey; and represented Greek shipowner Angelson Investment and Development Inc in the Jordanian courts in a major shipping case involving an LPG carrier fire. Ibrahim Aljazy has a strong practice in public international law. The firm has a robust IP practice led by Omar Aljazy, a board member of the Arab Society of Intellectual Property and lecturer in IP at Jordan’s University.

Three-partner Beiruti Attorneys & Counselors at Law, headed by Mohammad Beiruti, advises multinational corporations on their business activities in Jordan. In 2010, the firm advised a major borrower on a $40m medium-term loan, and advised a regional investment group on several acquisition deals. The firm also offers arbitration expertise, including recently acting for a government-owned company in an ICC arbitration.

Dallal & Associates offers a strong corporate, banking and finance practice, with expertise in Islamic finance. The firm, headed by Mubadda Dallal, has acted for Gulf Finance House, Trade Bank of Iraq and Bloomberg.

Corporate firm Hashem Law Office, headed by Rami Hashem, also has a strong litigation practice, and recently won a major ICC construction arbitration worth more than $140m, involving the Jordan Magnesia Company, acting in partnership with Mayer Brown International LLP. Fadi Hashem is a board member of insurance company Al Manara.

JC Law had a healthy 2010, particularly in the corporate sector and is cementing its reputation in the legal market after just three years. The firm is advising Pinsent Masons and Mazars on the implications of PPPs in Jordan in a study financed by the EIB. The firm’s lawyers are praised by clients as being ‘very responsive’ and ‘their industry and business acumen is comprehensive’. Clients also say the firm’s ‘follow-up and hands-on skills are exceptional’.

Karajah & Associates Law Firm has been boosted with the arrival of two additional lawyers. Its corporate practice is headed by Salim al Kopti and recently advised on the high-value underwriting of debt securities of the Ayla Aviation Academy. Other notable corporate clients include Luminos Group and Jordan Investment Trust P.L.C (Jordanvest). The firm also offers Islamic banking and finance experience, and dispute resolution expertise. Saed Karajah is a board member on the Jordan River Foundation, one of Jordan’s most prominent NGOs.

Khalaf Masa’deh & Partners is a leading full-service corporate firm, headed by litigator Ahmad Khalaf Masa’deh, and is a member of the Council of the World Trade Law Association. A particular area of expertise for the firm is investment and international trade law. Clients include both regional and international names such as Pharma Globe Ltd and Royal Jordanian Air Academy.

Marwan Al Hussein & Sons Law Office. is a three-partner commercial practice with working relationships with law firms internationally, including in the US.

Nabeel Law Offices has a strong banking and finance practice and offers expertise in both labour law and litigation.

Commercial firm Obeidat & Freihat is headed by Thamer Obeidat, founder of Jordanian company IP Matters, and a member of Jordan’s National Task Force on e-Government.

Full-service firm Petra for Law and Intellectual Property also offers a strong IP practice. The firm advised on the $19m loan for a leading local manufacturing company from the IFC, and acts for local and regional firms.

Five-partner firm Sanad Law Group had a busy 2010, particularly in M&A work. In 2010, the firm advised Accelerator Technology Holdings (and international partners) on a $100m shari’ah-compliant fund; and advised on the establishment of a $30m development company focusing on Jordanian entrepreneurs. The firm also advised a Jordan-based regional oil company on its investments in various regional countries. The firm has a working association with Dubai firm Khasawneh & Associates Legal Consultants.

Wazani Law Firm is a seven-lawyer corporate firm with a strong arbitration practice. In late 2010, Rateb Wazani was appointed a judge at Jordan’s Court of Cassation. The firm is a member at ICC Jordan, and ICSID International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes, World Bank, Washington.