The Legal 500

Ali Sharif Zu’bi Advocates & Legal Consultants’ marketing-leading size and ‘international service levels’ ensure that it is ‘the go-to firm for corporate matters in Jordan’. Sources praise the team’s ‘regional knowledge, commercial advice and good response times’. Clients include global investment banks, infrastructure funds and multinational corporations. Among recent mandates, it advised ACWA Power on its $160m acquisition of a majority stake in the Central Electricity Generation Company. Senior partner Sharif Ali Zu’bi is ‘a market doyen’, and Khaled Asfour is considered Jordan’s leading name for projects.

International Business Legal Associates – IBLAW has established itself as a member of Jordan’s elite group of law firms for corporate work and also has a leading IP practice. In April 2011, the team advised Philip Morris on its acquisition of the assets of a Jordanian tobacco manufacturer. Other clients include Apple and Vodafone Group. Managing partner Salaheddin Al-Bashir is a former Minister of Industry, and is appreciated for his ‘strong government links and good commercial sense’. Corporate head Mohannad Jarar is also recommended.

Corporate work is the mainstay of Khalifeh & Partners’ practice, and it receives high praise for its ‘top-calibre individuals’ including capital markets specialist Haitham Hussein, who is ‘highly commercial’ and has ‘superb international experience’ gained during a ten-year stint at top firms in London. Corporate and commercial head Ala’ Khalifeh is recommended for his ‘strong market knowledge’. Recent highlights include advising a power company on the $75m sale of a controlling stake.

Managing partner Thaer Najdawi heads A & T Najdawi Law Office’s international business law department, which has extensive experience advising multinational corporations on contentious issues. The firm also has notable regulatory expertise, where clients include the Natural Resources Authority and the Executive Privatisation Commission.

Al Tamimi & Company advised Jordanian investment bank Capital Investments on Al Rajhi Cement Private Shareholding Company’s JOD85m sukuk – notable as the first sukuk issuance in Jordan. Khaled Saqqaf is recommended for his ‘excellent knowledge in local and international law’, and his ‘strong regional contact network’.

Nabulsi & Associates has an excellent reputation for telecoms work – with clients including Zain Jordan, Motorola and France Telecom. Energy and construction are also notable areas of experience. Rand Hannun is ‘a strong corporate lawyer’, and managing partner Omar Nabulsi is also highly regarded.

Obeidat & Freihat is ‘one of the most respected names in Jordan’, with its lawyers admired for their ‘strong depth of local knowledge coloured by good regional and international experience’. Recent work includes advising on the Aqaba port development. Managing partner Thamer Obeidat is widely acknowledged as being ‘among the top choice for projects work’, and Ward Tarawneh is also recommended.

‘Responsive and commercial firm’ Rajai K.W. Dajani & Associates recently advised on the establishment of a joint venture between MESC Specialized Cables, Fujikura Limited and JNC Cables. The firm enjoys a close relationship with White & Case LLP, which is particularly beneficial on the energy and infrastructure side. Yousef Khalilieh is recommended.

Safwan Moubaydeen Law Firm in association with SNR Denton is one of a small circle of firms in Jordan to have a formal relationship with an international network, ensuring a good roster of multinational clients. The firm acts as local counsel to Adidas Levant on all regulatory and corporate matters, and recently advised Citibank on providing $600m term facilities to Coca-Cola Icecek. Safwan Moubaydeen and Ala’ Musleh are recommended.

Abdul Karim Al Fauri & Associates has substantial experience acting for the Jordanian government and has close links with Trowers & Hamlins LLP, in conjunction with which it has been advising the government on the structuring and negotiation of a major oil shale concession agreement with Karak International Oil.

Abunameh & Partners Law Firm advised an Iraqi bank in establishing and structuring an IT centre in Amman for the purpose of controlling and managing its operations remotely. In 2011, the firm hired Ahmed Naiemat, the former general counsel of the Jordanian Investment Board, as a partner in its corporate and projects department. Senior partner Ibrahim Abunameh is successfully widening the firm’s regional focus, and it recently launched an association in Iraq to further that growth.

Beiruti Attorneys & Counselors at Law is well regarded for its corporate finance and project finance expertise, and recently advised an energy company on a $40m loan facility. Mohammad Beiruti is the main contact.

Hashem Law Office has a niche in the projects and energy sectors and advises Jordan Electricity Company, the country’s largest power company, on all its day-to-day corporate matters. The firm also has a strong construction practice, where clients include BAM Higgs & Hill and Othman Ahmad Othman. Fadi Hashem is recommended.

Energy and infrastructure are specialist areas for JC Law. Lana Salameh is recommended for her ‘calm, efficient and businesslike case management’. Co-founder Jumana Toukan joined Ali Sharif Zu’bi Advocates & Legal Consultants in 2011.

Khalaf Masa’deh & Partners has an active foreign direct investment practice that specialises in advising multinationals. Ahmad Khalaf Masa’deh is a member of the Council of the World Trade Law Association and is recommended for commercial litigation.

Saed Karajah & Associates Law Firm LLP advised Disney Corporation on a movie production in Jordan, and acted for Ayla Aviation Academy on a JOD10m bond issuance. Saed Karajah is recommended.

Sanad Law Group in association with Eversheds KSLG’s recent union has gifted the firm a readymade regional network and a strong international client list. Technology and telecoms are particularly areas of expertise, largely thanks to the experience of former Microsoft general counsel Nadim Kayyali.

A Ghniem & Partners Law Firm mainly advises local and regional clients on Jordanian law, but also recently advised several US companies in Jordan.

Experienced arbitrator and managing partner Omar Aljazy heads Aljazy & Co’s dispute resolution practice across the shipping, IP and commercial sectors. Real estate and construction are strong areas for the firm, which represents RAFCO International Real Estate.

Mubadda Dallal’s team at Dallal & Associates specialises in advising banks on corporate and finance issues – clients include Gulf Finance House and Trade Bank of Iraq – although the telecoms sector is a growing area.

Marwan Al Hussein & Sons Law Office. handles the full spread of general corporate work including M&A, joint ventures and tax advice. Marwan Al Hussein heads the practice.

Nabeel Law Offices has a strong reputation for IP, and leverages this to advise major pharmaceuticals and healthcare companies – such as Novo Nordisk – on general corporate matters. Tareef Nabeel is recommended.

Boutique firm Petra for Law and Intellectual Property specialises in IP advice, but also handles general corporate work such as joint venture agreements and smaller acquisitions.

Wazani Law Firm is better known for its contentious work but also attracts a significant number of corporate mandates including company formations and the establishment of joint ventures.