The Legal 500

Ali Sharif Zu’bi Advocates & Legal Consultants’ robust projects practice is headed by Khaled Asfour, who is praised by clients for his ‘massive experience’. Since 2010, the firm has been representing the Aqaba Petroleum Company on the financing and construction arrangements for the Aqaba oil port project and, also in connection with Aqaba, is acting for Bolloré and Bouygues Construction on its negotiations with Aqaba Development Corporation regarding the development and operation of the new general freight port. The firm recently acted for HSBC on the provision of €45m project financing to Modern Cement and Mining Co Ltd.

International Business Legal Associates – IBLAW has a strong projects and finance practice and has been heavily involved in privatisations in the country including ports and airports, most notably the development of the Aqaba port. In 2010, the firm acted for ADC in the PPP project for the new Aqaba port; and advised BNP Paribas and the Ministry of Transport in relation to the development of a national railway network on a BOT basis. Other clients in the projects sector include the Jordanian Development Zones Commission.

Khalifeh & Partners offers a robust projects practice. Khaldoun Nazer heads the firm’s energy, privatisations and infrastructure group, which is currently involved in developing the PPP programme in relation to infrastructure projects in Jordan. In 2010, the firm advised a syndicate led by CapitalBank on a JOD56m project financing to the Aqaba Container Terminal, and is acting for the Petrol Al-Aqaba Le-Idarat Wa Tashgheel Mena Al-Neft Co on the JOD80m project financing for the development of an oil jetty and related facilities at Aqaba.

A & T Najdawi Law Office has a strong projects practice and has been involved in major projects including the Queen Alia Airport and Bus Rapid Transit. The firm is currently advising on Jordan’s Abdail telecoms project. The firm has been heavily involved in the restructuring of Jordan’s aviation industry, and has been singled out by clients for its ‘high calibre with both international and local experience, and accumulated in-depth expertise with regard to advising on the implementation and monitoring of privatisation projects’.

Aljazy & Co has a strong projects practice with 2010 work including representing Jordan’s government in negotiations for the Central Jordanian Uranium Project; and advising JAEC regarding nuclear technology development in Jordan. It also represented Karak International Oil PSC in its negotiations with Jordan’s Natural Resources Authority regarding the oil shale surface retort concession agreement with the government.

Nabulsi & Associates is advising leading Estonian company Eesti Energia in connection with the oil shale project; and was local counsel to Mannai Corporation QSC in connection with its acquisition of a majority equity stake in a major Jordanian software company. The firm has been involved in notable projects including the Amman-Zarqa light railway project and the Jordanian gas transmission pipeline project.

Rajai K.W. Dajani & Associates is currently working with Clifford Chance, advising Korea Electric Power Corporation on Kepco’s bid for the ongoing Fujeij wind powered independent power plant project. The firm also advises one of the consortia bidding to purchase a 51% share of the JPRC worth $2bn. Notable clients also include StatoilHydro in its ongoing negotiations with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources for a concession for the exploitation of Al Risha gas fields.

Safwan Moubaydeen Law Firm in association with SNR Denton has a notable projects practice and is currently advising Dell Perot Systems on its pilot implementation of VistA software in Prince Hamzah Hospital and King Hussein Cancer Center. The firm is also local counsel to BPEOC in a gas exploration project in easterm Jordan, and is advising Gama on a $1.1bn water pump project from the Disi aquifer. Other notable clients include Housing Bank for Trade and Finance and HSBC.

Abdul Karim Al Fauri & Associates has a strong projects and energy practice working in association with Trowers & Hamlins LLP. The firm advises the Privatisation Commission on projects and disputes, and recently completed a draft of the new Petroleum Law currently before parliament. The firm is currently advising the Jordanian government on a proposed pipeline across Jordan to Aqaba port. It is also advising on the $25bn oil shale concession with Shell; and is advising on the $360m Arab Gas project involving the pipeline from Egypt to Jordan.

Abunameh & Partners Law Firm’s clients include Geophysical Services Centre, which it advised on an oil and gas exploration in Jordan.

Beiruti Attorneys & Counselors at Law has a strong projects practice and, in 2010, advised an oil logistics investment and operating company on the establishment of a joint venture in Egypt for an oil logistics project on a BOOT basis (initial investment $200m).

Dallal & Associates has a strong telecoms practice with past clients including Bloomberg and MWH Global.

Hashem Law Office continues in its role as lead counsel to the JEC and is currently advising it on its expansion projects including the major Disi project. The firm is legal counsel to Nippon Jordan Fertilizer Company Ltd.

JC Law’s projects teams is headed by Lana Salameh and is currently legal adviser to the International Finance Corporation in the construction of a 26km light rail transit system between Amman and Zarqa; and recently advised International Finance Corporation on a $1.8m clean production loan to Zara Investment Holding Co Ltd, the first in Jordan. The firm’s clients include Standard Chartered Bank and Boeing Capital Corporation, and the group also works closely with Fulbright & Jaworski LLP.

Khalaf Masa’deh & Partners’ energy and infrastructure team offers both international and local experience, and advised on the privatisation of the Electricity Distribution Company. On the projects front, the firm has advised on the Al-Samra IPP; a wind power project and the transportation and sale of natural gas from Egypt within Jordan.

Nabeel Law Offices was legal adviser to Hellenic Telecommunications Organization on the partial privatisation of Jordan Telecom. The firm also advised domestic companies and K&M Engineering and Consulting Group in relation to an independent project.

Sanad Law Group has a strong infrastructure and projects practice and, in 2010, advised Shuaa Capital on its acquisition of a major stake in the Al Abdali hospitality project. The firm also advised on the Aqaba port project.