The Legal 500

Ali Sharif Zu’bi Advocates & Legal Consultants is ‘usually involved in all the headline deals that hit the market’, and is excellent across the spectrum of energy, infrastructure and transport projects. The prolific Khaled Asfour is ‘undoubtedly the leading projects lawyer in Jordan’, and heads a team that has experience in advising govern-ments, banks and sponsors on project finance. It is advising the Arab Bank on the proposed $1.2bn project financing of Saraya Aqaba real estate project.

International Business Legal Associates – IBLAW’s project finance practice is noted ‘particularly for PPP-type transactions’. Tracing back to its role in the country’s original privatisation programmes, the firm is well known for its strong experience in the transport sector – notably ports and airports – but it is also advising the Ministry of Transport on the development of a national railway network. Other clients include banks, sponsors and constructions companies. Salaheddin Al-Bashir is recommended.

Khaldoun Nazer heads Khalifeh & Partners’ energy, privatisations and infrastructure group, which is praised for its ‘good response times, committed service and unrivalled market knowledge’. Conventional and renewable energy projects are areas of expertise for the team, which also frequently handles infrastructure work, such as advising the Jordanian government on the Jordan Red Sea project.

A & T Najdawi Law Office provides ‘thorough and sensible advice’, particularly on telecoms projects, and is also seeing increasing activity in Iraq. ‘Jordan’s leading litigator’ Thaer Najdawi heads the team, and is well known for his ‘strong blend of local experience tempered with international knowledge’.

Aljazy & Co’s projects practice has a strong focus on energy and natural resources, including nuclear, mining and oil and gas. The firm advised the Jordanian government on negotiations for the Central Jordanian Uranium Project. Team head Omar Aljazy is recommended.

Nabulsi & Associates has a strong reputation for infrastructure projects, with experience across a wide range of BOT and PPP-type structures, and it also has a good track record in oil and gas work, and was involved in the Jordanian gas transmission pipeline project. Additionally, corporate specialist Zaid Nabulsi attracts praise for his telecoms knowledge, and has acted for companies such as Zain and Orange Mobile. Founding partner Omar Nabulsi is a ‘safe pair of hands’.

Rajai K.W. Dajani & Associates’ close relationship with global project finance power-house White & Case LLP has seen it play a role in some of the largest energy and infrastructure projects in the country. Among recent transactions, it advised StatoilHydro on its negotiations with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to obtain a concession for the exploitation of the Al Risha gas fields. Yousef Khalilieh is recommended for his ‘good commercial sense and strong grip on regional issues’.

Safwan Moubaydeen Law Firm in association with SNR Denton leverages its network’s strong reputation for oil and gas matters to advise major global energy and oil and gas companies such as BP on local projects. Infrastructure is also an active area, and the firm is advising Gama Guc Sistemleri Mühendislik ve Taahhüt on a $1.1bn project to pump water from Disi, on the Jordan-Saudi Arabia border, to Amman and other cities. Safwan Moubaydeen heads the team.

Sanad Law Group in association with Eversheds KSLG advises on a good mix of conventional and alternative energy projects, and also handles regulatory and government strategy matters. Nadim Kayyali’s team recently provided local law advice on two US feasibility studies regarding two proposed solar energy projects.

Abdul Karim Al Fauri & Associates’ track record is second to none for gas pipeline projects, and it recently advised the Jordanian government on a proposed pipeline across Jordan to Aqaba port. The firm has also worked alongside international partner Trowers & Hamlins LLP to advise the government of Jordan on structuring its oil shale concessions.

Abunameh & Partners Law Firm advised Canadian contractor SiteCast Construction on a military housing project in Jordan, and also acts for Geophysical Services Company. Senior partner Ibrahim Abunameh is the main contact.

Projects work is the mainstay of Beiruti Attorneys & Counselors at Law’s practice, and the firm has deep experience in oil and gas work through corporate finance and projects specialist Mohammad Beiruti. Recent clients include Jordanian Egyptian Fajr for Natural Gas Transmission & Supply Company.

Dallal & Associates’ expertise in TMT has translated into a solid flow of telecoms and IT-related projects. Clients include Bloomberg and public sector clients, such as advising govern-ment departments on IT strategy.

Hashem Law Office continues to advise Nippon Jordan Fertilizer Company on project and construction matters, and is also retained to provide day-to-day advice to the Pioneer Electricity Company, which has a concession to generate and distribute electricity for most of Jordan.

At JC Law, Lana Salameh is highly recommended for projects work and advised the IFC on the proposed construction of a light rail transit system between Amman and Zarqa. Co-founder Jumana Toukan joined Ali Sharif Zu’bi Advocates & Legal Consultants in 2011.

Khalaf Masa’deh & Partners is ‘a well-known name for projects work due to its strong involvement in Jordan’s privatisation programmes’. The firm has a good reputation locally, and remains a top choice for the Jordanian government on infrastructure matters.

Nabeel Law Offices focuses on telecoms, but has also advised private companies on IPP projects. Tareef Nabeel heads the team.