The Legal 500

Headed by the ‘very skilled and experienced’ Paul Sheridan, SNR Denton’s two-partner team continues to be engaged in a raft of energy-related corporate transactions. Notably, the team advised the state-owned Oman Oil on its $80m bid for AES Barka, the owner and operator of one of Oman’s independent power and water plants. Other work includes representing Indsil Hydro Power and Manganese Limited (an Indian company) on their joint venture with Al Tamman Trading Establishment to build and operate a chrome smelter plant in Oman. Other clients include Oman Air, Suhail Bahwan Group Holding, Oman Methanol and Club Mediterranee.

With thirty years’ experience in the region, Trowers & Hamlins is the oldest of the international firms in Oman, and during that time has developed robust and close knit ties with international companies active in the region, as well as local businesses and senior government officials. Team head Charles Schofield is hugely well respected and recently advised ONIC Holdings on the $50m sale of Oman’s largest insurance company, Al Ahlia Insurance Company, to Royal Sun Alliance.

Al Busaidy, Mansoor Jamal & Co is involved in a mix of day-to-day commercial work, establishment of businesses in the region and big-ticket M&A mandates for both domestic and international corporates. Overseen by the highly revered and ‘very experienced’ and ‘knowledgeable’ Mansoor Jamal Malik, the team recently acted for Jindal Steel & Power on its $464m acquisition of Shadeed Iron & Steel from Al Gaith Holding. Malik was also at the forefront of one of the other major M&A mandates handled by the firm – the acquisition of Al Ahlia Insurance Company from its holding company by Royal Sun Alliance. Senior associates Faiz Khan, Ahmed Hashim and Ardeshir Patel are also key members of the team.

Led by managing partner Bruce Palmer, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP advises a raft of public and private-sector clients in commercial and corporate, M&A and infrastructure projects. Highlights included advising the Ministry of Defence pension fund on its investment in a mountain resort hotel/spa in Oman. The practice also continues to handle a significant volume of work for sovereign wealth fund Oman Investment Fund, and is currently acting for it on an anchor investment in a private equity fund regulated by the Oman Capital Market Authority. The team was bolstered by the arrival of associate Robert Kenedy from Baker & McKenzie SCP in March 2010, and by Mary Allan from SNR Denton in October 2010.

Said Al-Shahry Law Office has a deeply entrenched presence in the fabric of the Omani legal market, recently underscoring its commitment to the future of the country’s legal community by the establishment of a legal training centre. Corporate and commercial is one of the cornerstones of the firm’s work in the region and includes advising on M&A transactions, contractual issues and the establishment of businesses in the region. Past work has included advising MBC, a Dubai-based company, on the establishment of a new radio station in Oman. Stephen Sayer and Said Al Shahry are recommended.