The Legal 500

Allen & Overy LLP has significantly enhanced its profile in Qatar by opening up an office in the QFC, in February 2010, and has since reaped increased involvement on domestic transactions. Doha managing partner Robert Porter has substantial Middle Eastern experience and broad expertise in finance, M&A and real estate. He is supported by partner Christopher Thornes, who is in charge of the corporate practice, and senior associate Katherine Price, head of the banking, construction and projects team. Recent deal highlights include advising Qatar National Hotels on the acquisition of a stake in George V Restauration, a growing restaurant, bar and hotel chain with plans for global development.

Commended for its ‘excellent grasp of Qatari law’, Clyde & Co LLP has developed key relationships with various government entities since establishing its Doha office in 2007. The firm serves clients on the whole spectrum of corporate matters; recent work includes advising on company restructurings, hotel management contracts and QFC regulatory matters. David Salt and Emma Higham ‘always run the extra mile’ and are ‘able to deal with complex organisations’.

Latham & Watkins LLP rapidly expanded its Middle East practice in 2010 with the recruitment of numerous White & Case LLP lawyers across the region, and the Doha team gone from strength to strength since opening in 2008. Significant arrivals include former White & Case LLP partner Andrew Macklin, who is ‘well suited to the Qatari market’. He heads the corporate department, which represented Qatar Holding LLC (the investment arm of the state) on its headline acquisition of Harrods. The firm has also developed strong links with the local financial community, thanks in part to banking and finance partner Philipp Von Randow. His team continues to advise Nakilat, in connection with the financing, construction and acquisition of a fleet of 25 LNG vessels.

Patton Boggs LLP is one of the few international firms licensed through the Qatar Ministry of Justice, and this, combined with the team’s broad local knowledge and strong history in the country, has attracted numerous domestic clients. Doha managing partner Robert Hager is admitted to the local Bar and drives the firm’s focus on infrastructure and construction. His team, including a further two partners and three Qatari lawyers, has worked on a number of large-scale transportation projects and several mediations. The firm continues to represent Qatari Diar in contentious and non-contentious matters related to the development of the new city of Lusail. Other key clients include Doha International Airport and Qatar Development Bank.

SNR Denton has a large team of lawyers in Doha with wide-ranging experience in corporate finance, construction and technology, handling transactions for both domestic and international clients. The firm is also involved on a number of arbitration cases predominantly in the construction sector. In late 2009, the firm acted for German rail company Deutsche Bahn on its joint venture with Qatari Diar to launch Qatar’s $25bn rail network.

Another firm with a powerful historical presence is Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP, the first international firm to be granted a licence to operate independently in the country and advise on Qatari law. The Doha office is headed by two highly esteemed lawyers, in Andrew Wingfield and Samer Eido; they head the firm’s corporate practice in the Gulf and financial markets practice in the Middle East respectively. In 2009, the team advised The Commercial Bank of Qatar on an unsecured QAR1bn murabaha financing to Barwa Real Estate Company.

Lebanese firm Badri and Salim El Meouchi Law Firm handles M&A and other corporate matters in Qatar, and also arbitration work. The team recently acted alongside White & Case LLP in advising Alaqaria on its headline acquisition offer by Barwa Real Estate. Senior partner Salim El Meouchi is recommended for his expertise in ADR; he represents several banks and has experience in ICC arbitrations.

Baker & McKenzie advises on a range of corporate, energy and regulatory matters in Qatar, drawing on its expertise across Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, and recently advised Qatar Steel Company on its acquisition of South Steel Company in Saudi Arabia. Borys Dackiw is managing partner of the firm’s offices in the Gulf region.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP picks up corporate and financial instructions in Qatar, primarily via its New York and Paris offices, and is developing its presence across the Middle East. Gamal Abouali and Tihir Sarkar are the key contacts and have significant experience in the region. In 2010, the firm advised environmental service provider Veolia on its €600m acquisition by Qatari Diar.

Clifford Chance handles a host of high-profile finance, capital markets and other corporate deals, for clients such as the QIA and Qatari Diar. The practice is managed from Dubai, but is closely connected with local firms such as The Law Offices of Gebran Majdalany (Legal Consultants) and Hassan A Alkhater Law Office. Richard Parris and Greg Englefield are the key contacts.

DLA Piper’s Doha office has a strong corporate and construction practice, advising domestic and international clients on a broad range of transactional mandates. Resident partner Stewart Diana leads the five-lawyer team, which provides advice on joint ventures and assists foreign companies on establishing in Qatar.

Chris Jobson heads the Doha office of Eversheds LLP and is supported by Richard Birks, who manages the projects practice. The team recently advised longstanding client Qatar General Insurance and Reinsurance Company (QGIRC) on a £450m project to construct four skyscrapers in Doha. The firm maintains strong links with local firms including Abu Shaikha Law Office, and has handled litigation for a number of blue-clip clients.

Swiss firm LALIVE in Qatar LLP represents clients in common and civil law matters, across corporate, banking and finance, arbitration and IP. The team operates from both Doha and Geneva, and regularly assists foreign businesses on joint ventures and restructurings in Qatar. The ‘prompt and efficient service’ of Georges Racine is recommended.

Linklaters draws on its broad regional experience to handle transactions in Qatar. Acting primarily out of Dubai, the firm is active in providing advice on corporate/M&A and finance matters. In 2010, it advised new client Barwa Real Estate Company on its acquisition of Alaqaria. Corporate finance partner Scott Campbell is recommended.

Norton Rose LLP has been serving clients in Qatar for 30 years, capitalising on the firm’s strong regional presence. It manages complex corporate and finance deals from its London and Middle East offices, while also maintaining a focus on energy projects and real estate. The firm’s long history in the country has enabled the development of relationships with Qatar government entities and several domestic banks; among an impressive list of local clients are Qatari Diar and Qatar Shipping. Recent highlights include advising a syndicate of major Qatari banks on a $275m loan to United Arab Shipping Company for the acquisition of three large container vessels.

Shearman & Sterling LLP draws on a number of partners in its London and Abu Dhabi offices, with an impressive expertise across real estate, corporate, projects and finance. The firm is well known for its work on power projects, and has a strong focus on the North Field, but has also been handling a growing number of corporate instructions. Headline deals include representing Qatar Holding LLC in connection with its $2.8bn cornerstone investment in Agricultural Bank of China.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is renowned for attracting high-value headline transactions in Qatar. Banking and finance lawyers Harold Moore and Danny Tricot are key to the firm’s work in the country, acting from New York and London respectively. The team has acted for well-known international banks, including Barclays Capital and HSBC, on bond offerings by the state of Qatar.

Trowers & Hamlins’ experience includes contentious and transactional instructions in the construction and telecoms sectors; the firm capitalises on its network of expertise across the Middle East, with offices in Bahrain, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Nigel Truscott is the key contact and heads the Middle East construction and arbitration team.

White & Case LLP has restructured somewhat since losing several partners across the Middle East; the Qatar practice, which opened in 2009, is now headed by ‘top lawyer’ Kenneth Ellis, who moved from the US in early 2010 and has over 35 years’ experience handling complex corporate transactions. His expertise, combined with that of Philip Stopford (chair of operations for Europe, Middle East and Africa), has meant the team has continued to gain high-profile instructions from the likes of Qatar Petroleum and Shell. In 2010, the firm acted for Qatar Holding LLC on its $2.7bn headline acquisition of a 5 percent stake in Banco Santander’s Brazil operation.

WongPartnership LLP has built an impressive client list since the opening of its Doha office in 2007. Former Clyde & Co LLP partner and ‘outstanding lawyer’ Andrew Watson joined the firm in 2010, and co-heads the Middle East practice alongside Paul Sandosham, who is ‘always there when you need him’. The team primarily advises Asian companies entering the market and Qatari businesses with interests in Asia, and recently advised Qatar International Petroleum Marketing Company (Tasweeq) on structuring its entities in Singapore.