The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer ‘makes a notable effort’ to understand its clients’ needs, making it a valued asset to clients such as Nomura and Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. Joseph Huse heads the team, which has strong infrastructure and asset finance expertise, and recently advised MTN Sudan on vendor financing facilities totalling $540m to expand its network infrastructure across Sudan. Counsel William Coleman has ‘a responsive, practical approach as well as technical ability’.

Within Corporate and M&A, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘exceptional’ corporate practice is considered by many clients to be ‘the premier firm in the region’ for transactional mandates. Despite a patchy market for M&A, the practice maintained its activity levels, advising News Corporation on its $35m investment in Rotana Group to increase its stake in the company to 14.53%. It has also been active in the IPO market, advising Abu Dhabi insurance company National Takaful Company on its AED82.5m IPO. Andrew Schoorlemmer provides ‘excellent service on M&A transactions’, and Khalid Garousha is ‘a trusted adviser for corporate matters’. Pervez Akhtar joined Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2011.

Within Dispute resolution, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a second tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has a highly respected contentious practice in the UAE, which it sought to strengthen with a significant increase in the number of associates. Highlights included representing Credit Suisse in a GCC Arbitration Centre arbitration brought by Saffar International Limited regarding an aborted attempt to open up a branch of Credit Suisse in Kuwait; and representing Limitless PJSC in a DIAC arbitration concerning construction issues in downtown Jebel Ali, Dubai. Reza Mohtashami, Jan Paulsson and Joseph Huse are recommended.

Within Legal market overview,

While there were no major new entrants into the market in 2011, some did add new offices to existing resources: Wragge & Co LLP opened a Dubai office in September following its Abu Dhabi launch in 2010, and Linklaters opened an office in Abu Dhabi. Eversheds LLP also made a significant step by merging with a consortium of Middle East law firms, including Dubai-based Khasawneh & Associates Legal Consultants; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer appointed Dubai-based Pervez Akhtar as managing partner for the MENA region after he joined from Allen & Overy LLP; Al Tamimi & Company enhanced its regional capability with significant recruitment in Dubai and Qatar; and Habib Al Mulla & Company enhanced its international credentials by hiring Rob Morris, formerly global head of procurement at Clifford Chance.

Within Projects and energy , Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a third tier firm,

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer fields ‘a fantastic team comprised of lawyers with knowledge and experience in both English and local law’. Joseph Huse leads the team, which has broad sector coverage, encompassing oil and gas, renewable energy, and transport projects. It advised Office Nationale d’Electricité on the $240m Taza wind farm development in Morocco, and advised Alstom Transport on the Al Sufouh tram project in Dubai. Marc Fèvre moved to Baker & McKenzie LLP.