The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Al Tamimi & Company is a third tier firm,

Al Tamimi & Company has ‘good knowledge of the local market’, as well as ‘good industry knowledge and experience’. The team recently acted alongside Shearman & Sterling LLP in advising on the $4.1bn refinancing/financing of the Dolphin pipeline, and advised a syndicate of banks on the $95m restructuring of a project finance facility. The group acts for a number of Indian banks, including State Bank of India and ICICI Bank, on establishing branches, licensing, compliance and transactions. Husam Hourani has ‘excellent legal knowledge and a very commercial approach’.

Within Construction, Al Tamimi & Company is a third tier firm,

Al Tamimi & Company’s ‘very proficient and professional’ construction practice has really bloomed since the recruitment of ‘solid, sensible construction specialist’ Steven Hunt from Nakheel in late 2009. The team is a regular feature in construction work in the real estate sector.

Within Corporate and M&A, Al Tamimi & Company is a third tier firm,

Considered by some to be ‘on par with the best international law firms’, Al Tamimi & Company provides an ‘excellent service from very knowledgeable, very responsive and creative’ lawyers. The team advised Dubai Financial Market on its acquisition of a controlling interest in NASDAQ, and acted for Aabar Investments and Tasameem Real Estate on their joint venture to establish a business operating a fleet of executive jets from Al Bateen Airport. The team is ‘good value for the quality of advice’, and ‘always has back-up staff available if the key partner is called away’. Gary Watts, head of the corporate and commercial practice, is recommended for his ‘business acumen and strong legal analytical skills’, and is backed up by seven partners in the UAE. Senior associate Steven Bainbridge has a ‘very good working knowledge of unique factors in the Middle East, and also understands the factors important to Western buyers’.

Within Dispute resolution, Al Tamimi & Company is a first tier firm,

Al Tamimi & Company rates highly for its local court expertise. Zafer Sheikh Oghli, who has a ‘thorough knowledge of the Dubai courts and is always accessible’, obtained a victory for Global Investment House in a high-value banking dispute with the National Bank of Umm Al Quwain. Meanwhile, Hussain Eisa Shiri represented Norsk Tillitsmann and Thule Power on an AED800m banking dispute involving one of the largest oil rigs in the Middle East. Steven Hunt’s ‘knowledge of construction issues’ means he is recommended for construction contract disputes. Hassan Arab leads the team.

Within Intellectual property, Al Tamimi & Company is a first tier firm,

Al Tamimi & Company has ‘developed a strong practice through mixing local talent with globally experienced partners’, and the firm has resources across the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. Omar Obeidat has ‘very good knowledge of IP rights throughout the GCC’. The 24-lawyer practice expanded through recruitment, including the hires of senior associates David Yates from Allens Arthur Robinson and Stephen Jiew, formerly regional IP counsel with Cadbury Schweppes Asia Pacific. Yates has an ‘incredible ability to quickly absorb complex issues, and propose agile and constructive solutions’. The team advised Toyota on a fast-track infringement action, while new clients include Wal-Mart and Facebook.

Within Investment funds, Al Tamimi & Company is a third tier firm,

Al Tamimi & Company counts Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Prudential Asset Management, and ING Investment Management as clients. Managing partner Husam Hourani leads the team, and is assisted by Lynette Brown, who served as deputy chair of the panel to review the DIFC’s Collective Investment Fund regime.

Within Legal market overview,

There remains a division between international and local firms, particularly for dispute resolution where only UAE nationals have rights of audience. However, among the local firms, Hadef & Partners and Al Tamimi & Company have differentiated themselves by recruiting partners with international expertise to marry with the firm’s local knowledge.

Within Real estate, Al Tamimi & Company is a first tier firm,

Al Tamimi & Company’s Lisa Dale, whose ‘reputation as a leading local market expert is undisputed’, is an ‘extremely good lawyer, as well as commercially astute and quite pragmatic’. The firm enjoys ‘strong relationships with government agencies’. The team acted for Marsa Al Nejourn Real Estate on the Nujoom Islands project, and regularly represents clients such as Dubai World and Landmark Properties. Tara Marlow rejoined the practice as head of property and hospitality after four years at Majid Al Futtaim Properties.

Within Shipping, Al Tamimi & Company is a second tier firm,

Al Tamimi & Company’s team has ‘extremely good knowledge, local contacts, and is very prompt in its responses’. The team represented the shipowners regarding a fatal explosion on the MV Lissy Schulte, and advised Norsk Tillitsmann on the mortgage arrangements for an oil-drilling rig. Yazan Al Saoudi ‘gives clear advice on the way forward’, and ‘has an impressive style and presence that really counts in dispute resolution work’.

Within TMT, Al Tamimi & Company is a second tier firm,

Al Tamimi & Company is quickly building up an impressive team: it recruited Philip Brazeau in 2009 to head up the telecommunications division, and David Yates joined from Allens Arthur Robinson in 2010 to head the commercial IP and technology practice. The team conducted a review of the permissible VoIP strategies in the UAE for IPC Information Systems, and advised Rynton Technology on the installation of telecommunications infrastructure on Saadiyat Island.