The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP has a regional presence and is ‘plugged into local commercial and legal issues’, delivering ‘consistent quality of execution and value for money’. Following Michael Barker’s relocation to Dubai from the firm’s Hong Kong office, the practice now has on-the-ground restructuring expertise alongside its capital markets, project and Islamic finance capabilities. Highlights included acting for the arrangers on the Salik Toll Collection System financing, involving both conventional debt and a structured Islamic tranche. Islamic finance specialist Nadim Khan and Andrew Newbery are recommended.

Within Construction, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s construction practice adeptly handles contentious and non-contentious infrastructure and power-related construction matters, and represents clients such as Abu Dhabi Ports Company and Mubadala-GE Capital. It advised a consortium comprising Sumitomo and KEPCO on its successful bid for the $1.5bn Shuweihat 3 IPP in Abu Dhabi.

Within Corporate and M&A, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP’s corporate practice is ‘excellent on all counts’, and is particularly noted for its transactional capability representing private equity funds and multinational corporates in the TMT, energy, infrastructure and mining sectors. Highlights included advising Investcorp’s Gulf Opportunity Fund on its acquisition of a $50m equity stake in Tiryaki Agro, a Turkish trader and supply chain manager of agricultural commodities; and advising BSkyB on its joint venture with Abu Dhabi Media Investment Company. Paul Scarr, Zubair Mir and Judith Watson ‘rank among the best’.

Within Dispute resolution, Herbert Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP showcased its dual international and UAE law capability when it acted in a major arbitration against a Korean company under UAE law. The group is also on the dispute panels of Etihad Airways and Arabtec. Restructuring expert Michael Barker and UAE law consultant Diana Hamade provide a strong foundation for commercial litigation work, and practice head Craig Shepherd is also recommended.

Within Investment funds, Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Herbert Smith LLP has a prominent position regionally thanks in no small part to the investment funds expertise of Zubair Mir and Judith Watson. The team primarily advises on cutting-edge investment funds for elite clients including EFG-Hermes and Investcorp, handling the gamut of funds-related matters, from formation and structuring, to fundraising and transactions. Highlights included advising Investcorp’s Gulf opportunities fund in its acquisition of a $50m equity stake in a Turkish supply chain manager of agricultural commodities and, in an illustration of its Islamic financing capability, it advised Noor Islamic Bank on establishing a shari’ah-compliant fund. Private equity specialist Paul Scarr was promoted to partner in 2010.

Within Projects and energy , Herbert Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Neil Brimson’s Middle East projects practice at Herbert Smith LLP has had another successful year, particularly in Iraq, where its track record includes acting for Gazprom Neft on major petroleum projects. It also handles broader oil and gas and infrastructure projects, such as senior associate Joanna Addison advising Qatar Petroleum on its Pearl gas-to-liquids project; and Abu Dhabi based managing partner Andrew Newbery acting for Sumitomo Corporation and KEPCO as developers of Abu Dhabi’s Shuweihat 3 IPP project.

Within Real estate, Herbert Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘responsive’ Nick Turner heads Herbert Smith LLP’s real estate practice, which demonstrates ‘top-notch attention to detail’ and is considered ‘a go-to firm for complicated transactions’. 2010 saw the team grow significantly at senior associate level, with Richard Ashmore, Justine Ayto and Nicholle Kingsley (‘a very good negotiator’) relocating from London. Recent highlights for the team include advising Standard Chartered on the development of its new headquarters in Dubai, and acting for Waha Capital PJSC on the real estate aspects of an industrial and warehousing development in Abu Dhabi.