The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Hadef & Partners is a third tier firm,

Hadef & Partners attracts praise for its ‘high level of professionalism’, making it a go-to firm for local law matters in project, asset and Islamic finance matters. Alan Rodgers and James Farn are the ‘knowledgeable’ co-heads of the practice, respectively based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Farn recently advised the lenders on a syndicated development term loan facility for funding the Nation Towers mixed-use commercial development in the Corniche, Abu Dhabi. Its reliable regulatory team acted for Perella Weinberg Partners on local structuring and regulations concerning its establishment in Abu Dhabi.

Within Construction, Hadef & Partners is a second tier firm,

Hadef & Partners provides ‘high levels of service compared with a lot of other firms’. In 2011, it acted for CAN Integrated Technologies in a DIAC arbitration relating to a joint venture between Malaysian and UAE contractors involved in the Nad Al Sheba racecourse project. Other clients include BMG Middle East Investment and Al Badie Group. Dubai-based Anthony Edwards is ‘a smart litigator with an eagle eye’. Basil Siddiqi in Abu Dhabi is also recommended.

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

Hadef & Partners has ‘good connections across the region’, and ‘delivers service to international standards’. ‘Very good negotiator’ Sameer Huda in Dubai and Tarik El Bakri in Abu Dhabi co-head the team, which handles the full gamut of advisory and transactional work, and in 2011 advised Spanish development company Acciona on its establishment in Abu Dhabi. Transactional highlights included advising Tyco International on its $300m acquisition of a 75% stake in KEF Holdings. Barton Hoggard is ‘solid when it comes to drafting a written agreement’.

Within Dispute resolution, Hadef & Partners is a first tier firm,

Hadef & Partners has general commercial litigation capability, with niche strengths in shipping, offshore and aviation disputes, and a growing number of DIAC arbitrations. Highlights for Richard Briggs and his team included acting alongside Gates and Partners to represent the London underwriters of Aerogulf Services Co LLC in insurance claims pursuant to an accident involving an Aerogulf Bell 212 helicopter. Newly promoted partner Adrian Chadwick represented Souq Residences FZCO in a property dispute with Nakheel PJSC in the Dubai World Tribunal, which involved an AED100m claim by Nakheel and an AED920m counterclaim by Souq Residences.

Within Intellectual property, Hadef & Partners is a third tier firm,

Hadef & Partners handles contentious and non-contentious IP matters for its corporate and TMT client base. On the transactional side, Melissa Murray advises Red Bull FZE, Sumo Sushi & Bento and Butlers Chocolate Café on IP licensing and protection, while Richard Briggs acted for Alokozay Group and Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Co in anti-counterfeiting actions against factories in Pakistan, Nepal and the UAE.

Within Investment funds, Hadef & Partners is a third tier firm,

Hadef & Partners’ funds practice is particularly noted for its regulatory expertise, and has a track record that includes having assisted the Dubai and Abu Dhabi governments in developing regulatory provisions governing investment funds in the region. It has also been advising a number of international financial institutions on the regulatory issues relating to the structuring and marketing of funds in the UAE and DIFC, particularly in light of the transition of jurisdiction from the UAE Central Bank to the Securities and Commodities Authority. Sameer Huda and Philip Jolowicz are the figures to note.

Within Projects and energy , Hadef & Partners is a third tier firm,

Hadef & Partners’ busy project finance practice provides local law advice on some of the UAE’s most complex and high-value deals. Alan Rodgers and Valeria Lysenko acted for Total and Abengoa as project sponsors in the $162m financing of the Shams 1 solar power project. The team also provides ongoing advice to Abu Dhabi Distribution Company, including agreements for the fast-track construction, installation, commissioning and operation of water and electricity infrastructure relating to real estate developments in Abu Dhabi.

Within Real estate, Hadef & Partners is a first tier firm,

Hadef & Partners’ longstanding reputation locally extends across a swathe of property matters. Real estate and construction specialist Basil Siddiqi acted for Tamouh Investments 
LLC regarding developments on Reem Island in Abu Dhabi, and Michael Lunjevich advised Sunland Group on its AED2.5bn project in Dubai relating to the Palazzo Versace resort. The team also handles day-to-day commercial matters relating to property developments for 
clients such as Fortis Plus Holdings and Vista Real Estate.

Within Shipping, Hadef & Partners is a first tier firm,

Hadef & Partners’ diverse team of ‘excellent practitioners’ combines ‘the quality of an international firm with the ability to provide the most authoritative opinion on local legal issues’. It recently acted as UAE counsel alongside Watson, Farley & Williams LLP to advise DVB Group Merchant Bank (Asia) Ltd on a $26.1m tanker financing facility. On the contentious front, it acted for British Marine as P&I insurer of the vessel, Lilian, in respect of alleged damage to a pipeline owned by Qatar Petroleum. The ‘extremely knowledgeable and responsive’ Erik Muthow heads the team, and is recommended along with Richard Briggs, and recently promoted partner Adrian Chadwick, who is ‘an excellent tactical litigator’.

Within TMT, Hadef & Partners is a third tier firm,

Hadef & Partners’ TMT practice provides commercial and regulatory advice to clients such as Cisco Capital and LG Electronics. Commercial team head Michael Lunjevich advised Akamai Technologies on its network partnership agreements with several UAE telecoms providers.