The Legal 500

Ashurst LLP

LEVEL 42 EMIRATES TOWERS, SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD, PO BOX 119974, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

What we say about the firm's legal practice in United Arab Emirates

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Ashurst LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashurst LLP’s ‘professional team is quick to respond to questions and requests, and produces high-quality work’. It ‘has a very detailed understanding of project finance’, and has been involved in nearly all the major wastewater and power projects in the market, including advising a sponsor consortium on its bid for the Barka 2 and Sohar 2 IPPs. The team has also been active in representing ad hoc groups of certificate holders regarding restructurings, including the holders of Nakheel’s $3.52bn sukuk due 2009 and the Nakheel sukuk certificates due 2010 and 2011. David Wadham ‘not only has a good understanding of the sector and contracts, but is also commercially minded and always looking for solutions to problems’.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

Ashurst LLP strengthened its Abu Dhabi office by bringing in from London Nick Williamson, who heads the Middle East practice and specialises in oil and gas. The group gained greater exposure in the telecoms sector when it won Etisalat as a new client, for which work to date includes advising on its $207m acquisition of Tigo Sri Lanka. The team also advised Mitsui E&P Middle East on its acquisition of oil and gas interests in Egypt, and acted for Emirates Conversion Industries on a joint venture with Radius.

Investment funds

Within Investment funds, Ashurst LLP is a second tier firm,

In 2010, Ashurst LLP’s Dubai team advised Deutsche Bank and Masdar on their joint venture to create The DB Masdar Clean Tech Fund, and IDFC Capital on structuring and establishing a proposed $500m fund of funds to invest in emerging markets focused private equity funds. The group recorded an impressive year in a difficult market, but in October 2010 lost lead partner Chézard Ameer to Gibson Dunn.

Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy , Ashurst LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashurst LLP’s team ‘provides advice from personnel who have first-hand experience of projects around the globe and locally’. David Wadham heads the power and water practice, which has been advising a consortium of sponsors on financing for the Muharraq sewage treatment plant. Joss Dare – whose ‘strengths are approachability, openness, technical skills, and ability to ensure the team is always updated on the client’s objectives and aims’ – heads the transport and infrastructure team that is advising ADIC-UBS Infrastructure Investments and Mubadala Infrastructure on the Mafraq-Gwheifat Highway PPP. The group significantly enhanced its strength on the ground by bringing Nick Williamson to Abu Dhabi from London, and recruiting of counsel Judith Kim from Shell.

Real estate

Within Real estate, Ashurst LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashurst LLP’s Matthew Hooton acted for IDEA Network on the urban renewal of Jeddah Free Trade City in Saudi Arabia, and advised MCJV on the funding, acquisition and development of a hotel plot at Sowwah Island.


What we say worldwide

Please choose another Ashurst LLP office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Belgium

Offices in Brussels

Germany

Offices in Frankfurt and Munich

Algeria

Spain

Offices in Madrid

France

Offices in Paris

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

India

Italy

Offices in Milan and Rome

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

London

Offices in London

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

United States

Offices in New York and Washington

Legal Developments in United Arab Emirates

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • CORPORATE REAL ESTATE - United Arab Emirates

    Shahram Safai, Arsalan Shaikh, Andrew Yule, Christopher Linwood and Omar Ayad Afridi & Angell
  • ANTI-CORRUPTION COMPLIANCE IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

    International businesses must devote ever increasing resources to avoid involvement in anti-corruption offences. Of course, for decades the strict provisions of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, have applied to American corporations, defined broadly to include entities whose securities are listed on American stock markets. These provisions have led to many non-U.S. corporations being caught in FCPA violations.
  • United Arab Emirates

    Haider K Afridi and Chatura Randeniya Afridi & Angell
  • Mediation – Bridging the Gulf

    Few things are as certain as disputes in construction projects. The Middle East has been, and will continue to be, a hub for construction activity.
  • Expansion of DIFC Court Jurisdiction

    The Dubai Government recently issued Law No. 16 of 2011 on Amending Some Provisions of Law No. 12 of 2004 Concerning the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (the “Law”). The effect of the Law is that it significantly expands the jurisdiction of the Dubai International Financial Centre (“DIFC”) courts. In addition to providing parties with no connection to the DIFC the option of resolving disputes through the DIFC courts, the Law also opens up the possibility of avoiding the UAE court system and allowing parties to opt for an English-based, common law court.
  • Towards a Law on Online Service Providers’ Liability in the UAE

    I was recently asked, on two occasions within one week, to advise on online service providers’ (“OSP”) liability in connection with copyright infringing material.
  • Enforcement of Foreign Awards in the UAE: A U-Turn Ahead?

    Gordon Blanke and Soraya Corm-Bakhos, Arbitration department, Habib Al Mulla & Company It is commonplace in international arbitration theory that an arbitral award is not worth the paper it is written on unless it is easily enforceable. Unfortunately, enforceability is not always a given in international arbitration practice. Enforcement of foreign awards in the UAE may serve as an instructive example.
  • Brief Overview of UAE Legal System

    The UAE Judiciary operates under a civil law system which is largely influenced by Islamic and European civil law; also, civil matters between Muslims are governed by Shariah law. In addition to subject-specific legislation which covers a variety of matters, the UAE has also adopted commercial and civil codes.  
  • Inheritance Laws of the UAE – Significance of Wills

    If the transient bout of economic recession is kept aside, yester years witnessed huge growth in the financial sector of the UAE. This inspired a big chunk of expatriate population to relocate to the UAE both for employment and investment. With the most congenial economic and employment ambience created by the visionary rulers of the country, many of the expatriates made significant economical gains too.
  • AN OVERVIEW OF UAE AGENCY LAW

    Mark Gilligan & Douglas G. Smith: September 2011