Legal500

Linklaters

THIRD FLOOR, GATE BUILDING 3, INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE, PO BOX 506516, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Warsaw, Tokyo, Stockholm, Singapore, Shanghai, São Paulo and 22 more

What we say about this firm…
What the firm says…

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

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Linklaters LLP is a second tier firm,

Linklaters’ finance practice handles both conventional and Islamic transactions, encompassing project finance, bank lending and debt restructuring. In project finance, the team, led by Sarosh Mewawalla, advised the lenders  on the $14bn Jubail export refinery and petrochemical project. On the structured finance front, James Martin led the team acting for JPMorgan Chase on the $140m structured finance facility for Emirates NBD (ENBD), the region’s first-ever monetisation and repackaging of a loan portfolio involving a total return swap.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Linklaters LLP is a first tier firm,

Linklaters’ ‘high-calibre’ team is a frequent presence on the region’s more groundbreaking and high-value transactions. It acted for RBS during the disposal of its retail banking business to ADCB, and represented EIA on its participation in Abraaj Capital’s acquisition of a 49% stake in Network International. Its cross-border capability attracts instructions such as acting for DP World on its $1.75bn part disposal of its Australian ports business to Citi Infrastructure Investors. Scott Campbell heads the corporate practice. David Martin arrived from London to head the new Abu Dhabi office.

Legal market overview

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.

Projects and energy

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

Linklaters’ project finance practice acts for sponsors and lenders and has been active on some of the largest and most complex deals in the market. These include advising the lenders to the $14bn Jubail export refinery and petrochemical project, and the shareholders on the Shams 1 solar project in Abu Dhabi. Sarosh Mewawalla leads the practice, which is advising on the upgrade financing of the airport at Madinah in Saudi Arabia.

Further information on Linklaters LLP

Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Linklaters LLP in other jurisdictions.

China

Offices in Shanghai and Beijing

Corporate & M&A : Foreign firms

Ghana

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Regulatory : Regulatory

India

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Corporate and M&A : International firms and joint ventures

London

Offices in London EC2Y and London EC2Y

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Tunisia

Foreign firms : Foreign firms

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments in United Arab Emirates

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Summary Of The Draft Bankruptcy Law

by Richard Catling - r.catling@tamimi.com

- Al Tamimi & Company
Data Protection and Privacy Issues in the Middle East

by Nick O'Connell - n.oconnell@tamimi.com

- Al Tamimi & Company
CORPORATE REAL ESTATE - United Arab Emirates

Shahram Safai, Arsalan Shaikh, Andrew Yule, Christopher Linwood and Omar Ayad Afridi & Angell

- 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.

- Afridi & Angell
United Arab Emirates

Haider K Afridi and Chatura Randeniya Afridi & Angell

- 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.

- Eversheds
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.

- Eversheds
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.

- Eversheds
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.

- Habib Al Mulla & Company
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.

- Emirates Advocates