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Norton Rose Fulbright

15TH FLOOR, AL SILA TOWER, SOWWAH SQUARE, PO BOX 105708, ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Tel:
Work +971 2 615 1700
Web:
www.nortonrosefulbright.com
Email:
Washington DC, Warsaw, Toronto, Tokyo, Sydney, St Louis and 55 more

TOP tier recommendations

United Arab Emirates: Real estate > Real estate

Recommendations

United Arab Emirates: Banking and finance > Banking and finance
United Arab Emirates: Construction > Construction
United Arab Emirates: Corporate and M&A > Corporate and M&A
United Arab Emirates: Dispute resolution > Dispute resolution
United Arab Emirates: Intellectual property > Intellectual property
United Arab Emirates: Investment funds > Investment funds
United Arab Emirates: Projects and energy > Projects and energy
United Arab Emirates: TMT > TMT

United Arab Emirates: Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a third tier firm,

Emma Giddings’ team at Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP was enhanced by Matthew Escritt’s arrival from the firm’s Singapore office as well as the recruitment of Alex Roussos from Clifford Chance. The practice is able to handle conventional and Islamic finance matters relating to trade, projects, real estate and debt capital markets. Highlights included advising Emaar Properties on its AED3.6bn shari’ah-compliant secured financing. Islamic finance expert Mohammed Paracha is recommended, as are the aforementioned lawyers.

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United Arab Emirates: Construction

Within Construction, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a second tier firm,

Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP’s construction practice handles both contentious and non-contentious matters for global and regional contractors and developers. In 2012, practice head Martin Preston represented Saudi Oger Limited, TAV Havalimanlari Holding, and Al Rajhi Holding, on the financing and construction of the $1.2bn expansion of Madinah Airport in Saudi Arabia. On the contentious side, Patrick Bourke acted for Limitless LLC in a DIAC arbitration with a contractor. Of counsel Paul Mansouri relocated to Dubai from the firm’s London office.

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United Arab Emirates: Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a third tier firm,

Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is particularly strong in the investment funds arena, where it represents sovereign wealth funds such as Mubadala as well as regional private investments groups such as Abraaj Capital. It also has a strong energy and infrastructure capability and Alan Bainbridge recently represented Saudi Oger Limited, Al Rajha Holding Group and TAV Havalimanlari Holding as the consortium chosen to develop and operate a new airport in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.

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United Arab Emirates: Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a second tier firm,

Patrick Bourke’s contentious practice in Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP’s Dubai office was reinforced by fraud, asset and trade finance expert Adam Vause’s relocation from Bahrain. In addition to its arbitration expertise, the team also handles DIFC cases for clients including global financial institutions, local and regional corporates, and high-net-worth individuals. It continues to act for Nakheel in various Dubai World Tribunal construction disputes.

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United Arab Emirates: Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a second tier firm,

At Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP, Dino Wilkinson’s relocation to Abu Dhabi gave the office an expert in TMT and IP matters. In 2012, the team advised NewBridge Pharmaceuticals on IP issues pertaining to its licensing and distribution agreements. Wilkinson is ably supported by contentious specialist Patrick Bourke, whose ‘ability to absorb the necessary information and advise on the best course of action is one of his many strengths’.

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United Arab Emirates: Investment funds

Within Investment funds, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a second tier firm,

Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP handles fund formation and transactions for sovereign wealth funds and global financial institutions as well as regional private investment groups such as Abraaj Capital. In line with a renewed interest in investments into SMEs regionally, the practice has been supporting Riyada Enterprise Development (a subsidiary of Abraaj Capital) in promoting SME investments across the MENA region. Jane Clayton has extensive funds expertise and, with Mohammed Paracha, regularly advises on shari’ah-compliant funds. Abu Dhabi office head Alan Bainbridge is a key figure on energy and infrastructure fund deals.

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United Arab Emirates: Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a second tier firm,

Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP’s project finance team saw a number of new arrivals and departures in 2012: Paul Mansouri relocated from the London office, Randa Jaafar joined from DLA Piper LLP in New York, and Dominic Harvey, Jonathan Brufal and Oli Charlesworth left the firm, respectively moving to Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Wragge & Co LLP and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Despite the changes, the team has remained active in the infrastructure space, and represented Saudi Oger Limited, TAV Havalimanlari Holding and Al Rajhi Holding in the $1.2bn financing and construction of Saudi Arabia’s Madinah airport expansion. The ‘detail-oriented’ Martin Preston is recommended.

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United Arab Emirates: Real estate

Within Real estate, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a first tier firm,

Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP delivers ‘world-class levels of service’, with practice head Nick Clayson being singled out as ‘a go-to lawyer in the region for real estate transactions, not only for the quality of advice given, but also for his willingness to offer flexible billing structures’. The team acts for government organisations such as Mubadala Development Company, and has been appointed to Qatari Diar’s real estate finance panel. Other highlights included acting for Legatum Limited on its acquisition of Building 6 in the Dubai International Financial Centre.

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United Arab Emirates: TMT

Within TMT, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP is a second tier firm,

Under the leadership of Dino Wilkinson, Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP has developed a strong on-the-ground presence in TMT that has attracted international clients such as HSBC, government organisations such as Invest AD, and Middle Eastern telecoms clients such as Batelco. It advised Invest AD on the outsourcing of middle office services to Citigroup.

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Further information on Norton Rose Fulbright

Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Norton Rose Fulbright in other jurisdictions.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai

Australia

Offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Perth, and Brisbane

Belgium

Offices in Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

China

Offices in Beijing, Shanghai, and Beijing

Colombia

Offices in Bogota

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Munich, Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg

France

Offices in Paris

Greece

Offices in Athens and Piraeus

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong and Hong Kong

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

Latin America: International firms

India

Italy

Offices in Milan and Rome

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

Offices in London SE1, London SE1, and London EC4Y

Morocco

Offices in Casablanca

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow

South Africa

Offices in Cape Town, Sandton, Durban, and Johannesburg

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh and Riyadh

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Tunisia

United States

Offices in Washington DC, San Antonio, New York, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Denver, and St Louis

Venezuela

Offices in Caracas

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

  • The Banking Regulation Review - UAE Chapter

    The past year has seen a substantial improvement in the performance of banks and financial institutions in the UAE. Adequate provisions have been made for most nonperforming loans, banks are once again aggressively competing for good assets and 2012 bank results show substantial improvement in profits.
    - Afridi & Angell

  • Legal Aspects of Medical Practice in UAE - Reportable Events, Crimes and Civil Wrongs

    1. According to recently published statistics, the UAE’s medical tourism market was worth $1.58 billion in 2012 and this is expected to grow a further 6.5 per cent to $1.69 billion in 2013. The UAE- with its predominately expatriate population of around 8 million- and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are- it seems- the two jurisdictions in the GCC where the demand for medical services- and the appetite to cater to this demand- is booming. The two "senior" Emirates in the seven member federation- Dubai and Abu Dhabi- have broadly similar demographics, hospital beds and medical practitioners although in Dubai the private sector is substantially larger than the public sector whilst the reverse is the case in Abu Dhabi.
    - Galadari & Associates

  • Construction Law & Practice, as published in The European Lawyer (Thomson Reuters)

    1. Construction industry overview for the jurisdiction
    - Galadari & Associates

  • Arbitration in Dubai, March 2013 by Daniel Brawn, Galadari

    The Emirate of Dubai has long been a centre for trade and commercial activity and such activity will inevitably generate disputes. In Arabic culture, traders endeavour to settle their disputes by negotiation, either between themselves or under the guidance of a leading citizen. The growth of international trade and investment has brought a wider range of disputes and Dubai has sought recently to place itself as a centre for commercial dispute resolution. Parties to international contracts are generally unwilling to submit their disputes to the Dubai Courts, with proceedings conducted in Arabic, and therefore international contracts generally include provisions for disputes to be resolved by arbitration. The law is developing rapidly in Dubai and the purpose of this article is to provide an insight into current arbitration practice at this exciting stage of its development.
    - Galadari & Associates

  • Getting it off the ground: the Jointly Owned Property Law in Dubai

    The original version of this article was published in Practical Law, Multi-Jurisdictional Guide to Corporate Real Estate, 2012/2013
    - Afridi & Angell

  • DIFC EMPLOYMENT LAW: WHY 2013 WON’T BE LIKE 2005

    "On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like "1984""
    - Hadef & Partners

  • MLC 2006-WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE SHIPOWNER AND THE COMMON SEAFARER?

    On 7 February 2006, the ILO, a United Nations agency, established the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006). According to the convention, all commercial ships over 500 GT trading internationally will require a Maritime Labour Certificate and a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance. The convention will also apply to ships below 500 GT or those operating on domestic trades (within the flag’s territorial waters) but will not require certification, only inspection.
    - Fichte & Co

  • MLC 2006 - Update

    This article on the MLC 2006 is to provide you with an update and developments regarding the convention. An estimated 90% of world trade is carried on ships and seafarers are essential and integral part of international trade and the international economic and trade system in general.
    - Fichte & Co

  • The Reluctant Poacher - Focusing on the fundamentals

    Foreign labour migration in the UAE (and, indeed, the AGCC in general) is characteristically transient, a trait which is further exacerbated by the increasing liberalisation of local sponsorship transfer rules. The departure of the original employer's talent pool to a competitor will inevitably impact upon its business, especially if the departures lead to loss of key customers or clients, damage to the company’s competitive edge and other critical elements of profitability. Mandeep Kalsi reports
    - Hadef & Partners

  • Enforcement of foreign arbitral awards against UAE counterparties

    The merits and de-merits for seating arbitration in the DIFC using the DIFC-LCIA Arbitration Rules for contracts with UAE counterparties are explored by Reema Ashraf, Jonathan Brown and Valeria Lysenko.
    - Hadef & Partners
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