The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP’s ‘excellent’ finance practice ‘always works with clients to get a win-win situation’, and provides conventional and Islamic finance expertise. Muneer Khan and Natalie Boyd – who is ‘very generous with her time and extremely knowledgeable in derivatives’ – lead a team that was appointed to ADCB’s global panel in 2011. It also represented HSBC Bank Middle East as arranger on a syndicated $225m Islamic financing for Ras Al Khaimah Ceramics. Doha-based Samer Eido moved to Allen & Overy LLP.

Within Construction, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Led by Adrian Cole, Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP has been advising Cebarco LLC in connection with high-value claims by a subcontractor arising from site preparation works for the Abu Dhabi Formula One grand prix race track. Other clients include Abu Dhabi Municipality and Mubadala Development Company.

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

Despite challenging market conditions, Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP maintained an active M&A and ECM deal flow, and increased its Arabic-speaking capability by recruiting Hassan Al Kilany, who joined from a general counsel position at an Abu Dhabi-listed company. Tim Field and Nick Watson’s team acted for HSBC and Citigroup as joint global co-ordinators on Aamal’s postponed global GDR offering. Vanessa Abernethy moved to Baker Botts L.L.P..

Within Dispute resolution, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP’s ‘excellent, insightful and reactive’ team typically provides clients with ‘absolute satisfaction’. Highlights included acting for Damac in successfully defending claims in a case before the DIFC, and acting for Griffins Insolvency Practitioners in a test case in the local courts to trace alleged proceeds of crime into the UAE. Practice head Adrian Cole is excellent.

Within Investment funds, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP’s investment funds practice provides both conventional and Islamic financing expertise through Muneer Khan and Natalie Boyd, who advise asset managers and investors across the region. The team has been working alongside London colleagues on a number of shari’ah-compliant funds for major regional banks.

Within Projects and energy , Simmons & Simmons LLP is a third tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP displays ‘extensive competence in energy projects’, and it is highly regarded by clients, primarily local and international oil and power companies. The team is advising Al Muwakaba for Industrial Development & Overseas Commerce on the development and implementation of a toluene di-isocyanate facility in Saudi Arabia. Other clients include Qatar Petroleum and Shell. The ‘clear and concise’ Adrian Nizzola heads the practice: both he and the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Nick Williams are recommended.

Within Real estate, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a second tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP’s real estate practice is particularly well regarded for its client care and attentiveness, and is popular among master developers in the region. The team has acted on a number of strata, leasing and acquisition matters for clients such as Damac Properties and Sourouh Real Estate. Practice head Duane Keighran has ‘good transaction management skill and technical know-how’ in the hospitality and leisure sector, and David Weir provides ‘practical solutions to project structures and documents’. David Nunn moved to Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP in 2011.

Within TMT, Simmons & Simmons LLP is a second tier firm,

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP’s Alexander Shepherd has a formidable reputation as an expert on TMT and IP aspects of corporate transactions. This is the team which advised Tiger Global Management on the disposal of Maktoob, the Gulf’s largest Arabic language internet portal, to Yahoo! in 2009.