The Legal 500

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

Samer Eido’s team at Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP is particularly well known for Islamic finance, with Natalie Boyd and Muneer Khan both recommended. Khan recently advised Dubai Islamic Bank on the $842m syndicated multipurpose Islamic credit facility granted to Saudi Binladin Group as part of the $2.22bn development of a girls’ university campus, an innovative deal that required most of the agreements to be drafted from scratch.

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

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP advised the Abu Dhabi government on developing the $10bn MBZ City, and acted for a petrochemicals producer on its $2.6bn expansion of existing facilities at Borouge 3. Adrian Cole, a qualified lawyer and quantity surveyor, is recommended for construction work on major projects.

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP remained busy acting for clients such as UAE Exchange and telecoms company, Du. The team picked up its first instructions from Tiger Global Management, advising on the company’s disposal of Maktoob, the Gulf’s largest Arabic internet portal. Other highlights included acting for Independent Risk Solutions on its merger with Dubai-based Insure Direct Brokers. Tim Field and Isabella Roberts’ arrival from London has given the firm capacity to provide corporate advice from Abu Dhabi. George Booth moved to Clyde & Co LLP.

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

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP’s Adrian Cole is ‘clearly a very experienced and competent lawyer who has a sound knowledge of both UAE law, and the practice and procedures of the courts and arbitration in the UAE as it relates to construction disputes’. Senior associate Raza Mithani, who joined from Al Tamimi & Company, is recommended for his ‘technical know-how and skill in relation to complex matters’.

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

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP is best known for advising on Sharia-complaint investment funds, acting for clients such as Allianz Global Investors and Dubai Islamic Bank. Muneer Khan and Vanessa Abernethy recently advised Gulfmena Alternative Investments on its Gulfmena Arab Opportunities Fund, one of the few funds to launch in 2010.

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

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP acted for Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies on establishing a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility for military aircraft in the Middle East. It is also advising National Water in Saudi Arabia on PPPs and management outsourcing for water and wastewater systems in Makkah/Al Taif, Dammam, and Madinah. Other clients include Mubadala and Qatar Petroleum. The team has undergone significant change with the departures of Paul Simpson and George Booth, the latter to Clyde & Co LLP, and the arrivals in Abu Dhabi of Nicholas Williams and recently promoted partner Adrian Nizzola.

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

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP is ‘one of the top law firms, combining local law knowledge with international expertise’. The firm picked up instructions from new clients such as ZonesCorp. David Nunn has a ‘deep knowledge of local and regional laws’, while Duane Keighran is recommended for his ‘strong business acumen, excellent legal analytical skills and knowledge of the latest legal developments’.

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

Alexander Shepherd leads an impressive team at Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP, which recently advised Emirates Integrated Telecommunications on its investment in the $700m Europe-India Gateway fibre-optic submarine cable system. Other notable work includes advising Tiger Global Management on the disposal of Maktoob, the Gulf’s largest Arabic internet portal, and acting for International SmartCard and the government of Iraq on the second phase of its smartcard payment system.