Legal500

King & Spalding

CURRENCY HOUSE TOWER - LEVEL 24, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE, PO BOX 506547 DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Tel:: Work +971 4 377 9900
Fax:: Fax +971 4 377 9955

Web:: www.kslaw.com
Email:

Washington DC, Singapore, San Francisco, Riyadh, Redwood Shores, Paris and 11 more

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

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

King & Spalding’s highly regarded Islamic finance experts act for clients such as Kuwait Finance House, Arab National Bank and Standard Chartered. Highlights in 2011 included advising Amlak Finance on restructuring various Islamic financing facilities and investments across the region. Islamic finance specialist Nabil Issa splits his time between Riyadh and Dubai. Rizwan Kanji and senior associate Lidia Kamleh joined from Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

King & Spalding’s clients particularly appreciate the ‘responsiveness and quality of service’ provided by its corporate practice. Its workload encompasses fund formation, acquisition and investment, as well as portfolio management, divestments and asset sales for a private equity sponsor and broader institutional client base. In 2011, it represented GEMS, a portfolio company of Abraaj Capital, in its joint venture with Sharbatly to develop and operate schools in Saudi Arabia; and advised Al Futtaim on its reorganisation and buyout of First Motor Company and Best Company. Nabil Issa is ‘a very good lawyer with excellent experience in the Saudi market’.

Investment funds

Within Investment funds, King & Spalding LLP is a second tier firm,

King & Spalding largely represents private equity sponsors and financial institutions on fund-related transactions, and is a regular feature on M&A-related matters for some of the most prominent funds in the region. Islamic finance expert Jawad Ali and Nabil Issa also handle fund formation and structuring matters for private equity clients, which include Abraaj Capital.

Projects and energy

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

King & Spalding LLP’s projects team provides ‘expertise and professionalism that is of the highest calibre’. Highlights included acting for the Tourism Development & Investment Company on the development of its multibillion-dollar Saadiyat Island development, which includes a district cooling PPP project. David Lavery and Hoda Naghdy joined the Abu Dhabi office from Minter Ellison and Freehills, respectively, joining Tim Burbury, whose ‘negotiation skills are unmatched’ and who has ‘a wealth of knowledge and deep understanding of the energy management field’. Philip Weems relocated to the Singapore office.

Further information on King & Spalding LLP

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

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

France

Offices in Paris

Dispute resolution : International arbitration

Kuwait

Legal market overview : Legal market overview

London

Offices in London

Russia

Offices in Moscow

Corporate and M&A : Moscow

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Geneva

United States

Offices in Washington DC, New York, Houston, Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, San Francisco, and Redwood Shores

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