Yasser K. Riad > White & Case LLP > Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile

Frequently instructed by international financial institutions, premium sponsors, and governments institutions for project financing expertise, White & Case LLP work on an array of blockbuster developments, spanning conventional and renewable energy ventures, social and transport infrastructure builds, and utility developments. Instututional relationships across the region gives the firm access to NEOM projects in Saudi Arabia, railway and passenger station extensions in Abu Dhabi, and novel financing arrangements in the MENA region. The practice is jointly chaired by a number of lawyers, including Adam Pierson, who is regularly sought out by oil and gas giants for his asset expertise and transactional capabilities. Yasser K. Riad is renowned for his far-reaching cross-border project financing practice, possessing comprehensive understanding of various assets, while Antoine Cousin is noted for his expertise in the power, water and utilities sectors. Alexander Malahias stands out for his work in tourism infrastructure projects, working with sovereign wealth funds on joint ventures and financing transactions, while Ivan Paskal is chiefly engaged on energy-related matters. Din Eshanov – who relocated to Abu Dhabi from Riyadh in 2023 – is a key figure for NEOM-related work.

Helming high-profile deals for a mix of leading industry players, White & Case LLP excels across the entire range of financing mandates with notable strength acting on landmark energy and infrastructure projects alongside construction and real estate developments. An enviable client list includes private credit and direct lending entities who view the firm as a go-to in the region for relevant financing advice, as well as premium financial institutions – both domestic and international – and major publicly-traded companies. The firm fields a string of experienced practitioners as team heads, including the Dubai-based Claire Matheson Kirton who is prominent adviser to government related entities on both conventional and Islamic financing; Debashis Dey, who complements his cross-border prowess with expert knowledge of Islamic financing and capital markets; and William Watson who has established strength in debt financing. Acting out of Abu Dhabi, Alexander Malahias is the fulcrum of the group’s considerable project financing offering, sharing the workload with Antoine Cousin who is a formidable PPP adviser. Adam Pierson wields a commendable regional practice, working for clients such as NEOM Company, Saudi Aramco and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation for Jordan, while Yasser K. Riad has experience acting on energy deals across the Americas, Europe and Asia.