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Clifford Chance

3RD FLOOR, THE EXCHANGE BUILDING, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE, PO BOX 9380, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Washington DC, Warsaw, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Shanghai , and 28 more

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

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance offers ‘sound legal advice, and a strong awareness of the market’, founded upon a long history as a ‘leading banking and finance practice in the region’. The group has been involved in some of the most prominent restructurings in the Middle East, including assisting Dubai World with its restructuring, during which it advised on discussions with four separate co-committees. Other highlights included advising Zain Saudi Arabia on Sharia-compliant profit rate swaps worth $2.2bn, and acting for Dubai Electricity and Water Authority on its first ECA-supported financing. The team’s deep bench of lawyers includes a number of impressive partners, such as the ‘very highly rated’ Peter Avery, ‘leading individual’ Robin Abraham, and Debashis Dey.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Despite a difficult market, Clifford Chance is ‘very well respected’ and was ‘one of the few firms to have a busy year in Dubai’. It represented Dubai World on its $26bn restructuring and acted for Invest AD on disposing of all shares in National Financial Brokerage Company, by way of its merger with Al Ramz Securities. The team also advised Almarai Company, the world’s largest integrated dairy company, on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Hail Agricultural Development Company. Although Simon Clinton will be missed following his move to the Singapore office, Mike Taylor is ‘very capable’ and ‘really delivers’, and Peter Avery is ‘outstanding’. The team provides ‘good support that’s not cheap, but offers value for money’.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s lawyers are ‘always on the ball, with intrinsic knowledge that allows them to provide advice that is always in line with circumstances’. The team is particularly active in the DIFC courts, where managing partner Graham Lovett has a strong reputation. James Abbott made partner in 2010 – he ‘works tirelessly for clients, and is always able to provide excellent and pragmatic advice’.

Investment funds

Within Investment funds, Clifford Chance is a second tier firm,

Much of the investment funds work handled by Clifford Chance is run from the London office, although a number of the lawyers based in Dubai are heavily involved in the work. Recent highlights include advising Noor Islamic Bank on establishing a Sharia-compliant private equity feeder fund, and The First Investor on setting up a CIS-focused real estate fund.

Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy , Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance’s ‘strong practice’ combines international standards with ‘local law capability’. Richard Parris led the Dubai team in advising Saudi Tabreed Cooling on construction and development financing for a district cooling plant, the Middle East’s first BOO/BOT in the cooling plant sector. Peter Avery acted for DP World Dakar as borrower of facilities provided by Standard Chartered Bank and African Development Bank to finance the development of a container terminal at Dakar in Senegal. The team handles a number of instructions in Saudi Arabia, where it works alongside Al-Jadaan & Partners Law Firm in co-operation with Clifford Chance LLP.

Real estate

Within Real estate, Clifford Chance is a first tier firm,

Clifford Chance ‘efficiently and expeditiously provides quality advice’. The firm has seen an increase in non-contentious work as market conditions improve. Past experience includes advising Limitless on the development of a $12bn mixed-use development in Riyadh, and acting for Jabal Omar Development Company on its SAR12bn development in Mecca. Peter Deegan and counsel Steven Henderson regularly feature on the largest developments in the region.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Clifford Chance office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

United Arab Emirates

Offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Perth

Belgium

Offices in Brussels

China

Offices in Shanghai and Beijing

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and Munich

Algeria

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Indonesia

India

Italy

Offices in Rome and Milan

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

London

Offices in London E14 and London EC2R

Luxembourg

Offices in Luxembourg

Morocco

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Oman

Philippines

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Offices in Doha

Romania

Offices in Bucharest

Russia

Offices in Moscow

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Taiwan

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Tunisia

Turkey

Offices in Istanbul

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

United States

Offices in Washington DC, New York, and Menlo Park

Vietnam

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Clifford Chance

Legal Developments in United Arab Emirates

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • 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

  • Inheritance Laws of the UAE – Significance of Wills

    If the transient bout of economic recession is kept aside, yester years witnessed huge growth in the financial sector of the UAE. This inspired a big chunk of expatriate population to relocate to the UAE both for employment and investment. With the most congenial economic and employment ambience created by the visionary rulers of the country, many of the expatriates made significant economical gains too.
    - Habib Al Mulla & Company

  • AN OVERVIEW OF UAE AGENCY LAW

    Mark Gilligan & Douglas G. Smith: September 2011 
    - Habib Al Mulla & Company
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