The Legal 500

Within Construction, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s eminent construction practice has a longstanding reputation for its contentious and non-contentious expertise. The team represents a range of clients on issues stemming from the Nakheel restructuring process, and 
also acted for master developers on several construction projects underway in Abu Dhabi. Michael Grose, Mark Blanksby and David McElveny are all highly regarded.

Within Corporate and M&A, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s practice is particularly well respected in the corporate insurance field, where it is regarded as ‘the best in-domicile insurance practice in the UAE’. It recently advised an Islamic insurer on two joint ventures in the UAE, and also acted as co-counsel to LSE-listed Lamprell on its $336m acquisition of Maritime Industrial Services Co Ltd. Abu Dhabi managing partner Niall O’Toole is ‘great at taking overall responsibility and matching the firm’s resources against the clients’ needs’. In Dubai, Phil O’Riordan is ‘responsive and researches issues fully’, and Ben Gillespie is ‘very accessible when partner-level input is required’.

Within Dispute resolution, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s sizeable dispute resolution team gives it the capacity to cover numerous cases across a broad range of matters and industry sectors, as well as coverage that spans the greater GCC region. Although its core strength lies in insurance, it has also seen an increase in financial services regulatory matters, and acted for RSM Tenon and Al Mal Bank in the first case to be brought before the new Qatar Financial Centre Court. In 2011, Christopher Mills was appointed head of the practice following Brian Nash’s relocation to London, and the group also recruited Rebecca Kelly from DLA Piper Middle East LLP, who provides contentious regulatory and compliance expertise.

Within Intellectual property, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP handles ‘complex IP issues to the highest level’, with clients opining that few can match Rob Dean’s ‘combination of UAE and English IP law knowledge’. His team focuses on high-end IP matters through its Arabic-speaking fee earners, and recently strengthened its resources by recruiting new trade mark team head Jon Parker from Rouse. Joycia Young is ‘always fast, prompt, accurate and concise’.

Within Projects and energy , Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP’s service levels are ‘often excellent, and never less than very good’. 2011 saw some significant additions, with the recruitment of George Booth from Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP bringing energy sector expertise to complement David McElveny’s construction and infrastructure knowledge. Highlights for the team included representing Lukoil in its involvement in the West Qurna II oilfield development project, and acting for Transfield Services International on its bid to design, build, finance and operate the Mafraq-Ghweifat highway. Michael Grose is recommended for his ‘experience and knowledge in the construction field’.

Within Real estate, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clients find Clyde & Co LLP’s property practice ‘a pleasure to work with’, and are quick to highlight newly promoted partner Stephen Kelly’s ‘excellent knowledge of strata matters’. Headed up by the ‘prompt, attentive and knowledgeable’ Alexis Waller, the team acts as the primary adviser to major hotel owners and operators such as Marriott International, and has seen significant growth in instructions from Abu Dhabi based master developers. In 2011, it acted for Tourism Development & Investment Company with respect to title structuring and hotel management arrangements for St Regis Hotel and Residences; Saadiyat Island; and Eastern Mangroves in Abu Dhabi.

Within Shipping, Clyde & Co LLP is a first tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP is widely regarded as ‘one of the best maritime law firms in the region’. It acts for some of the UAE’s largest shipping and oil companies, including ETA and Emarat, as well as international companies such as aluminium producer Rusal. Irvine Marr became team head in Dubai following Brian Nash’s return to the London office, while Christopher Mills took over as head of the dispute resolution group. Mills recently acted for Emarat in a $90m multijurisdictional dispute with Trafigura concerning the sale of various gasoil cargoes.

Within TMT, Clyde & Co LLP is a second tier firm,

Clyde & Co LLP provides ‘excellent value for money, and pitches its advice at the right level’ for a sophisticated client base. The team advised Motorola on MENA-region aspects of the global separation of its consumer business from its professional arm, and on the $975m sale of its worldwide networks business to Nokia Siemens Network. Practice head Anthony Garrod is ‘a senior statesman in the region’.