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Allen & Overy LLP

SUITE 101/202 LEVEL 1 & 2, THE GATE VILLAGE BUILDING GV08, DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Warsaw, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Shanghai, Rome , and 28 more

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

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP ‘has been doing deals in the region for much longer than many firms, and, in addition to being well entrenched, is most efficient in terms of keeping costs down’. The team is acting on the UAE’s two largest restructurings, representing the creditors’ committee on the $14.4bn Dubai World and $10.4bn Nakheel restructurings. Despite the downturn in the market, the group continued to act for clients such as BNP Paribas and DSB Bank on fund raisings, and advised Standard Chartered and HSBC as the mandated lead arrangers on a $1.5bn murabaha facility for Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company. Christian Saunders is a ‘knowledgeable, erudite, and commercial lawyer, who regularly guides clients through the intricacies of Middle Eastern law’, while Bimal Desai is consistently identified as ‘a market leader’.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP has ‘extensive experience in the UAE, and is capable of undertaking the most sophisticated commercial and finance transactions’. The team has been involved in some of the market’s largest restructurings – including Dubai World and TID – and continued to act for Mubadala, HSBC and Emirates. Andrew Schoorlemmer and Nicholas Stuart advised News Corporation on its acquisition of a 9.09% stake in Rotana Group, one of the region’s strongest media groups. Meanwhile, Pervez Akhtar acted for the Libyan Investment Authority on its $260m acquisition of Verenex Energy, and Francois Duquette advised Abu Dhabi National Energy on its acquisition of a 54% stake in the Fujairah 2 and Shuweihat power projects. The team is ‘reliable and accurate in its advice’, with Simon Roderick identified as an ‘outstanding lawyer’.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Allen & Overy LLP is a third tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP’s team has ‘good business acumen and industry knowledge’. Simon Roderick and senior associate Christopher Mainwaring-Taylor represented Dubai Petroleum Establishment in arbitration arising from a dispute regarding a terminated offshore drilling agreement. Mainwaring-Taylor ‘gives, good, clear and concise advice’, ‘quickly identifies key issues at hand, and thinks strategically’.

Investment funds

Within Investment funds, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP is highly rated for private equity deals and fund formation. The team established Abraaj Capital’s pan-MENA real estate fund, advised Global MENA Financial Assets on its de-listing from the LSE and its investment in Al Fajer Retakafal Insurance, and advised National Bank of Abu Dhabi on certain growth funds. Nick Smith recently chaired a panel reviewing the DIFC’s Collective Investment Funds regime.

Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy , Allen & Overy LLP is a first tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP enjoys ‘a very strong reputation for projects’, with Bimal Desai the leading figure in the practice. The group regularly advises on prominent projects, and is advising Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport on the Mafraq-Ghweifat Highway PPP and the Abu Dhabi Metro Project, and is also acting on the $1bn Zayed University PPP. The firm’s UAE offices serve as a regional hub, and so the team often acts on large projects throughout the region. Recent highlights include advising on the Jubail refinery and Marafiq IPP in Saudi Arabia, representing the sponsors on two IPPs in Libya, and advising on the expansion of the Al-Samra wastewater treatment plant in Jordan.

Real estate

Within Real estate, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP ‘fields likeable, uniformly excellent teams that listen carefully to what clients want, and then deliver it efficiently and without fuss’. Nick Smith is ‘capable and hardworking’, while senior associate Ian Bevan has a ‘very thorough grasp of real estate law and how it applies in the Middle East’. Consultant Robert Peel recently advised Abu Dhabi Ports Company on the development and concession of the new Khalifa Port.

TMT

Within TMT, Allen & Overy LLP is a second tier firm,

Allen & Overy LLP is a regular feature on the UAE’s big-ticket work, most recently advising News Corporation on its $70m acquisition of a 9.09% stake in Rotana Group. It represented a consortium of lenders on the $2.9bn financing an 81-satellite launch programme. Tom Levine and Andrew Schoorlemmer are the key partners.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Allen & Overy LLP 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 Perth and Sydney

Belgium

Offices in Brussels and Antwerp

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Mannheim, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Algeria

Spain

Offices in Madrid

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

India

Italy

Offices in Milan and Rome

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

London

Offices in London E1 and London E14

Luxembourg

Offices in Luxembourg

Morocco

Offices in Casablanca

Nigeria

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Oman

Philippines

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Offices in Doha

Russia

Offices in Moscow

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Slovakia

Offices in Bratislava

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Tunisia

United States

Offices in New York

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

  • 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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