The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, SNR Denton is a second tier firm,

SNR Denton provides ‘invaluable expertise’ in trade, project and asset finance, particularly where emerging markets are involved. Highlights for the seven-partner team included advising Standard Chartered on a $120m collateral-backed import and export facility to finance 
soft commodities trading in seven African jurisdictions. Practice head Simon Cook is ‘knowledgeable and able to handle local matters to international standard’; and Paul Jarvis is ‘a very solid finance lawyer who appreciates the technical aspects of asset finance transactions as well as their local law implications’.

Within Construction, SNR Denton is a first tier firm,

SNR Denton’s ‘established and well-respected’ construction practice provides ‘clear strength in depth across the sector’. The team, including Paul Stothard and the ‘highly responsive’ David Risbridger, notably represented the government committee responsible for the $4.8bn Midfield terminal building project at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Nick Kramer provides ‘solid technical advice in a commercial context’.

Within Corporate and M&A, SNR Denton is a second tier firm,

Clients seek out SNR Denton’s corporate practice due to its ‘excellent business acumen’ and ‘knowledge of the market standards in the region’. Its dual English and Arabic capability and geographic footprint are assets that make it a key fixture on many transactions, particularly where there is an infrastructure or oil and gas component. Recent highlights include advising Nokia Siemens Networks on the acquisition of Motorola’s wireless network infrastructure assets across the Middle East. Practice head Andrew Ward is recommended, as is Neil Nicholson, who is ‘very skilled in legal analysis and quick in understanding’.

Within Dispute resolution, SNR Denton is a third tier firm,

SNR Denton’s contentious practice ‘takes the time to know the client’s objectives, and manages the execution of cases in accordance with those objectives’. Michael Kerr and practice head Paul Stothard, who is ‘an excellent manager and tactician’, are particularly experienced in construction disputes and handle arbitration matters for clients such as Standard Chartered and Al Fajer Properties.

Within Intellectual property, SNR Denton is a third tier firm,

SNR Denton’s three-partner IP team has been acting for Luxottica Group – owner of the Ray-Ban and Oakley brands – on its IP-related issues, including trade mark registrations and parallel importation matters relating to Ray-Ban sunglasses. It also handles anti-counterfeiting matters for Spirits International, owner of the Stolichnaya vodka brand. Joby Beretta heads the team.

Within Projects and energy , SNR Denton is a second tier firm,

SNR Denton’s projects practice ‘compares very favourably’ with its peers and competitors in the market, with Rob Walker singled out for his ‘talent and knowledge of EPC contracts’. Abu Dhabi based Stuart Cavet now heads the energy practice after James Dallas relocated to London in April 2011, and Neil Cuthbert heads the overall projects team. Highlights included acting for RAK Petroleum on its acquisition of various upstream assets in the Emirate of Ras al-Khaimah by way of exchange of non oil and gas assets, and a subsequent agreement with the local government to consolidate those interests for tax purposes. Other clients include BP and Mitsui E&P Middle East.

Within Shipping, SNR Denton is a second tier firm,

SNR Denton’s Middle East shipping practice is squarely focused on ship finance transactions, where it acts for leading banks including RBS, HSBC and BNP Paribas. Paul Jarvis’ team advised Standard Chartered on a $56m shari’ah-compliant murabaha facility for the refinancing of six Marshall Islands flagged ships owned by Topaz Marine and Energy Limited.

Within TMT, SNR Denton is a third tier firm,

SNR Denton strengthened its practice by bringing in Joby Beretta, who now heads the TMT team, which displays ‘reliability and an excellent level of service’. Its heavyweight clients include Intel and the UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.