The Legal 500

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

The ‘very helpful, responsive and good all-round lawyers’ at SNR Denton are highly recommended for both Islamic and conventional finance. Neil Cuthbert, managing partner of the firm’s Middle East offices, is particularly notable for his ‘project finance expertise’. The group advised Bank of Uganda on introducing Islamic finance legislation to Uganda, and a steel company on a $2bn-plus bridge and project financing facility for a new plant. Simon Cook heads the trade and export finance group and is highly recommended, while Shaikh Muddassir Siddiqui is valued for his dual talents as a Sharia scholar and US-qualified attorney.

Within Construction, SNR Denton is a first tier firm,

SNR Denton is ‘committed to meeting tight deadlines on short notice’, and ‘sets itself apart from the competition by the length of time it has been established in the region; it has lawyers who are able to advise in depth on local law issues and draft documents straight into Arabic’. The team acted for the government’s supervision committee regarding the development of the $4.8bn Midfield Terminal Building at Abu Dhabi International Airport, and represented JT Metro JV on approximately $3bn worth of claims arising from the development of the Dubai Metro. While David Courtney-Hatcher moved to the firm’s Oman office, the impressive team of David Risbridger, Michael Kerr, Paul Stothard and consultant Peter Shaw continue to operate from the UAE.

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

SNR Denton is ‘more robust and commercial in its advice, and capable of driving matters to completion more efficiently’ than some of its competitors. Clients cite as key strengths ‘the team’s warm and professional personalities, vast experience, knowledge of law, and practice in the region and the UK’. The firm has one of the widest networks in the Middle East, with offices covering the entirety of the GCC, and it represents clients such as BP, Emirates National Oil Company and Etisalat. Neil Nicholson – a ‘clear favourite thanks to his creativity in structuring, knowledge in relation to legal and commercial issues, and client and negotiating skills’ – recently acted alongside the Cairo office to advise Symrise on its acquisition of Futura Group. Clients are ‘extremely pleased in terms of the quality of advice and strength of the team’.

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

SNR Denton’s arbitration-focused dispute resolution group continued to see a rise in instructions on high-profile cases, and has particular strength in handling contentious construction work. Clients include Samsung, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, and RAK Petroleum. Practice head Paul Stothard is a ‘quality performer’, who is ‘recommended for construction disputes and international arbitration’.

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

SNR Denton advises on all aspects of BP’s downstream petroleum activities in the Middle East, and is acting for the Supervision Committee for the Expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport on procurement and documentation for the new midfield terminal complex. The group is ‘well aware of practical issues – just as important as the technical skill is the ability to advise on how laws are enforced or implemented in practice, and to have access to the relevant governmental staff to be able to check matters’. James Dallas has ‘great depth of knowledge and experience in the oil and gas sector’.

Within Shipping, SNR Denton is a second tier firm,

Paul Jarvis and Ibrahim Elsadig head SNR Denton’s practice, which primarily focuses on high-value transactions. The team advised Standard Chartered on a $45m syndicated ship finance facility for Nico Middle East, and acted for Fal Oil Company on financing for two new tankers.