The Legal 500

Back to Legal500 home

DLA Piper Middle East LLP

PO BOX 121662 , LEVEL 6, BUILDING 6, EMAAR SQUARE, BURJ DUBAI, DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Tel:
Work +971 4 438 6100
Fax:
Fax +971 4 438 6101
Web:
www.dlapiper.com
Email:
Zagreb, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Tokyo, Tbilisi , and 75 more

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

Construction

Within Construction, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper Middle East LLP felt the impact of the financial crisis more than much of the competition due to the amount of work the firm traditionally handled for Nakheel. However, David Nancarrow is recommended and continues to act for clients such as Abener Energia, Aldar Properties, and Abu Dhabi General Services.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4

Although DLA Piper Middle East LLP witnessed a number of departures following the credit crunch, the firm still has a ten-lawyer team in the UAE, and continues to act for clients such as Emap, Emirates NBD and Delta Partners. The team advised Toll on its acquisition of Logistics Distribution Systems, and Wataniya Co-Op Insurance Company on its formation and IPO in Saudi Arabia. Dubai-based Simon Davidson is recommended for equity capital markets, mergers, and private equity work. Karl Tabbakh is the key partner on the ground in Abu Dhabi.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper Middle East LLP represents clients in local courts, particularly handling a large volume of construction and real estate cases, and is also recommended for arbitration. The team recruited legal director Salem Chalabi – who served as the principal liaison on legal matters between the Iraqi Governing Council and the Coalition Provisional Authority – and Maher Ghanma, who assisted with the establishment of Jordan’s international affairs department, from A’Sidrah Public Affairs. Jim Delkousis is recommended.

Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper Middle East LLP advised Averda International on the development and implementation of a global brand protection strategy, and serves as global IP counsel for The Brand Cellar. The group is able to call upon the firm’s extensive resources throughout the GCC and, while overseas clients remain its core source of instruction, it is recording significant growth among regional clients. Matthew Glynn, who splits his time between Dubai and Hong Kong, heads the IP and technology practice in Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Joycia Young left to join Clyde & Co LLP.

Projects and energy

Within Projects and energy , tier 4

DLA Piper Middle East LLP is ‘a good outfit’, but instituted a number of layoffs in 2009 and 2010. Recent hire Shehzaad Sacranie left to accept a post as general counsel at Mubadala GE Capital. Anthony Ellis and David Nancarrow continue to handle projects work from Dubai.

Real estate

Within Real estate, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper Middle East LLP went through a rapid expansion and then reduction due to the fall of the property market, but continues to advise on a number of developments for clients such as Sunland Group and Zabeel Investments. Practice head Tom O’Grady recently worked alongside David Nancarrow and David Sanson to advise Rixima FZ on the first purpose-built, on-campus student accommodation in Dubai, valued at approximately $200m.

TMT

Within TMT, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper Middle East LLP has strength across the board in TMT, acting for clients such as Standard Bank and Technology Partners on telecoms matters, for Barclays and Musanada on technology issues, and for twofour54 and Etihad Airways on media cases. Previous experience includes advising Baynounah on the procurement of its business-critical broadcasting system. Practice head Matt Glynn is a ‘market leader’, while the team also includes Hinal Patel and consultant Ken Dearsley. Lenka Glynn left to head the TMT practice at Pinsent Masons.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another DLA Piper 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 Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Australia

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Belgium

Offices in Antwerp and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Offices in Sarajevo

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid

France

Offices in Paris

Georgia

Offices in Tbilisi

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

India

Italy

Offices in Milan and Rome

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Offices in Safat

London

Offices in London

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

Norway

Offices in Oslo

North West

Offices in Liverpool and Manchester

Oman

Offices in Muscat

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Offices in Doha and Doha

Romania

Offices in Bucharest

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

Scotland

Offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Slovakia

Offices in Bratislava

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Turkey

Offices in Istanbul

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

United States

Offices in San Francisco, Seattle, Palo Alto, San Diego (Downtown), Boston, Los Angeles, Tampa, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Las Vegas, North Carolina, Austin,Texas, Houston, Texas, Reston, Virginia, Minneapolis, Atlanta, La Jolla, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Diego (Golden Triangl, Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, Orlando, New Jersey, and Maryland

Vietnam

West Midlands

Offices in Birmingham

Yorkshire and the Humber

Offices in Leeds and Sheffield

Serbia

Offices in Belgrade

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
DLA Piper LLP

  • Sentencing guidelines for corporate manslaughter

    In February 2010 the Sentencing Guidelines Council (the SGC) issued definitive guidelines to courts on imposing appropriate sentences for corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences causing death. The SGC states that fines imposed on companies found guilty of corporate manslaughter should not fall below £500,000, while fines in respect of health and safety offences that are a significant cause of death should be at least £100,000. Crucially, the SGC declined to provide for a fixed link between the imposed fine and the turnover or profitability of the offending company.

    - DLA Piper UK LLP

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
© 2012 www.legal500.com