Clifford Chance has a preeminent corporate and M&A practice, with specialist partners based across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. It primarily advises sovereign wealth funds, government-related entities, financial institutions and corporates active in a broad spectrum of sectors. The group is co-headed by Mohammed Al-Shukairy, who has extensive experience advising on major M&A deals, and Mike Taylor, who primarily focuses on transactions in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Jason Mendens is experienced with transactions in the GCC and Africa and Deniz Taz specialises in cross-border M&A and restructurings. Counsel Daniel Boyle has a track record advising private equity and corporate clients. Jack Hardman was recently promoted to partner.

White & Case LLP’s M&A offering is well regarded, with a number of dedicated specialists based in the region. It advises clients active in a wide range of sectors, though it has particular expertise in the technology, real estate, infrastructure, and energy sectors, as well as acting for sovereign wealth and private equity funds. Abdulwahid Alulama specialises in cross-border transactions, corporate governance, and commercial deals. Sami Al-Louzi is noted for his expertise acting on M&A transactions in the UAE and Saudi Arabia markets. Steven Worthington has significant experience advising corporate and financial sponsor clients. Marcus Booth heads the firm’s private equity offering. Ali Shaikley left the firm.

Baker McKenzie LLP has an active corporate and commercial practice, and is particularly well regarded in the consumer goods and retail transactions space. The group is co-led by Omar Momany, who focuses on public and private M&A, corporate restructuring and disputes, and joint ventures, alongside Osama Audi, who advises on M&A, venture capital and investment fund matters. Hani Naja has been engaged in various corporate structuring matters and Adnan Doha has broad corporate expertise across a range of sectors. Abeer Jarrar focuses on equity capital markets and M&A transactions.

The corporate, finance and investments group at King & Spalding LLP has broad sector expertise across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, including in the energy and infrastructure, food and beverage, and healthcare sectors. Nabil Issa leads the team, and has particular expertise acting for Saudi governmental and quasi-governmental clients. James Stull offers funds and asset management expertise, whilst Macky O’Sullivan, who was recently promoted to partner, is particularly active in the venture capital space. Simon Rahimzada departed to Ashurst LLP in late 2022.

Latham & Watkins LLP has a well-regarded corporate practice, with the team regularly advising on both the buy and sell side of M&A transactions. Its expertise spans a broad range of sectors, though it is particularly active in the technology, healthcare and energy industries. Practice head Chris Lester  has extensive experience advising on public and private M&A transactions across the wider Middle East region. Eyad Latif was recently promoted to partner and specialises in cross-border M&A. Omar Maayeh focuses on corporate transactions in the technology venture capital space.

Akin has a dedicated corporate practice, with the team advising a number of sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, and investors. It is noted for its strength in sovereign investment-related mandates, and is particularly active in the TMT, leisure and tourism, and defence sectors. Wael Jabsheh leads the group and has extensive experience in the region advising on domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and private equity matters. Associate Mazen Baddar has broad corporate and commercial transactional expertise.

The corporate team at Baker Botts L.L.P. is recognised for its strength in advising overseas investors seeking to expand into the UAE and wider Middle East region. It also has particular expertise in the franchising space, with the team advising on a number of high-profile corporations. The group is co-headed by Haitham Hawashin, who has extensive experience in cross-border public and private M&A deals, and Mark Bisch, who focuses on joint ventures, contracting, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance matters.

Dentons has a substantive corporate offering that is particularly active in the energy, defence, TMT, real estate, and healthcare sectors. With the firm’s wider regional network, as well as strong local and international expertise, it is also able to assist in cross-border transactional matters. Practice head Iain Black has significant experience acting on M&A and joint venture mandates in the region. Catherine Beckett has a broad practice, covering M&A transactions alongside equity capital markets and business establishment matters.

Eversheds Sutherland LLP handles a broad range of corporate and commercial transactions for both public and private sector clients. Zeid Hanania leads the corporate arm of the group, and is particularly active in private equity, M&A and joint venture mandates. Steve Jennings is also noted for his experience in these areas. Geraldine Ahern leads the commercial side and has significant expertise advising on contractual structuring matters, distribution and franchising arrangements, and drafting bespoke commercial contracts.

The corporate, M&A, and securities practice at Norton Rose Fulbright  is headed by Adjou Ait Ben Idir, who has significant experience advising local and international clients on inbound and outbound cross-border transactions. Zubair Mir, who recently joined from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, and Kayaan Unwalla have additional expertise advising sovereign wealth fund and government entities on international investments and M&A transactions. Counsel Shahrzad Askarpour is noted for her experience advising on multi-jurisdictional M&A mandates.

Addleshaw Goddard handles a broad spectrum of corporate and commercial transactions. Practice head Andrew Johnston specialises in cross-border M&A, joint venture, and private equity mandates. Lowri Llwyd has particular expertise in the retail, TMT, and education sectors, and Owen Richards regularly acts on M&A and investment mandates within the MENA region. Hardeep Plahe and Fraser Dawson recently joined from Gibson Dunn; they have expertise across a broad range of corporate transactions, while Ibrahim Siddiki is likewise a new name, having arrived in March 2023 from Bracewell LLP.

The corporate and commercial team at Afridi & Angell is experienced in M&A, joint ventures, restructuring, and commercial contracts. Bashir Ahmed, who has extensive experience advising on cross-border corporate transactional and competition matters, co-leads the group with Charles Laubach, who has particular strength in government procurement matters. Danielle Lobo is noted for her experience in M&A and private equity transactions and Abdus Samad focuses on transactional and corporate advisory matters.

Bird & Bird has particular expertise advising clients in technology-related sectors, as well as handling franchising and licensing agreements on the commercial side. It is also sought out by UAE government entities. Anders Nilsson heads the corporate and aviation practice from Abu Dhabi and Melissa Murray heads the commercial side from Dubai. Johannes Eisser specialises in M&A and joint venture transactions. Senior associate Surabhi Singhi is noted for her experience advising on corporate and regulatory matters.

The corporate and securities team at Dechert LLP advises regional and international clients on the full investment life cycle, and has particular expertise handling corporate and financing transactions, as well as inbound and outbound M&A matters across the MENA region. Philip Dowsett leads the group, and has significant experience acting for private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds on M&A deals. Previous practice head Chris Sioufi left the firm.

Hogan Lovells (United Arab Emirates) LLP has a full-service corporate offering, with the team advising on agency and distribution arrangements, regulatory issues, and compliance mandates. Imtiaz Shah leads the team from Dubai, with extensive experience acting on M&A transactions in the Middle East, particularly in the luxury retail space. Charles Fuller advises PE funds, financial institutions, corporations and sovereign wealth funds on a broad range of corporate transactions.

Ibrahim & Partners advises on a wide variety of public and private M&A transactions, including those involving joint stock companies and UAE companies with international operations. Managing partner Ahmed Ibrahim co-leads the team from Dubai alongside Malack El Masry, who has extensive experience in the region advising on M&A deals, as well as a broad range of corporate, commercial, and structuring expertise.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has an active corporate and commercial practice, with a key focus on the defence and aviation, technology, healthcare, and energy and infrastructure sectors. Mark Gilligan leads the team from Abu Dhabi, with significant experience advising both private and institutional clients. Richard Knott specialises in transactional capital deployment and formation matters, whilst senior associate Joanna Maria El Khoury focuses on corporate mandates.

Shearman & Sterling LLP is recognised for its expertise in the energy sector, specifically oil and gas. It handles a range of matters, including minority investments, acquisitions of controlling stakes or entire companies, and joint ventures, acting primarily for companies, financial institutions and governments. Andrew Steele has particular expertise in the financial services, energy, and natural resources sectors. Marwan Elaraby, Renad Younes, and Jade Chu recently departed the firm. Since publication, Kasia Lebiecki left the firm.

The corporate team at Squire Patton Boggs has broad expertise across a range of sectors, and is particularly experienced in handling cross-border M&A, joint ventures, privatisations, and restructurings. Matthew Powell heads the team, and is noted for his regional M&A market expertise.

AMERELLER advises international companies on a range of matters in the MENA region, including cross-border M&A with a focus on foreign inbound investments, joint ventures, and restructuring mandates. It has particular expertise in the automotive, manufacturing, and healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. The team is led by Jochen Murach, Christopher Gunson, Babak Namazi, and Jonathan Noble.

Anjarwalla Collins & Haidermota (AC&H) has expertise in African and Southwest Asia cross-border corporate mandates, covering a full range of M&A transactions. Managing partner Atiq S. Anjarwalla leads the group and is particularly active in advising UAE clients investing in African markets. Adil Shafi is also noted for his expertise in corporate and securities transactions.

Managing partner Marco De Leo heads BonelliErede’s Middle East offering and has particular expertise handling corporate and commercial transactions, including M&A and joint ventures, in the luxury sector. Beyond that, the practice also advises clients active in a range of other sectors, including energy, shipping, healthcare, and construction.

Bracewell LLP has particular expertise in joint venture and shareholder arrangements, commercial contracts, and corporate structuring mandates. It is particularly active in the defence, automotive, recruitment, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Christopher R. Williams leads the team and has extensive experience advising on corporate and M&A transactions across the Middle East. Kasia Lebiecki was a new arrival in September 2023.

Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP has expertise in the logistics, infrastructure, TMT, financial services, and hospitality sectors. It advises on a range of corporate matters, including distressed M&A work. Practice head Jeremy Miocevic specialises in mid-cap private equity, M&A, and strategic corporate issues. Ibrahim Elsadig and Paul Bugingo provide cross-border know-how relating to the GCC region and Africa, respectively.

Galadari, Advocates & Legal Consultants advises on the full lifecycle of commercial and corporate mandates across a variety of sectors, including banking and finance, insurance, and energy. The team is co-headed by Ziad Galadari, who has significant expertise in development projects across the Middle East, and Fadi Hassoun, who specialises in corporate finance and structuring matters. Ken Dixon left the firm.

Boutique law firm SCHLÜTER GRAF Legal Consultants specialises in corporate and commercial matters, advising on a full spectrum of mandates, with particular expertise in the infrastructure, projects, and construction space. Andrés Ring, who has significant experience advising on joint ventures, M&A, and restructuring matters, jointly leads the team alongside Christoph Keimer.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP is particularly active in mid-market M&A work across a variety of sectors. Bill Jefferies leads the team from Dubai, and has extensive expertise advising on PE and M&A mandates, and Stephen Sullivan leads the corporate transactions team in Abu Dhabi. Also noted is Saleem Adam, who specialises in TMT-related commercial transactions.