ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners > Kuwait City, Kuwait > Firm Profile
ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners Offices
SALHIYA COMPLEX, GATE 1, 3RD FLOOR
PO BOX 447
SAFAT 13005
Kuwait
ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings
Kuwait > Banking and finance Tier 1
ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners‘ banking expertise covers debt capital markets, project and acquisition finance, commodity trade finance and investment structures. The practice is frequently instructed by lenders and investment firms across the GCC region to advise on banks’ lending arrangements and compliance with the Kuwaiti banking and financial services regulatory framework. Key figures include Ibrahim Sattout, senior partner Sam Habbas
, and counsel Rob Little.Practice head(s):
Sam Habbas; Rob Little
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
National Bank of Kuwait
KIPCO (Kuwait Projects Company (Holding)
Warba Insurance Company KSC
Burgan Bank Group
Burgan Bank
Citibank N.A.
Markaz
KAMCO
National Bank of Kuwait Capital
Kuwait Finance House K.S.C.P.
Work highlights
- Acting as legal adviser in Kuwait to the guarantor in connection with the issuance of $700m perpetual Tier 1 capital securities by NBK Tier 1 Limited and guaranteed on a subordinated basis.
- Acted as Kuwaiti legal adviser to the joint lead managers in relation to the issuance of $500m 3.950% fixed rate resettable perpetual non-call 6 tier 1 capital certificates by Boubyan Tier 1 Sukuk Limited.
- Advised Kuwait Finance House on the offering of a $150m commodity murabaha (tawarruq)-based financing for the purpose of refinancing existing debt, and up to $100m Shariah-compliant working capital financing to Equate Petrochemical Company K.S.C.C.
Kuwait > Dispute resolution Tier 1
ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners’ disputes practice represents clients in banking, construction, insurance, property, taxation and employment cases. It also has niche experience in advising on military supply contract disputes and construction claims in the oil sector. The 'pre-eminent’ Ahmed Barakat specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration and is assisted by Ahmed Zakaria and Hisham Al Qura’an, who also have a varied litigation practice.Practice head(s):
Ahmed Barakat
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Full knowledge of the law of Kuwait and practical, commercially minded solutions. Responsive.’
‘Ahmed Barakat is a dean of the Kuwait bar. He knows Kuwaiti law and practice inside and out.’
‘Great support with aligning on a litigation strategy and executing it before the local courts. Communication throughout the process was outstanding.’
‘Deep expertise and experience across a range of industries and sectors in Kuwait.’
‘Unparalleled knowledge and experience. Ahmed Barakat is pre-eminent.’
Key clients
Zulficar & Partners
Ernst & Young Middle East
Baker Botts L.L.P.
Alghanim Industries
Clyde & Co
BDO
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP
M. H. Al Shaya Co. WLL
PWC Middle East
IATA
Hill International
SKEC
Covington & Burling
R+V Versicherung AG
Precision Drilling
HSBC Middle East
ACCIONA Cultural Engineering
Kuwait > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2
At ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners, practice head Sam Habbas has a wealth of expertise in advising Kuwaiti, regional and multinational clients on a wide range of commercial, corporate and M&A transactions. Oil and gas, infrastructure and banking are among its key sectors. David Walker advises on direct foreign investment, government contracting and tenders, and agency, franchise, and distributorship matters.Practice head(s):
Sam Habbas
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Strong client focus – able to think with the client and speak their language.’
‘Fast response times, highly professional, work with the client rather than in isolation. Sam Habbas in particularly recommended.’
Key clients
National Industries Group
Alghanim Industries
KEO International Consultants
Kuwait LBO Fund L.P.
Azadea Group
Clifford Chance LLP
Arab Investment Company
Allen & Overy
Hogan Lovells
Eversheds
Clifford Chance LLP
Azadea Group
Al-Dhow Engineering General Trading & Contracting Co.
WTE Wassertechnik GmbH
Astrolabe Holding Co.
Safwan Trading & Contracting Co. W.L.L.
Al Mulla Group Holding Co. (KSCC)
Gulf Investment Corporation
M.H. Alshaya Co. W.L.L
Alghanim Industries
The Taken Seat
Sama Educational Co KSCC
Work highlights
- Supporting a consortium including Al Argan International Real Estate, as preferred bidder, in respect of the J2 Investment Opportunity (Business Centre and Retail) in the Jaber Al Ahmad City being procured by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare.
- Advising a client in relation to the procurement process for the development and operation of a private school in Jaber Al-Ahmad City.
- Advised Gameland Trading and Contracting Co WLL and Hydro Trading Co WLL on the sale of a 100% share in Al Faysal Bakery and Sweets Company.
Kuwait > Intellectual property Tier 2
Kuwait > Oil and gas Tier 2
Kuwait > Privatisation and projects Tier 2
ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners > Firm Profile
ASAR ‒ Al Ruwayeh and Partners is an award winning law firm operating in the State of Kuwait since 1977, and in the Kingdom of Bahrain since 2006. The firm is considered a leading tier one corporate law firm and the largest full service corporate and commercial law firm in Kuwait. ASAR is one of the most prominent law firms operating across the Middle East and Gulf regions with close working relationships with law firms throughout Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
ASAR is consistently rated as a leading corporate and commercial law firm by reputable legal guides such as the International Financial Law Review (IFLR), the Chambers Global Guide, The Legal 500 and the Practical Law Company.
ASAR specializes in 30 practice areas and represents clients that require a coordinated and seamless response to their legal needs. The firm’s exceptional lawyers have the ability to assist in the most challenging matters in the following practice areas:
- Agency and distributorship
- Aviation
- Banking and finance
- Capital markets and securities
- Commercial litigation and arbitration
- Competition
- Construction and real estate
- Corporate
- Data protection and privacy
- Employment
- Energy
- Environment
- Franchising
- Government procurement
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Insurance
- Intellectual property
- Islamic finance
- Media, communications and technology
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Oil and gas
- PPP and PFI projects
- Private clients services
- Private equity
- Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Shipping and maritime
- Taxation
- Venture capital
- White-collar crime
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Partner | Sam Habbas | shabbas@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
| Managing Partner | Ahmed Barakat | abarakat@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
| Counsel | Rob Little | rlittle@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
| Partner | Paul Day | pday@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
| Partner | Ibrahim Sattout | isattout@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
| Partner | Ezekiel Tuma | etuma@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
| Partner | David Walker | dwalker@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
| Partner | John Cunha | jcunha@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
| Partner | Hisham Al Qura’an | halquraan@asarlegal.com | +965 229 22700 |
Lawyer Profiles
Languages
English Arabic French Portuguese Afrikaans Tagalog Swahili HindiDiversity
At ASAR, we encourage diversity and inclusion within our business culture as we believe it supports our employees professional and personal growth. We pride ourselves in, across all levels within the firm, promoting gender equality, and in particular, empowering our female lawyers and staff to accomplish their professional goals. Our firm is comprised of 73 employees from 19 different countries, of which 23 per cent. are female. We have acclaimed our award-winning reputation over the years by innovating and providing the highest level of counsel across an extensive list of practices areas to support our clients with their most challenging legal matters. While we’ve managed to achieve many milestones throughout our 45 years in the MENA region, our corporate social responsibility values have always been at the heart of everything we do. We have also recently joined the United Nations Global Compact initiative, which have acknowledged us as the first law firm in Kuwait to become a member, and will be working towards incorporating more sustainable and responsible business practices within the business.
- Banking and finance
- Dispute resolution