Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners > Doha, Qatar > Firm Profile
Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners Offices
LEVEL 16, THE Y TOWER
MARINA STREET 305, LUSAIL CITY
P.O. BOX 20464
Qatar
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Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners > The Legal 500 Rankings
Qatar > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1
Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners advises on both contentious and non-contentious matters for clients ranging from international corporates to domestic and international law firms – with particular strength advising on Qatari law elements of international transactions. This expertise extends to cross-border tax matters, and providing complex corporate structuring advice. Salman Mahmood leads the team, with experience in debt restructuring, syndicated finance, and infrastructure matters including advice on special economic zones. A ‘go-to firm in Qatar’, the team is praised for its ability to ‘quickly get to the essence of the issues which need to be addressed and then to suggest common-sense solutions’. Michael Earley is also a name to note.Practice head(s):
Salman Mahmood
Other key lawyers:
Sultan Al-Abdulla; Ribal Fattal; Michael Earley
Testimonials
‘The attorneys in this firm have the very important abilities to quickly get to the essence of the issues which need to be addressed and then to suggest common-sense solutions.’
‘Both the partner we work with, Salman Mahmood, and the associate we work with, Ribal Fattal, have the very important abilities to quickly get to the essence of the issues which need to be addressed and then to suggest common-sense solutions.’
‘This is the firm we go to for any commercial matters in Qatar. They provide quality advice in a swift and cost-effective manner. They have assisted us with many client matters in relation to franchising and also product regulatory in Qatar.’
‘They are our go-to firm in Qatar. Sultan Abdulla & Partners have shown that they are the firm we can trust for securing local law advice for our clients. We have also put clients in direct touch with them, which again shows the level of trust we have in their work. We work closely with Salman Mahmood and Ribal Fattal in commercial matters for our clients.’
‘All individuals are very responsive, knowledgeable and goal-orientated.’
Key clients
Kirton McConkie
Baker McKenzie
Ashurst LLP
Addleshaw Goddard
Jones Day
Bin Yousef & Contracting Group Company W.L..L
Three Crowns LLP
BSA Ahmad Bin Hazeem & Associates LLP
SpeedCast Communications, Inc.
Pipeline Induction Heat Ltd.
Work highlights
- Providing capacity opinion in relation to a well-known Qatari multinational telecommunications company’s power and authority to enter into a financing arrangement with a Chinese commercial bank ranked as the fourth largest bank in the world.
- Providing advice to one of the largest drilling companies in the Middle East by rig fleet size as to whether it requires a legal presence in Qatar to operate in an offshore oilfield located on the borders of Qatar and one of its neighbouring countries.
- Advising an American company, which is a worldwide leading communications and IT services provider, on the transfer of 49% of the shares held by its Qatari partner in a Qatari JV company to its Australian affiliate company that currently holds the other 51% in the Company or its Qatari nominee.
Qatar > Dispute resolution Tier 1
Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners‘ dispute resolution consistently acts in sensitive, high-profile litigation: establishing legal principles for Qatar while ‘operating to high international standards’. Thomas Williams heads the arbitration offering for the team, pairing a focus on complex construction and commercial disputes with proven experience in seeking the recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards both in Qatar and internationally. Ashraf Feshawi is a key name in the litigation team, which has particular strength in construction, infrastructure and project disputes; Salman Mahmood is also a standout in this regard. A number of team members including Ahmed Durrani and Umang Singh sit as arbitrators, with founder and managing partner Sultan Al-Abdulla
also a member of the International Criminal Court. Practice head(s):
Sultan Al-Abdulla; Ashraf Feshawi; Thomas Williams; Salman Mahmood
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘A dispute resolution firm operating to high international standards in Doha’
‘Thomas Williams is a skilled and committed litigator who also conducts advocacy well, and has more experience before the Qatar Financial Centre courts than almost all others.’
‘Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners are a very effective and flexible practice. They have attended to construction, dispute, human resources and banking issues for our firm and have provided the same high-level of service across all issues.’
‘Their people are knowledgeable and experienced. They provide all that is required in a clear, concise and timely manner. Their responses to queries are always complete and easy to understand.’
Key clients
Mohamed Abdulaziz Mohamed Ali Al Emadi
Nigel Perera
Stephen Ferris
Thomas Fewtrell and Louise Joan Kidd
Qatar Free Zones Authority
Dukhan Bank
Samsung C&T Corporation
Al Darwish Holding
Darwish Engineering WLL
Beretta Holding SA
Qatar Building Company
HAT Italian Company
Al Seal Company
Contraco Co
First Qatar Company
Work highlights
- Advised our client Mohamed Abdulaziz Mohamed Ali Al Emadi in the context of litigation before the International Court of the Qatar Financial Centre for a claim of QAR9.5m.
- Advised and represented our client Stephen Ferris in a high-value claim of QAR3.2m in the Qatar International Court, settled by a Tomlin Order.
- Advised and represented our client Qatar Free Zones Authority, a government entity in Qatar, contesting the jurisdiction of the Qatar International Court over a claim by the Claimant, a former employee.
Qatar > Projects, real estate and construction Tier 2
At Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners, the focus is on advising clients through their contractual relationships from start to finish. The team fields its advisory, transactional and dispute resolution strengths to support clients both domestic and international. Salman Mahmood advises a range of corporate and institutional clients, with particular strength in infrastructure disputes. Dispute resolution is also a specialist area for Ashraf Feshawi, whose practice focuses on litigation and arbitration. Thomas Williams is sought after for construction and engineering work, particularly involving cross-border challenges. Founder and managing partner Sultan Al-Abdulla has extensive experience in complex, multinational projects. The four oversee the team. Practice head(s):
Sultan M Al-Abdulla; Salman Mahmood; Ashraf Feshawi; Thomas Williams
Key clients
Ashurst
Stephenson Harwood
Three Crowns LLP
Qatar Building Company
Darwish Engineering WLL
Baker & McKenzie
Al Seal Contracting & Trading Co. WLL
First Qatar Company
Dukhan Bank
Samsung C&T Corporation
Work highlights
- Representing a multinational construction company in multiple disputes against sub-contractors related to a construction project.
- Representing the client in a dispute arising over a construction agreement that has been entered into between the client and a major construction company before the Court of First Instance to claim an amount of QR 527.9m.
- Representing the client, a contractor, before the court claiming for unpaid invoices, variation claims and prolongation costs. The price of the contract was for an amount of QR128m.
Qatar > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 3
Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners‘ corporate advisory department supports a range of clients including large domestic and international financial bodies, with particular strength in cross-border tax and corporate structuring advice. Salman Mahmood leads the team, with expertise across the energy, infrastructure, and corporate finance sectors. The team advises on a range of public tenders and awards, taxation, and special economic zones.Practice head(s):
Salman Mahmood
Testimonials
‘This firm has maintained a strong position in the ship financing and is very responsive.’
‘Salman Mahmood is professional, practical and has a deep knowledge of the market and industry.’
‘Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners are a very effective and knowledgeable practice. They have handled cases for our firm related to construction, dispute resolution, banking and human resources. The banking case is currently ongoing and thus far has been expertly handled in a transparent and informative manner.’
‘The people at Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners are knowledgeable and experienced in their particular fields. Their ability to deal with our issue, and all follow up requests and queries was of the highest order.’
Key clients
Stephenson Harwood LLP
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Fujita Corporation
Work highlights
- Providing legal opinions to three South Korean investment trusts on the authorization, capacity, and execution of a well-known Qatari oil and gas entity in respect of the entering into Consent and Agreement, Direct Agreement, and Sub-Time Charters in relation to subordinated financing of 15 LNG Carriers for a South Korean consortium.
- Advising on transactions entered into, marketed, or solicited by an American international bank which will include: spot and forward purchases and sales, swaps, options that may be settled physically and other physically settled transactions envisaged by ISDA and which have as an underlie of any of the precious metals (i.e., Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium).
- Advising an Asia-based credit fund on, and implementing, a Qatar security package, and reviewing and advising on a joint venture agreement, in relation to the issuance of loan notes by an Australian infrastructure group and a guarantee by a Qatari affiliate; and providing a legal opinion in relation thereto.
Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners > Firm Profile
Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners (“SAP”) is a full-service Qatar law firm that provides a wide range of services in both contentious and non-contentious matters. Our clients range from multinational companies and international law firms to Qatari private business and governmental entities. Founded in 1999, SAP is one of the longest established and largest law firms in Qatar.
SAP is ranked highly by international legal directories in all areas of legal practice. SAP is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners and Tier 1 by The Legal 500. The firm won the Qatar Domestic Law Firm of the Year Award 2021 by Chambers and Partners. Additionally, the firm was named Qatar Law Firm of the Year in 2017, 2020, 2021 and again in 2022, and Technology, Media & Telecommunications Team of the Year in 2019 and 2023 by the Qatar Business Law Forum presented by LexisNexis. Our partners are also highly ranked individually for their corporate – commercial, energy, projects and disputes work.
Our corporate advisory team draws on its expertise to advise on all aspects of domestic and cross-border transactions. The advisory team invests time to understand the needs of its clients so it can deliver astute and effective advice. Our team not only advises on corporate structures but also gives sound commercial advice on company management, mergers and acquisitions and employment related issues, contract law, administrative law, intellectual property and IP registration. In addition to providing commercial and industry insight, the corporate advisory team, alongside the dispute resolution teams, supports its clients throughout the dispute resolution process, including litigation, mediation or arbitration.
Our dispute resolution team are highly experienced in local practice with a thorough grounding in procedural and substantive law. Our lawyers regularly appear before all courts and tribunals in the state of Qatar, including the Court of Cassation. Our dispute resolution team has an outstanding track record in complex, high stakes disputes arising from construction contracts, which includes disputes relating to works completed, change orders and variation, payment disputes and change of law claims.
Our arbitration team has extensive experience in commercial arbitration and represents clients in domestic and international arbitrations, both under major institutional rules and ad hoc. Our team has assisted arbitration on matters involving joint ventures, partnerships and disputes arising from banking and finance transactions. The team also advise on related court matters, such as the enforcement of arbitral awards.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency and Franchise | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Arbitration | Sultan M. Al-Abdulla | ||
| Arbitration | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Banking and Finance | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Corporate, Commercial and Transnational | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Employment and Immigration | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Energy and Natural Resources | Sultan M. Al-Abdulla | ||
| Energy and Natural Resources | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Events and Sporting | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Intellectual Property | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Litigation | Sultan M. Al-Abdulla | ||
| Litigation | Ashraf Feshawi | ||
| Regulatory and Compliance | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Tax | Salman Mahmood | ||
| Telecoms, Media and Technology | Salman Mahmood |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sultan Al-Abdulla | Managing Partner | View Profile |
|
Ashraf Feshawi | Partner | View Profile |
|
Salman Mahmood | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 28 (including partners)Languages
Arabic EnglishOther
:- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Dispute resolution
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Projects, real estate and construction