Mr David Charlier > Ashurst LLP > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile

A ‘leading energy industry legal practice’, Ashurst LLP  remains a key advisor to major oil and gas players in the region, including ADNOC, which frequently engages the firm for transactional, commercial, and project-related counsel. Middle East managing partner and co-head of the firm’s Projects & Energy Transition Group, David Charlier is instructed on a wide variety of conventional and energy transition mandates, including inventory acquisitions and disposals, M&A, and project development. Luke Robottom has been active on CCUS, water treatment and logistics infrastructure, while Stuart James and Simon Rahimzada are noted for their skill in M&A and PE deals in the space. Raquel Tarancon Plata supports on project finance and development matters. Priya Shah also comes recommended.

Demonstrating excellence across a variety of energy and infrastructure assets, Ashurst LLP maintains a leading position in the Middle East projects market, with a team of advisors well-placed to act on complex, cross-border financing, procurement, development and M&A instructions. Featuring a pre-eminent PFI/PPP offering, the team is also routinely sought out by government and corporates to act as key counsel on a number of critical big city infrastructure projects in the UAE. Team lead David Charlier’s broad skillset is frequently utilised by sponsors, lenders and governments engaged with energy, digital infrastructure and social infrastructure projects. Joss Dare is chiefly recognised for his proficiency handling transport projects. Grant Batten has experience acting for sovereign-backed entities. Natasha Kavanagh, who was promoted to partner in May 2024, is a financing specialist. Stuart James also comes recommended.

Ashurst LLP’s UAE practice is primarily centred on project finance, acting for a stellar list of lenders and sponsors in energy, utility, and infrastructure projects throughout the Gulf. Team head David Charlier is a leading projects practitioner in the region, offering trusted advice to international and Islamic banks, export credit agencies, multilateral institutions, prominent industry players, and government bodies. Natasha Kavanagh, who maintains a robust conventional and Islamic finance practice, plays a key role in supporting major UAE and Saudi projects from the firm’s Abu Dhabi office.