Linklaters > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile

Linklaters > The Legal 500 Rankings

United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending) Tier 1

The ‘highly experienced‘ team at Linklaters is lauded for its ‘strong capabilities across both conventional and Islamic finance,’ representing prominent industry players as well as a range of regional and global financial institutions. Team head Kieron Zaman, who expertly handles both conventional and Islamic finance matters, leads on a variety of acquisition finance and refinancing mandates. Co-head Reem Al Sayegh spearheads the firm’s Islamic finance practice and Middle East financial regulatory group, with a particular focus on the real estate sector. Dinush Wickremanayake provides key support on leveraged and acquisition finance transactions, while Valery Nformba is recognised for her adept cross-border practice. Yuri Nekrasov regularly advises both international and Middle Eastern banks.

United Arab Emirates > Capital markets Tier 1

Linklaters is well placed to advise on a range of transactions, acting for an extensive client list that includes leading regional corporates, financial institutions, and sovereign entities. In debt capital markets, the firm demonstrates a notable track record in sovereign debt issuances and innovative Shariah-compliant transactions. In equity capital markets, the practice leverages its extensive international reach, actively advising on IPOs across key jurisdictions, including Saudi Arabia and Oman. Team head Jonathan Fried is a highly experienced debt practitioner who works closely with sovereigns, corporates and financial institutions across the Gulf. Co-head Dalia Nammari has a strong focus on Saudi Arabia, while fellow co-head Scott Campbell handles M&A and equities transactions.

United Arab Emirates > Infrastructure and projects (including project finance) Tier 1

Linklaters ‘ ‘fantastic, experienced team’ continues to be active on market-leading projects across the Middle East, including major oil and gas developments and expansions, marquee green hydrogen projects, and large-scale renewable builds. The firm acts as trusted counsel to a number of the region’s most prominent public bodies and sovereign-backed entities, as well as multinational sponsors, developers and lenders. Matthew Keats spearheads the practice and is reputed for the breadth of his asset engagement, regularly overseeing project finance and development instructions. Co-head David Miles financing practice covers conventional and Islamic structures. Jack Allen-Fitt leverages his construction and engineering background to comprehensively advise clients on key project issues, particularly in the energy transition. Jonathan Vick‘s offering includes financing, development and M&A counsel. Leila Amos also comes recommended.

United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Linklaters supports clients across the a wide array of complex, multi-jurisdictional M&A and PE deals, complementing its transactional prowess with expert knowledge across a multitude of sectors – particularly education, healthcare, energy and infrastructure, and real estate. Co-leading the practice is Scott Campbell and Nicholas Edwards, with the former acting as the key relationship partner to the firm’s most consequential asset manager clients, and the latter noted for his connections with state-owned and state-backed entities in Abu Dhabi. Patrick Sutton-Mattocks has a broad practice that includes cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and equity raises. Claire Neil and Faysal Lassas were promoted to counsel in May 2024.  

United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Financial services regulation Tier 3

Linklaters' financial regulatory practice is well positioned to provide specialised advice on structured financial products, licensing, and compliance matters, with further capabilities in virtual assets and fintech platforms. The firm’s offering has been enhanced through the hire of Gabriella Savastano from CMS in January 2024, who has an established track record supporting clients on critical regulatory matters. Savastano co-heads the group alongside Reem Al Sayegh who remains a key adviser to commercial banks, covering a wide variety of financial instructions.

Saudi Arabia > Banking and finance

Linklaters provide borrowers and lenders in the Kingdom with financing solutions across both conventional and Islamic finance. The team is well-equipped to handle the full spectrum of banking and finance transactions, with strengths in syndicated finance, debt restructuring, project and real estate finance, and acquisition finance. Leading the team is Riyadh-based Omar El Sayed, who is the go-to adviser for complex syndicated loans and Islamic financings. Christian Saunders has expanded the team’s capabilities given his extensive experience in debt reprofiling and asset restructurings.

Saudi Arabia > Capital markets

The Linklaters team bring ‘tremendous experience’ to complex debt and equity capital markets offerings, including sukuks, IPOs, private placements, tender offers, and debt and equity swaps. The team recently advised the Public Investment Fund (PIF) on its inaugural sukuk issuance. Leading the practice are three seasoned experts: Dubai-based Jonathan Fried advises the largest sovereigns, banks and corporates on a broad range of capital markets matters; Dalia Nammari, also in Dubai and described as ‘the firm’s shining star’, heads the DCM practice; and Riyadh-based Amro Bakhaidar who was recently appointed head of ECM and regularly executes complex IPOs.