Norton Rose Fulbright > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright > The Legal 500 Rankings

United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Financial services regulation Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright offers a robust financial services practice, with leading expertise in fintech matters, such as establishing cryptocurrency exchanges, license applications and reviews, and advising regulatory bodies on framework development. The firm has strong ties with both regional and global financial institutions, including a number of investment banks and a diverse array of startups, asset and fund managers, and fintech and payment providers. Practice head Matthew Shanahan, lauded as ‘the best regulatory lawyer in the EMEA‘, works extensively with private entities and regulators. Karl Masi, who joined from Charles Russell Speechlys LLP in March 2024, has a growing practice in investigations and regulatory enforcement. Andre Abou Aad offers additional expertise in digital assets, while Hasanali Pirbhai covers both contentious and non-contentious matters.

United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: compliance and investigations Tier 1

A 'very solid and dependable team with excellent technical knowledge', Norton Rose Fulbright excels in handling DFSA and FSRA enforcement matters for domestic clients engaged in Dubai’s financial markets. The firm is well-equipped to manage issues related to virtual assets, investigations into alleged systems and controls failures, and enforcement actions concerning funds. Matthew Shanahan helms the team and is praised as 'the best regulatory lawyer in the region', possessing a strong contentious and non-contentious practice and close connections to the key UAE regulators. Hasanali Pirbhai supports across a wide range of matters and is well-equipped to act on internal investigations.

United Arab Emirates > Investment fund formation and management Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright is lauded as a ‘leading funds practice that is always ahead of the curve in terms of legislative developments and commercial mindset’, advising a diverse mix of regional and global clients on Islamic and conventional funds. The team has recently seen increasing instructions on sustainability, digital asset, and infrastructure-focused funds, providing establishment advice both locally and internationally. Zubair Mir ‘possesses a fantastic balance of experience and market awareness’, maintaining strong ties with leading Abu Dhabi-based investors and asset managers. Geoffroy Hermanns offers extensive expertise in fund formation, investment, and regulatory matters. Shakir Mogalia provides support across the full spectrum of mandates.

United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending) Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright has a strong track record in multi-billion-dollar cross-border transactions, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and is a leading choice for lenders and borrowers across the Middle East. The firm is highly regarded for its expertise in Islamic finance, having recently advised on cutting-edge Sukuk issuances, Murabaha facilities, and Shariah-compliant trade finance platforms. Practice head Mohammed Paracha is the main driver behind the firm’s Islamic finance offering and is notably active in the real estate sector. Nicholas Robinson is a trusted adviser to numerous regional and multinational banks, while Hamed Afzal is recommended for his work in Islamic finance and debt capital markets. Seya Rahnema and Shyam Kotadia provide key support across various mandates.

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

Norton Rose Fulbright is a ‘dominant firm in the UAE market,’ with a team recognised for its ‘highly technical expertise and impressive depth of market knowledge‘. The practice advises on the full spectrum of corporate and commercial matters, encompassing M&A, private equity investments, joint ventures, market entry, business restructurings, and fund establishment and operations. The firm’s client roster includes state-backed entities, leading financial institutions, and multinational corporates. Team lead Adjou Ait Ben Idir  is widely praised for her transactional expertise, cultural awareness and understanding of Middle Eastern markets, and practical and business minded approach to instructions. Zubair Mir is ‘a leading name in the M&A field‘ and a key name for financial sponsors, investment banks, and sovereign wealth funds for domestic and cross-border transactions. Promoted to partner in January 2024, Jonathan Burton has recently taken the lead on complex deals in the education, tech and retail sectors. The ‘technically brilliant‘ Shazi Askarpour comes highly recommended for her skill in M&A.

United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright’s deep bench of specialists is a go-to for an impressive array of clients, including multinational financial institutions, marquee energy and infrastructure companies, and high-net-worth individuals, where it is sought out to handle complex and high-stakes litigation and arbitration. Nicholas Sharratt, who heads the team, maintains a far-reaching cross-border practice encompassing significant construction disputes, fraud and asset recovery matters, and multi-jurisdictional enforcement proceedings. Deirdre Walker is noted for her expertise across litigation, arbitration, and mediation, particularly within the banking and finance sector. Yaroslav Klimov focuses predominantly on construction disputes, an area in which Aarti Thadani, promoted to partner in 2024, is also highly active. Shabnam Karim plays a pivotal role in the firm’s contentious insurance practice, while Omar Khattab, who joined from Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP in January 2024, is highly regarded for his asset recovery work and local court litigation capabilities.

United Arab Emirates > Infrastructure and projects (including project finance) Tier 2

With a presence in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Norton Rose Fulbright regularly advises on civil infrastructure and utility projects, including Independent Water Projects covering sewage treatment, desalination, and reverse osmosis, as well as transport systems. The firm also handles district cooling ventures, renewable project bidding, financing and development, and commercial agreements in digital infrastructure. Team lead Angela Croker, a project finance specialist, is frequently sought after by sponsors, lenders, and government-backed entities across the Gulf. Projects and construction lawyer Nicholas Kramer co-leads the practice and offers investment, development, and commercial insight, while Paul Mansouri is noted for his project finance and PPP expertise. Lindsay Crawford is active in project finance transactions, and Prakruthi Gowda joined the team from Clifford Chance  in March 2024.

United Arab Emirates > Capital markets Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright has a varied capital markets practice that covers primary and secondary offerings, conventional and Islamic debt offerings, restructurings, and public M&A. ‘A trusted advisor whose attention to detail is second to none‘, Hamed Afzal leads the team, and is sought out by clients for his comprehensive debt and equity capital markets offering.

United Arab Emirates > Construction Tier 3

Commended for its ‘extremely curated client management ‘, Norton Rose Fulbright is overseen by Nicholas Kramer. Kramer is experienced in airport and metro projects, while Nicholas Sharrat is well-regarded in the hospitality sector. Aarti Thadani is noted for her contentious capabilities, while Anastasia Kastelskaya and Knowhee Myung are versed in projects. Ina Lamce is another key team member.

United Arab Emirates > Insurance Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright provides specialist advice to insurers and reinsurers across the Middle East, drawing on the firm’s corporate and M&A and regulatory capabilities to provide a comprehensive offering. The team houses a cyber incident response practice and is active in the warranty and indemnity insurance coverage space. It regularly handles financial lines and D&O claims and enjoys a successful track record in professional negligence liability defence. Shabnam Karim leads on the contentious side, handling insurance disputes across various jurisdictions. Spearheading the group’s non-contentious work, Adjou Ait Ben Idir focuses on M&A and warranties and indemnities matters. Simon Lamb and Ivana Cicic are other names to note.

Saudi Arabia > Capital markets

Norton Rose Fulbright’s team is well-equipped to advise on the full spectrum of transactions undertaken by public companies across both equity and debt capital markets. Given its longstanding relationship with the Saudi Capital Market Authority, the team is experienced navigating CMA regulations, and both the main and parallel stock markets. The practice is headed by Dubai-based Hamed Afzal, an expert in both DCM and ECM, who also frequently oversees regional takeovers and restructurings.

Saudi Arabia > Projects and energy

Leveraging its strong relations with leading developers and lenders in the region, Norton Rose Fulbright provides end-to-end advisory services for high profile projects in the energy, infrastructure and natural resources sectors. Practice heads Angela Croker and Nick Kramer are both based in Dubai and comfortably navigate all aspects of energy and infrastructure projects. Expanding the team’s capabilities, Prakruthi Gowda joined the team in April 2024, bringing expertise in commercial contracts and financing. David Johnston departed the team in July 2024.

Saudi Arabia > Dispute resolution

Construction, real estate and financial disputes form the bedrock of Norton Rose Fulbright’s disputes practice, which is well-equipped to handle both local and international dispute resolution. The team is co-led by Riyadh-based Mohammed Altammami, who regularly represents Saudi conglomerates, international corporations and financial institutions across a broad range of sectors. Altammami joined the team via joint venture in December 2023. The team is bolstered by co-head Nick Sharratt, who is based in Dubai and was recently appointed as the firm’s regional Head of Dispute Resolution in the Middle East.