Philip Clarke > Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile

With a considerable ‘spread of corporate crime experience’, Stephenson Harwood’s practice has specialists in civil fraud and corporate law, as well as expertise representing corporates facing multi-jurisdictional criminal investigations. The team has extensive knowledge of dealing with complex financial disputes, ranging from market manipulation to anti-money laundering matters. Practice head Sean Jeffrey routinely acts on behalf of corporates in white-collar crime proceedings and sanctions issues, Justin McClelland is an expert on civil disputes and cartel activity, while Philip Clarke handles actions brought by the FCA against banks and insurers. The ‘intelligent, strategic’ Alan Ward regularly advises corporates on regulatory and criminal-law compliance.   Ellen Gallagher is also noted.

Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP‘s TMT practice offers ‘in-depth industry knowledge‘ and significant breadth of expertise in delivering cross-border digital transformation projects, major technology business sales and acquisitions, and resolving high profile technology disputes. The ‘excellent‘ Melissa Forbes-Miranda leads the group and is renowned for her expertise in the technology sector, encompassing data, software licensing, fintech and cryptocurrencies. Philip Clarke offers substantial expertise in virtual assets, while Sandeep Dhama is a specialist in corporate matters in the technology sector. Diwakar Agarwal is also a key presence, especially in regards to emerging technologies such as blockchain.

Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP advises a wide range of clients in the fintech and crypto space on establishing operations in the UAE, and also assists guide asset managers with the private equity and the novel fund management side. Leveraging experience as a senior legal counsel at the Dubai Financial Services Authority, regulatory specialist Philip Clarke is well placed to advise banks and financial institutions on defending allegations and in investigations by regulatory bodies, as well as aiding businesses through their regulatory concerns, with particular expertise in digital assets.

Active on the borrower and lender side of a wide array of transactions including project finance, acquisition finance and refinancing and restructuring Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP demonstrates notable sector experience in real estate, energy, shipping and aviation. The team are regularly called upon by major regional banks to advise on complex, cross border transactions in areas such as the Caribbean, central and southern America, Asia and Europe, and demonstrate a strong competence across Islamic financing, boasting a portfolio of novel transactions in this space. Rustum Shah joined the practice from Hogan Lovells (United Arab Emirates) LLP in February 2022, seamlessly taking the mantle of team head and leading a wealth of mandates that involve high-value restructurings and acquisition financings. Philip Clarke handles financial services regulatory issues. Associates Chinar Zaidi and Murtaza Hussain are active across the full range of client instructions.