Bird & Bird > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile

Bird & Bird Offices

Bird & Bird
LEVEL 14, BURJ DAMAN
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE
PO BOX 507110
United Arab Emirates
Visit website 971 2 610 8100

Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings

United Arab Emirates > Intellectual property Tier 2

Bird & Bird utilises an extensive international network to provide tailored advice across the gamut of intellectual property rights including patents, trade secrets, copyright and data privacy. Melissa Murray is the head of the IP group for the Middle East and regularly advises leading regional and international brands on the franchising and licensing of their intellectual property. She is supported by legal director Renée Nugent, whose practice particularly focuses on trademarks and domain name issues.

Practice head(s):

Melissa Murray

Other key lawyers:

Renée Nugent

Testimonials

‘Melissa Murray is a standout expert at the firm and in the region. She is responsive, commercial and prepared to make the call. She is pragmatic and clearly in touch with what is happening in the industry.’

‘Renée Nugent is both approachable and a rare find within the region. She helps to frame and shape thinking and recommends pragmatic options for clients. She is also adaptable to whatever the situation requires. She is one to watch in the region.’

‘Melissa Murray is helpful in assisting with local law issues that clients need to be aware of.’

‘Excellent team. Very experienced with managing IP in the GCC.’

‘Great personable team, who go the extra mile to understand key priorities for the client.’

‘Bird & Bird are our go-to firm for all IP related work, including our trade mark portfolio. They get things done in a smooth and efficient way, and they are always personable and professional even in challenging situations.’

‘Melissa Murray and Renée Nugent deliver value not only with their sharp and accurate counsel regarding IP specific issues, but also with regard to understanding the key drivers of our business. They also understand brand equity and this goes a long way towards their delivery of pragmatic, forward-thinking advice.’

‘We appreciate the breadth of countries that the firm covers in the region.’

Key clients

Burgerizzr

Hustle n’ Flow

Darden Restaurants

Mondofix Inc.

The Grooming Company

Circle K Procurement and Brands Limited

Smoke’s Poutinerie

Work highlights

  • Assisting well-known UAE-based hair & beauty group The Grooming Company on expanding its various brands (such as nail care salon, male grooming / barbershop etc.) into other GCC countries by advising on licensing of IP. Also advising the client on trade mark registrations in Europe.
  • Advised Saudi-based Burgerizzr on expanding their business internationally (with a focus on the GCC) by licensing of IP. Also advising client on management of trade mark portfolio and filings.
  • Advised Spanish casual dining concept Hustle n’ Flow on franchising rights and licensing IP, trade mark registrations, and on prosecution and enforcement of its trade mark and trade name.

United Arab Emirates > TMT Tier 2

Bird & Bird have a proven track-record across the full range of TMT matters including media, entertainment, fintech, sports and telecoms. David Bintliff leads a practice which has established a reputation throughout the region, being highly sought after by leading Middle East tech companies, multinationals and governmental organisations. Associate Nootash Keyhani has specific expertise in data privacy compliance.

Practice head(s):

David Bintliff

Other key lawyers:

Nootash Keyhani

Work highlights

United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation Tier 3

The dispute resolution practice at Bird & Bird handles commercial disputes across a range of sectors, including telecoms, energy, banking, hospitality, insolvency, and aviation. It demonstrates both litigation and arbitration expertise, and also handles fraud investigations. Practice head Lucas Pitts acts for Middle East-based conglomerates, multi-nationals, and high-net-worth individuals in commercial and insolvency disputes. Senior associate Yannick Hefti has expertise in sports, art, and technology-related disputes.

Practice head(s):

Lucas Pitts

Other key lawyers:

Yannick Hefti

Testimonials

‘They are excellent and recommended.’

‘The one thing that made this practice truly unique was the work was carried out pro bono. This is a testament to Bird & Bird, their beliefs, and how important supporting the community is.’

‘Lucas Pitts’ knowledge, trusted advice, delicacy in handling the tricky legal issues at hand, and strategy are standout.’

‘Lucas Pitts’ knowledge not only around the legal aspects, but also governance and schooling, were second-to-none.’

‘Lucas Pitts is a commercially-focused lawyer who is able to provide legal advice in the context of the business drivers for clients.’

Key clients

Jebel Ali School

Stormharbour Securities LP

Al Falah Group

Sheikh Alesayi Will Establishment

Work highlights

  • Acted for the Jebel Ali School in respect of a pro-bono DIAC arbitration filed by Emirates REIT PLC arising from a lease dispute and unpaid rent.
  • Advised Al Falah Group in respect of its AED 1.2 billion claim against a major government funded real estate development company arising out of the breach of a long term concrete supply agreement before the Abu Dhabi courts.
  • Acted for Stormharbour Securities in its USD13 million claim before the DIFC Court.

United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 4

Bird & Bird has particular expertise advising clients in technology-related sectors, as well as handling franchising and licensing agreements on the commercial side. It is also sought out by UAE government entities. Anders Nilsson heads the corporate and aviation practice from Abu Dhabi and Melissa Murray heads the commercial side from Dubai. Johannes Eisser specialises in M&A and joint venture transactions. Senior associate Surabhi Singhi is noted for her experience advising on corporate and regulatory matters.

Practice head(s):

Anders Nilsson; Melissa Murray

Other key lawyers:

Johannes Eisser; Surabhi Singhi; Eleonore Mayer

Testimonials

‘The knowledge of M&A law is second-to-none.’

‘A very calm and composed team. Innovative in its legal thinking, and very responsive.’

‘Johannes Eisser is a heavyweight M&A lawyer – methodical and composed, willing to go the extra mile and keep a calm head when timelines and pressure were exerted from other stakeholders.’

‘Johannes Eisser has a natural ability to break down complex legal issues and explain them to the layman.’

‘Strong knowledge and availability.’

‘Melissa Murray is very knowledgeable in franchising and business laws in multiple countries in the Middle East. She oversees and utilizes skilled associates to help provide us with effective and cost-efficient service.’

Key clients

Jebel Ali School

ATPI Travel LLC

Florin Court Capital

Burgerizzr

Darden Restaurants

Hustle n’ Flow

Mondofix Inc.

Sirius Aviation Capital

Takura AB

The Grooming Company

Dubai Cultiv8

Circle K Procurement and Brands Limited

Smoke’s Poutinerie International, Inc.

InterOil Group

Work highlights

  • Assisted Jebel Ali School, a leading British curriculum school in Dubai, in a AED234 million transaction involving the transfer of the school and its operations to a subsidiary of Taaleem Holdings PSC.
  • Assisted UK based hedge fund Florin Court Capital in setting up a fund management entity and a feeder fund structure in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), including day to day corporate and regulatory advice.

United Arab Emirates > Employment Tier 4

Bird & Bird covers the gamut of contentious and non-contentious matters including contract drafting and terminations, HR policies, clauses and investigations. The firm is licensed to appear before the DIFC and ADGM, also providing employment advice in various UAE free zones. Practice head Johannes Eisser and Anders Nilsson have a strong understanding of the UAE market, advising employers on handbooks, executive service and statutory rights. Senior associate Surabhi Singhi is highly regarded.

Practice head(s):

Johannes Eisser

Other key lawyers:

Anders Nilsson; Surabhi Singhi

Testimonials

‘The team provides advice professionally and from a commercial perspective.’

‘Can easily understand the requirements of clients and provide solutions to suit commercial needs.’

‘Highly ethical, professional and experienced.’

‘Detail oriented, take their time to study and always work on behalf the client.’

Key clients

Florin Court Capital

ATPI Travel LLC

United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending) Tier 5

Bird & Bird advises on the full span of banking and finance matters, covering both conventional and Islamic finance. It also has expertise in structured finance and debt capital markets, which bolsters its service offering. Practice head Gregory Man leads the team from Dubai, with significant experience acting for government-related entities, airlines, financial institutions, and technology-related entities.

Practice head(s):

Gregory Man

Key clients

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector

Leeds United Football Club Limited

Work highlights

  • Assisting the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector on the update of the Trust Certificate Issuance Programme of ICDPS Sukuk Limited listed on the London Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Dubai.
  • Assisting Leeds United Football Club with the increase of listing headroom to an unlimited amount and issuance of further GBP2,450,000 variable funding fixed rate loan notes due 2026 and admission of such loan notes to the official list of The International Stock Exchange.

United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Financial services regulation

Bird & Bird, which is headed by Gregory Man, has a broad financial regulations practice with particular expertise in fintech regulatory matters.

Bird & Bird > Firm Profile

The firm: Bird & Bird is an international law firm, with a long-established reputation for having a rare and invaluable grasp of strategic commercial issues. The firm combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking, to help clients operating at the forefront of their industries to achieve their commercial goals.

The local team has an in-depth understanding of the laws, business practices and customs of the region, and its core industries. Through its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, our full-service UAE practice provides innovative corporate and commercial advice to local, regional and international clients in all areas of business law, with a focus on sectors and industries that are important to the development of the region..

Areas of practice: In the UAE, the firm focuses on the following key sectors:

Aerospace, defence and security: providing advice on all elements of ADS including on systems integration, defence contracting and procurement, international co-operation and competition, corporate, partnering, alliances and strategic partnerships, PFI, equipment leasing and receivables financing, technology, export control and customs, IPR, risk allocation, employment and immigration.

Aviation: advising airlines, lessors, financiers, aircraft manufacturers, groundhandlers, airports, MROs, freight forwarders, insurers, tour operators and travel agents around the world. It provides advice on aircraft sale and purchase, aircraft finance and leasing, dispute resolution, aviation commercial agreements, and aviation competition and regulation.

Education: advising schools, examination boards, professional training bodies and universities on franchising, licences, joint ventures, strategic alliances, co-operation and management agreements.

Fashion and retail: advising clients on trade marks and intellectual property, franchising, licensing, distribution, agency, and multi-channel and hybrid structures.

Food and beverage: advising on a full range of areas, including branding, labelling, health claims, fair trade and patents on novel foods.

Life sciences and healthcare: its focus on e-health projects, strategic partnerships, outsourcing and large-scale IT is complemented by the e-commerce, data protection compliance and regulatory work that it undertakes for clients.

Hospitality and tourism: advising major stakeholders in the hotels and leisure industry, across a wide range of transactions including acquisitions and disposals, operating leases, management and franchise agreements, and brand management, among others.

Real estate: advising clients on REITs and infrastructure, real estate development and financing, hotel acquisitions, operations and franchising, strata ownership, retail leasing, mall development and management, joint ventures, and commercial agencies.

Media and entertainment: advising clients from across the media spectrum on a wide range of issues, including exploitation across all forms of digital media, such as user-generated content exploitation.

Sports: advising national and international sports governing bodies, event organisers and sponsors on issues including exploitation of commercial rights, brand management, regulatory and disciplinary issues.

Technology and communications: advising on matters ranging from smaller innovative projects to the largest and most complex transactions of recent years. It advises clients on agile development methodologies, big data, cloud services, cyber and IT security, M2M, smart metering, mobile payments and apps, next generation genomics, open source and open data, robotics and software patentability, spectrum auctions, sharing and trading, and 3D printing.

Main Contacts

Department Name Email Telephone
Managing partner Anders Nilsson
Head of Commercial, corporate and M&A Anders Nilsson
Restructuring and insolvency Anders Nilsson
Head of Intellectual Property Melissa Murray
Franchising, licensing and multi-channel strategies Melissa Murray
Commercial Melissa Murray
Regulatory and administrative (public) Melissa Murray
Public sector Melissa Murray
Head of TMT David Bintliff
Privacy and data protection David Bintliff
Commercial David Bintliff
Head of Employment Johannes Eisser
Commercial, corporate and M&A Johannes Eisser
Head of Dispute Resolution Lucas Pitts
Head of Banking and finance (including Islamic finance) Gregory Man

Lawyer Profiles

Photo Name Position Profile
David Bintliff photo Mr David Bintliff David is head of our technology & communications and media, entertainment &… View Profile
Kimia Kalantarian photo Kimia Kalantarian Kimia is an Associate in the firm’s Litigation department and advises clients… View Profile
Gregory Man photo Mr Gregory Man Greg is the head of our Finance & Financial Regulation team in… View Profile
Melissa Murray photo Ms Melissa Murray Melissa is the head of the Intellectual Property Group for the Middle… View Profile
Renée Nugent photo Ms Renée Nugent Renee is a Legal Director in the Intellectual Property Group based in… View Profile
Lucas Pitts photo Mr Lucas Pitts Lucas heads the Dispute Resolution Group for the Middle East and is… View Profile
Surabhi Singhi photo Ms Surabhi Singhi Surabhi is a senior associate in our Corporate Group (including Employment), based… View Profile

Staff Figures

Number of lawyers : 1,400
at this office : 18

Languages

Arabic
English
Finnish
French
Hindi
Italian
Malayalam
Swedish
German
South African

Other

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