Bird & Bird > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile
Bird & Bird Offices
LEVEL 14, BURJ DAMAN
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE
PO BOX 507110
United Arab Emirates
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Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings
United Arab Emirates > Intellectual property Tier 2
Often advising international hotel chains on franchising agreements, Bird & Bird is geared to handle copyright, patent, and trademark matters. Melissa Murray leads the team and is well-versed in intellectual property licensing, protection, and regulatory issues. Sau Lin Wan is vastly experienced in intellectual property enforcement, Eddie Chiu is active in the life sciences sector, while Richard Guageler and Sahar Tarhini are knowledgeable of patent protection.Practice head(s):
Melissa Murray
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Bird & Bird stands out for its proactive, thorough, and detail-oriented approach. Clients consistently commend the team’s responsiveness and trustworthiness, which set them apart in the competitive IP legal market.’
‘Their ability to handle complex issues with speed and professionalism has made them a top choice for both private and government clients.’
‘The firm’s exceptional customer service and ability to adapt to the unique demands of government sectors further enhance their reputation. Clients appreciate the team’s insightful advice, backed by international studies and comparisons, providing strong, persuasive solutions that add value to any project.’
‘Richard Gaugeler is highly praised for his expertise and swift problem-solving abilities. He is noted for turning around challenging matters with precise, effective advice that clients rely on.’
‘Sahar Tarhini is recognised for her daily assistance on projects, providing efficient and reliable support, even in urgent situations. Her commitment to excellence is a key strength.’
‘Melissa Murray is known for her well-reasoned, thoughtful guidance. Her advice, rooted in international studies and comparisons, consistently adds strength and credibility to client projects.’
Key clients
Huda Beauty
Papa John’s
The Grooming Company
TGI Friday’s
Circle K Procurement and Brands Limited
The Social Gaming Group
Butlers Chocolate Cafe
Work highlights
United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Financial services regulation Tier 3
Bird & Bird offers comprehensive financial services expertise, from setting up digital banking and asset platforms to managing licensing and advising on commercial and data protection matters. The firm’s depth in blockchain, NFTs, and tokenisation makes it a top choice for established tech firms and start-ups alike. Team lead Gregory Man advises multinational corporates and has a growing focus on fintech, while Jessica White specialises in financial regulation for both traditional and digital assets.Practice head(s):
Gregory Man
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Bird & Bird’s team was fully supportive that we are a startup, so understood how we operate and how sensitive our cash outflow is. Additionally, the team was fully informed with the regulations in the freezone we are operating from, so when we asked for certain legal documents, you can immediately see the team bringing up all applicable regulations that may potentially impact the scope of work and how we could address them.’
‘I worked with Jessica White and Gregory Man. Both are top class when it comes to providing proper consultancy and legal advise. They knew how to meet regulatory requirements for our fintech operations whilst ensuring we stay innovative in our approach.’
Key clients
Indo-Pacific Liquidity Facility Pte. Ltd.
Work highlights
- Advising Indo-Pacific Liquidity Facility Pte. Ltd. as the issuer of $5,000,000 USD 9% Impact Bonds due 2028.
United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3
Bird & Bird continues to expand its UAE corporate and commercial practice, bolstered by the relocation of seasoned practitioner Simon Shooter from its London office in 2024 and the addition of Raya AlKhatib from an in-house role at American Express in 2023. Alongside a steady flow of complex M&A mandates, the firm is recognised for its comprehensive commercial expertise, advising marquee public and private sector clients across the Gulf on a wide range of commercial contracts. Leading the practice alongside Shooter is Anders Nilsson, who focuses on domestic and cross-border M&A, and Melissa Murray, whose far-reaching commercial practice is particularly specialised in franchising, distribution and supply agreements. Surabhi Singhi provides additional support on Gulf-wide M&A and joint venture transactions.Practice head(s):
Anders Nilsson; Melissa Murray; Simon Shooter
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Anders Nilson is an outstanding lawyer and partner. He is always able to provide timely and accurate advice in a complex and challenging environment.’
‘The practice provides advice in a market and legal system completely different from our continental jurisdictions. The team is readily available and knows how to translate local requirements into our legal understanding.’
‘Surabhi Singhi and Anders Nilsson are highly efficient lawyers that act with a good focus on client needs and the main drivers in a transaction.’
‘Surabhi Singhi is proactive and helpful.’
Key clients
Gulf Islamic Investments
ATPI Limited
Florin Court Capital
JSW Infrastructure
Archer Aviation Inc.
Stratasys Solutions Limited
Serenity
NEOM Company
Tonomus
Dubai Cultiv8
Brunel Energy Holding BV
Work highlights
- Continuing to assist JSW Infrastructure on their USD187 million acquisition of Marine Oil Terminal Corporation.
- Advising Archer Aviation Inc. on their memorandum of understanding with Abu Dhabi Investment Office regarding multi-hundred-million dollar investments to accelerate Archer’s planned commercial air taxi operations in the UAE
- Continuing to advise NEOM Company on the full range of their commercial contracting and especially those relating to or involving technology.
United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation Tier 3
Bird & Bird‘s Middle East dispute resolution team is recognised for its expertise in managing commercial litigation, arbitration, and intricate fraud investigations. The firm also has a robust sports law practice, supporting governing bodies, federations, and athletes with regulatory matters and sports-related arbitrations. Yannick Hefti-Rossier is the key driver behind the firm’s sports offering. Kimia Kalantarian supports on domestic and cross-border cases. Former team head Lucas Pitts left the firm in 2025.Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘What makes them special is the depth of collaboration with their client in order to fully understand all aspects of a matter and the subsequent level of commitment towards their client.’
‘I have been working with Kimia Kalantarian for a little over two years now. Her approach totally suits me as her client: she is proactive, clear and precise as to what she wants from us and as to what happens next, she understands the complexities of a global organization and she adjusts accordingly, without giving easily in to what her clients want – she always balances customer needs with what needs to be done.’
‘Strong customer focused leadership of the team. Works well with internal lawyers and understands what our business needs.’
Key clients
Sheikh Alesayi
Work highlights
- Advising longstanding client, the FIA, on regulatory, governance, and contentious matters, including in relation to the FIA Formula One World Championship, Formula E and other championships.
- Continuing to advise Sheikh Alesayi’s Will Establishment in a high-value matter in respect of attempts by a guardian of the Will Establishment to dissipate assets in breach of fiduciary duty.
United Arab Emirates > Employment Tier 3
Bird & Bird’s broad employment caseload encompasses contracts, disputes, as well as exists and transfers. Johannes Eisser leads the practice and is knowledgeable of employee statutory rights and terminations. Surabhi Singhi is another key team member.Practice head(s):
Johannes Eisser
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Pfizer
Work highlights
United Arab Emirates > TMT Tier 3
Led by Simon Shooter, the team at Bird & Bird is particuarly noted for its expertise in artificial intelligence and blockchain development matters. Boasting more than three decades of experience, Shooter is skilled at IT procurement and transactions, while Yannick Hefti-Rossier is a key port of call for sports sector clients seeking assistance with contentious and regulatory matters. Other key figures include Nikita Manro, who regularly handles SaaS, software licence, and telecom agreements.Practice head(s):
Simon Shooter
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Bird & Bird team provide high quality, dependable and practical advice in a timely and customer friendly manner. They are very reactive and deliver in a pragmatic way. The team is structured so that whether it is a senior partner or an associate dealing with a matter there is a high degree of confidence that the advice will be consistent and very good.’
‘Bird & Bird ensure that there is a breadth and depth of resources available, often at short notice, to ensure success. Simon Shooter and his team are highly recommended.’
‘Simon Shooter is an expert in his field.’
‘They provide solid legal advice, and they have a great understanding of our business and our needs.’
Key clients
Tonomus
NEOM Company
Federation Internationale de l’Automobile
Work highlights
- Advise Tonomus and the NEOM Tech and Digital Company on a wide range of cutting-edge technology procurement matters.
- Advised NEOM Company on commercial contracting.
- Advised the FIA on regulatory, governance, and contentious matters relating the FIA Formula One World Championship, Formula E, and other championships.
United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending) Tier 5
Bird & Bird‘s banking and finance practice encompasses general lending, debt capital markets, and regulatory work, with demonstrated activity on transactions both within and outside of the Middle East. Gregory Man leads the team and has a strong track record in Islamic finance, advising widely on loans, restructruings, and issuances for public and private sector bodies. Jessica White provides further financial services regulatory expertise.Practice head(s):
Gregory Man
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
Indo-Pacific Liquidity Facility Pte. Ltd.
Work highlights
- Assisting the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector on the first ever sukuk transaction listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.
- Advising the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector on a U.S.$500,000,000 Sukuk issuance maturing in 2029.
- Advising Indo-Pacific Liquidity Facility Pte. Ltd. as the issuer of $5,000,000 USD 9% Impact Bonds due 2028.
Bird & Bird > Firm Profile
The firm:Â 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:Â 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 | 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 | ||
| Technology and cybersecurity | Simon Shooter | ||
| TMT | Simon Shooter | ||
| Head of Commercial | Simon Shooter | ||
| 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 | ||
| Commercial, corporate and M&A | Surabhi Singhi | ||
| Employment | Surabhi Singhi |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Kimia Kalantarian | Kimia is an Associate in the firm’s Litigation department and advises clients… | View Profile |
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Mr Gregory Man | Greg is the head of our Finance & Financial Regulation team in… | View Profile |
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Ms Melissa Murray | Melissa is the head of the Intellectual Property Group for the Middle… | View Profile |
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Ms Renée Nugent | Renee is a Legal Director in the Intellectual Property Group based in… | View Profile |
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Ms Surabhi Singhi | Surabhi is a partner in our Corporate Group (including Employment), based in… | View Profile |