Mr Simon Rootsey > Akin > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Akin handles a broad range of work in the oil & gas industries, including major corporate transactions and joint ventures, restructurings, project financings, litigation, arbitration and disputes, and international trade, sanctions and public policy matters. The team is headed up by Shaun Lascelles , Alex Harrison, Justin Williams and Simon Rootsey.

The ‘professional, responsive and business orientated’ team at Akin has a client roster that features global corporates and financial institutions. Known for its presence in emerging markets, the team is well-versed in advising on investment portfolio matters for fund clients including complex and high-value multi-jurisdictional transactions. Leading the team are a trio of lawyers including Sebastian Rice, whose practice involves M&A, equity capital markets and private equity, the ‘very commercial’ Shaun Lascelles, also co-head of the firm’s project and energy transition practice, and the ‘excellent’ Gavin Weir, who has ‘deep knowledge of the market’ particularly in relation to financial services, technology and life sciences M&A. Focusing on both private equity and M&A transactions is Simon Rootsey, particularly across the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, while public and private M&A practitioner Harry Keegan, who is an expert in takeovers, is highly knowledgeable about corporate transactions from a financial advisor’s perspective. Weyinmi Popo left the firm in March 2023 to join ASAFO & Co.

Akin acts for an impressive array of sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions and the market’s most active investors on premium, multibillion-dollar M&A, joint venture and commercial mandates. The firm has an ‘excellent team that works seamlessly across various jurisdictions’, leveraging vast expertise across the Middle East and abroad to handle complex transactions in the energy and infrastructure, healthcare, defence, hospitality and retail sectors – among others. On the ground in the UAE, Wael Jabsheh heads the group and handles the practice’s most consequential transactions, utilising his leading expertise in digital assets and cryptocurrency to competently advise on tech-related aspects of deals. Simon Rootsey – who relocated from London in 2023 – largely focuses on cross-border M&A and private equity, with extensive experience in joint ventures and public takeovers. Associate Mazen Baddar is quickly building an impressive portfolio of deals due to high levels of activity across a range of sectors.