Baker & McKenzie Limited > Doha, Qatar > Firm Profile

Baker & McKenzie Limited Offices

Baker & McKenzie Limited
AL FARDAN OFFICE TOWER, 8TH FLOOR
AL FUNDUQ 61, PO BOX 31316
DOHA
Qatar
Visit website 974 4410 1817 974 4410 1500

Baker & McKenzie Limited > The Legal 500 Rankings

Qatar > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

Baker & McKenzie Limited's corporate and commercial offering covers both contentious and non-contentious matters, including share and asset sales and dispute resolution, where it often acts for multinational companies. The team has experience in multi-jurisdictional deals, especially in the Gulf and Asia. Ian Siddell and Delwar Hossain co-head the department, lending to the team their expertise in company restructurings, transactions involving Sharia law and Gulf region acquisitions. Borys Y. Dackiw frequently advises multinationals on acquisitions, foreign investments and other areas.

Practice head(s):

Ian Siddell; Delwar Hossain

Other key lawyers:

Borys Dackiw

Key clients

Saudi Binladin Group Company Limited

The Commercial Bank (P.S.Q.C.)

Qatar National Bank Q.P.S.C.

DBS Bank Ltd (DIFC Branch)

Ooredoo, Group LLC

Work highlights

Bahrain > Banking and finance (including Islamic finance)

Baker & McKenzie Limited is noted for proficiency across the full spectrum of finance-related matters, including real estate and construction financing for major local and international clients in various jurisdictions. Practice head Ian Siddell holds extensive experience in Islamic finance-related matters and major and complex project financing mandates. He is ably assisted by the finance expertise of Fatima Alhasan, whose experience extends to both Islamic and financial banking, along with financial restructuring matters. Delwar Hossain specialises in Islamic finance, and is particularly active in project finance matters requiring expertise in Saudi Arabian law. In addition, Soheir Elbanna and Victoria Long are both highly active members of the team.

Practice head(s):

Ian Siddell

Other key lawyers:

Fatima Alhasan; Delwar Hossain; Soheir Elbanna; Victoria Long

Testimonials

‘The Islamic finance team works efficiently together and is under good leadership.’

‘The team is known for their banking and finance practice in the region.’

‘As a Bahraini national, Partner Fatima Alhassan is uniquely positioned to deal with the specificities and nuances of the local laws and local culture when advising on international transactions.’

Key clients

The Oil and Gas Holding Company B.S.C. (c) (nogaholding)

Bahrain National Gas Company (B.S.C.)

ABC Islamic Bank (E.C.)

Gulf International Bank B.S.C

Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba)

Bahrain Islamic Bank B.S.C

Arab Bank plc

Ahli United Bank B.S.C

The Saudi National Commercial Bank (Bahrain)

Work highlights

  • Advised Gulf International Bank B.S.C on a fully underwritten $240m syndicated loan facility made available to Noon AD Holdings Ltd and Noon Investment Company CJSC for the acquisition of all the issued share capital of Namshi Holdings Limited from Emaar.
  • Advised Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill (GARMCO), a Bahrain-based aluminum facility, on its debt restructuring to creditors under the reorganisation plan approved by Kingdom of Bahrain Courts.
  • Advised several banks on BBK’s successful closure of a $250m 2-year club loan facility which will be used for general funding purposes.

Bahrain > Projects and energy

Baker & McKenzie Limited‘s projects and energy department is a port of call for matters involving project financing in Bahrain, advising leading local and regional banks on various multijurisdictional projects with particular experience in the water and petrochemical industries. Ian Siddell heads the team, and is a key contact for projects with Islamic finance elements. Fatima Alhasan is broadly experienced in both conventional and Islamic project financing, and is often active in project-related transactions, along with Delwar Hossain.

Practice head(s):

Ian Siddell

Other key lawyers:

Fatima Alhasan; Delwar Hossain; Soheir Elbanna; Victoria Long

Key clients

The Oil and Gas Holding Company B.S.C. (c) (nogaholding)

Bahrain National Gas Company (B.S.C.)

ABC Islamic Bank (E.C.)

Gulf International Bank B.S.C

Al Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation

Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C (Alba)

Bahrain Islamic Bank B.S.C

Arab Bank plc

Ahli United Bank B.S.C

The Saudi National Commercial Bank (Bahrain)

Work highlights

  • Acted for an international bank, through its Bahrain based entity, in relation to a  $61m equity bridge murabaha facility granted to ACWA Power’s subsidiary in Uzbekistan, as guaranteed by ACWA Power.
  • Advised Bank ABC on an €24.9m SACE-backed and sustainability-linked term loan.

Saudi Arabia > Real estate and construction

Commended for its ‘strong knowledge of the industry,’ Baker McKenzie Law Firm is well versed in data centre management. Khaled Zowayed often acts for investment funds, master developers, and sub-developers on mixed-use developments. With over three decades of experience, Gavin Witcombe handles infrastructure projects as well as mining and processing projects. Keri Watkins is vastly experienced in representing domestic family offices, public institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. Ismaeel Kazerooni, Salman Abdullah, and Luke Meehan are other key team members.

Practice head(s):

Khaled Zowayed; Gavin Witcombe; Keri Watkins

Other key lawyers:

Ismaeel Kazerooni; Salman Abdullah; Luke Meehan

Testimonials

‘They have strong knowledge of the industry.’

‘The team has great strength in the hospitality industry, acting for both owners and operators.’

‘Their level of co-operation, prompt responses, and expertise makes them stand out.’

‘I appreciated their level of responsiveness and knowledge.’

‘Khaled Zowayed brings a wealth of experience to every hospitality transaction he works on. He has a commercial approach.’

‘My experience with Khaled Zowayed was good and up to my expectations.’

‘Gavin Witcombe is knowledgeable and aware of the Saudi sector.’

Work highlights

  • Acting for the National Housing Company on its development and sale arrangement with Talaat Moustafa Group for the SAR31.4bn Benan Project in Al Fursan District.
  • Acting for Catrion on their project to design, build, and operate state of the art catering and laundry facilities to service the Red Sea Giga-Project.
  • Representing various sponsors on the development, financing, design, and engineering of two new natural gas fired combined cycle gas turbine plants.

Baker & McKenzie Limited > Firm Profile

Please visit https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/ to know more about our Firm.



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