Baker McKenzie LLP

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Abeer Jarrar is a partner at Baker McKenzie based in Dubai. Abeer has over 20 years' experience in the Middle East. Having advised in recent years on some of the most high profile regional and international M&A and capital markets transactions, Abeer combines profound understanding of the legal environment and the distinct business culture of the Middle East and their interaction with international market practice. She is recognised for her ability to communicate effectively with the different stakeholders and to deliver cross border transactions of the highest quality and complexity in different sectors, including banking. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie in 2021, Abeer spent the last ten years at two magic circle firms. Abeer is a Fulbright scholar and holds a doctorate degree in law from Georgetown University in Washington DC. She serves as a board member of the MENA Advisory Board of Georgetown University School of Law. Abeer focuses on advising financial institutions, investment banking, local, regional and international corporate, private equity and family offices on cross border private and public mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings, public takeovers and equity capital markets transactions in the Middle East.

Adil Hussain is a partner and the Global Head of Islamic finance at Baker McKenzie. He is based in Dubai and also leads the Firm’s Banking and Finance practice in the Middle East. Prior to joining the Firm, he worked for an international law firm in Dubai. Adil focuses particularly on conventional, Shariah compliant and multi-sourced financing matters and has been involved in a number of leading financing transactions in the Middle East region and internationally. He has also advised on the structuring and development of a number of first-of-their-kind financing products. Adil has built up a wealth of regional experience having previously worked in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for a number of years. Adil is regularly cited in legal directories as being a leading banking lawyer and draws particular praise for his Islamic finance knowledge.

Chaya is a senior associate in the Dubai office with experience advising on conventional and Islamic banking and finance transactions across the Middle East and in the United Kingdom. Chaya advises both borrowers and lenders on conventional and Islamic finance transactions across a variety of sectors, with clients based in both the MEA region and the United Kingdom, and has background experience in construction, corporate and M&A matters. Chaya takes a keen interest in pro bono work and is a strong supporter of diversity and inclusion in the Firm. She also sits on the management board of BVL (formerly, Big Voice London), a London-based legal youth and social mobility charity, which seeks to give young people from non-fee paying schools a voice in law and legal policy.

Dino Wilkinson leads Baker McKenzie’s IP, technology and data practice in the Middle East. He is recognised as one of the leading technology lawyers in the region with top-tier team and individual rankings in Chambers Global Guide and the Legal 500. Dino Wilkinson is a partner based in the Abu Dhabi office. He has been operating in the Middle East for nearly 20 years and heads Baker McKenzie’s regional IP, technology and data practice. Dino is a trusted adviser to corporate clients throughout the Middle East on IT and outsourcing transactions, digital transformation, emerging technology regulation and data privacy laws. He has also been involved in the development of laws and regulation in this field, including the drafting of e-commerce, data sharing and privacy legislation. Dino’s expertise spans all types of technology-related contractual and compliance issues, including data protection, artificial intelligence, digital media and content. Dino is named in the Legal 500’s Hall of Fame for his longstanding involvement in market-leading work and described as a ‘real business partner’ who understands the industries he operates in.

James leads our Middle East and Africa Funds Group and sits on the Firm's Global Funds Steering Committee. He has experience in the formation of private equity and hedge fund structures, fund reviews and due diligence for investors, investment management and advisory agreements, information memoranda and other offering documents, and in advising on specific investment structures for asset classes. He also has extensive experience in advising both buyers and sellers in secondary transactions private equity and real estate fund interests, end of life portfolios and GP-led buyouts. As well as advising fund managers, he counts many large institutional investors amongst his clients. James co-leads the Firm's Sovereign Investor Group and its relationship with the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds with whom Baker McKenzie has an exclusive partnership for the provision of Legal and Regulatory knowledge services.

Joanna Matthews-Taylor

Joanna Matthews-Taylor is a partner in the Dubai office of Baker McKenzie and head of the employment practice. Joanna advises on employment law and immigration matters, working with clients based in the UAE and wider Middle East region. Prior to joining the Firm, she worked as a senior legal consultant for an international law firm's Middle East office, and as a qualified assistant for a leading Scottish law firm. From 2016 to 2023 Joanna has been recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, most recently as a “Next Generation Partner” with clients and peers commenting that "she is solution-oriented, pragmatic and very knowledgeable of UAE employment law." Joanna is experienced in the full spectrum of employment law issues, including recruitment, employment contracts, localisation of the workforce, benefits, termination and disputes She has also advised clients on the employment aspects of corporate transactions, investigations, cross-border ESG and compliance projects and the mobility of employees across the Middle East. She has worked with international clients in a variety of sectors including technology, healthcare and life sciences, hospitality and insurance.

Keri Watkins is a partner based in Baker McKenzie’s Dubai office, who has been advising local and multinational businesses, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and public institutions in the Middle East since 2007. Keri also co-heads the Real Estate & Hospitality practice in the MENA region. Keri has extensive real estate, development and hotel related experience and advises on all aspects of the commercial real estate transaction from the initial due diligence and structuring of the deal to post completion aspects. During her time in the Middle East, Keri has spent time on secondment with Dubai Properties Group and Gulf Capital. Keri has been ranked by prestigious legal directories for her work in Real Estate and Hospitality from 2022-2024.

Osama Audi leads Baker McKenzie’s Corporate practice in the UAE. He focuses on M&A, private equity, venture capital and investment funds matters. Recognized for his commercial-oriented approach to transactions and his work ethic, he represents sovereign wealth funds, private equity and venture capital funds, public and private technology and growth companies, family offices and multinationals. Osama is admitted to the New York Bar and has worked in New York, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Osama is ranked by Chambers Global 2024 as a leading individual for Corporate/M&A: Abu Dhabi based. Chambers Global 2024 identifies Osama as “an exceptionally bright, measured and effective M&A counsel” and further adds "he is responsive and commercially savvy". Moreover from 2018 to the most recent 2024 rankings, Osama has been and continues to be recognized by Legal500 and IFLR for his M&A, private equity and venture capital work. Most recently as a "Leading Individual" by Legal500 and "Highly Regarded" by IFLR. He is also recognized by Legal500 for his work in the oil & gas and real estate sectors and by IFLR for his work in the food & beverage sector. Osama advises clients on M&A and private equity transactions in the Middle East, Africa and South and Southeast Asia in sectors such as energy (with a focus on renewable energy) and infrastructure, oil & gas, technology and e-commerce, consumer goods and retail, healthcare and life-sciences, education, financial services, logistics and transport and real estate, hospitality and leisure. In addition, Osama regularly advises on transactions relating to technology and growth companies at all stages of their development and is recognized by Chambers Global 2024 for his Venture Capital & Emerging Companies work. Prior to joining Baker McKenzie, Osama was a partner in a US law firm's M&A and private equity practice and, before that, Osama worked in a Magic Circle law firm's Dubai and Riyadh offices. Osama received his JD from the Pennsylvania State University which he attended on a full-academic Deans Scholarship.