Mr Raid Abu-Manneh > Mayer Brown International LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Mayer Brown International LLP is distinguished for its comprehensive cradle-to-grave service, with a significant focus on the Middle Eastern market. The firm, which regularly defends insurers and policyholders against professional negligence claims, leverages expertise in numerous sectors such as energy, process engineering, transport, mining, waste management, and property. The team is led by Michael Regan, a respected authority in arbitrations involving large-scale infrastructure projects, and includes Sally Davies, noted for her proficiency in construction-related insurance issues, Kwadwo Sarkodie, lauded for his dispute resolution expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Jonathan Stone, recognised for his counsel on professional indemnity claims. The team also features James Morris, who excels in dispute resolution for South Korean and Japanese clients, and Raid Abu-Manneh, who heads the team’s international arbitration group.

Mayer Brown International LLP‘s London practice represents clients in commercial and corporate disputes concerning energy, infrastructure, and leisure. The group is also active in new areas such as outer space and hydrogen-related claims. Raid Abu-Manneh is ‘competent, helpful and dedicated‘; Mark Stefanini is London energy disputes leader; Miles Robinson track record includes ICC, LCIA and LMAA arbitrations; Kwadwo Sarkodie is a Sub-Saharan Africa specialist; and Luiz Aboim is ‘a diligent disputes lawyer‘. The group also features partners Rachael O’Grady, Stephen Moi and recently-elevated Sam Prentki, along with senior associates Volodymyr Yaremko, Jawad Ahmad, Jonathan Cohen and Sang Joon Park.

Mayer Brown International LLP  is ‘very proactive in understanding client legal needs and providing bespoke advice, guidance and documentation in complex transactions‘. Clients remark that the lawyers ‘put themselves into client’s shoes and anticipate issues ahead of time, and their responsiveness is quite unique‘. The firm handles a vast array of work from London, including anti-bribery and corruption matters, sanctions advice, arbitration, litigation, a diverse range of financings, IP, and M&A deals. Head of the Africa and mining practices Ian Coles, natural resources and infrastructure partner Rachel Speight and finance partner Ashley McDermott are the standout partners. McDermott acted for Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB) in a $600m syndicated, secured  landmark facility for Trafigura relating to financing facilities with copper and cobalt producer Chemaf SA, which is based in the Democratic Republic of Congo). Head of international arbitration Raid Abu-Manneh was part of a team that advised Malaysia energy company Petronas on the sale of its upstream business in South Sudan. Islamic finance specialist Barry Cosgrave, counsel Danuta de Vries, who focuses on domestic and international finance transactions, and senior associate Emma Sturt also play key roles in the practice. New partner hire Peter Pears from Clifford Chance LLP brings a strong track record in emerging markets debt transactions.

Mayer Brown is well-positioned to act in high-value, large-scale oil and gas disputes, acting for a premium range of clients that include governments and state entities. Arbitration is another key strength of the practice, with the group able to handle investment treaty arbitration proceedings in the region, with group lead Alain Farhad especially well regarded in this space. Counsel Patricia Ugalde Revilla handles commercial, construction, energy and engineering disputes and senior associate Gerard Moore is predominantly noted for his strong work in construction cases. Raid Abu-Manneh and Dany Khayat support the UAE offering from the firm’s London and Paris offices, respectively.