Shearman & Sterling LLP > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile
Shearman & Sterling LLP Offices
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE, GATE VILLAGE 4
LEVEL 2, OFFICE 208
DUBAI
United Arab Emirates
Shearman & Sterling LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
United Arab Emirates > Oil, gas and natural resources Tier 1
Shearman & Sterling LLP has an experienced financings and energy and infrastructure M&A practice. Since publication, Renad Younes and Dan Feldman left the firm.Other key lawyers:
Iain Elder
Testimonials
‘Shearman & Sterling have been very proactive in supporting us with our diversity and UAE national development initiatives, such as through hosting internships for young UAE national scholars and offering training contracts. Such initiatives are extremely important for us as a client and supports the development of our local talent.’
Key clients
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
NEOM Company
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc (ICE)
The Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur)
The Dow Chemical Company
Bahrain Petroleum Company
SACE S.p.A.
Emirates Global Aluminium
The Royal Commission for Al-Ula
Masdar
Mubadala
Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Chevron Saudi Arabia
Export-Import Bank of Korea (K-EXIM)
United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3
Shearman & Sterling LLP is a go-to firm for issues involving minority investments, joint venture formations and acquisitions of controlling stakes or whole businesses. Since publication, Marwan Elaraby and Renad Younes left the firm.Key clients
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
NEOM Company
The Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur)
Gulf Petrochemical Industries Co. (GPIC)
The Dow Chemical Company
Investcorp
Chevron
Mubadala
Mitsui & Co., Ltd
United Arab Emirates > Construction Tier 3
Shearman & Sterling LLP advises on a broad range of government-related construction mandates and has expertise in oil and gas facilities across the energy value chain. Alex Bevan heads the firm’s global international arbitration practice. Since publication, Dan Feldman left the firm.Practice head(s):
Alex Bevan
Key clients
Obrascon Huarte Lain
Orascom Construction / Contrack (Cyprus) Ltd.
Qatar Building Company
Samsung C&T Corporation
ENKA İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş.
Abu Dhabi Global Market
Work highlights
- Representing OHL Internacional and Contrack (Cyprus) Ltd as Respondents in an ICC arbitration in London initiated by the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development concerning the development of a world-class medical facility in the Middle East, subject to Qatari law.
- Representing an international joint venture in an ICC arbitration against Qatari Railways Company (QRC) arising from the termination of a contract, governed by Qatari law, for the design & build of two of Doha Metro’s flagship stations.
United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation Tier 3
Shearman & Sterling LLP has a 'strong team' that focuses on oil and gas, aviation, telecoms and construction disputes. Abu Dhabi-based managing partner Alex Bevan has an extensive international arbitration background. David Hume and Alexander Nordang were promoted to counsel in 2021.Practice head(s):
Alex Bevan
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Strong team with region-specific capability. Stellar turnaround time.’
‘Alex Bevan – knows the region, understands our Company and guides on strategy.’
‘David Hume – smart, eloquent and very strong on explaining concepts.’
‘They are always thinking creatively and suggesting solutions that are perfect for the particular issue.’
‘IF they are pressured, they never show it, they always have time, and they are creative thinkers.’
‘Alex Bevan is a standout individual. He is a mature and persuasive advocate.’
‘Solid understanding of the local market dynamics in the oil and gas sector.‘
‘Team led by Alex Bevan are considered strategic partners with a solid understanding of parties interests in high-value complex EPC claims. Proven agility in their responsiveness and factoring global/local market conditions in their advice.‘
Key clients
ENKA İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş.
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM)
Work highlights
- Representing Turkish contractor ENKA Insaat ve Sanayi AŞ in an ICC arbitration in London against certain entities within US insurance group Chubb.
- Developing the framework and resources for ADGM to become a leading arbitral jurisdiction.
United Arab Emirates > Infrastructure and projects (including project finance) Tier 4
Shearman & Sterling LLP has a ‘solid project financing team‘ and is ‘well regarded‘ in the Middle East for energy and infrastructure work. Iain Elder acts for key sponsors and lenders in the region. Since publication, Dan Feldman and Renad Younes left the firm.Practice head(s):
Iain Elder
Testimonials
‘Shearman & Sterling have a well regarded, solid project financing team, especially in the Middle East where you get the sense that they have made a real effort to grow the practice group and presence on the ground.’
Key clients
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
NEOM Company
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc (ICE)
The Saudi Arabian Industrial Investments Company (Dussur)
The Dow Chemical Company
Bahrain Petroleum Company
SACE S.p.A.
Emirates Global Aluminium
The Royal Commission for Al-Ula
Masdar
Mubadala
Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank
Chevron Saudi Arabia
Export-Import Bank of Korea (K-EXIM)
United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending) Tier 5
Shearman & Sterling LLP has a full-service finance practice with a global presence, covering a range of areas including project finance, acquisition finance, ECA financings, restructuring and Shariah compliant financing. Philip Stopford and Abu Dhabi-based Laleh Shahabi co-head the UAE banking and finance practice. Shahabi was promoted to partner in July 2021 and has expertise in project finance and development transactions.Practice head(s):
Philip Stopford; Laleh Shahabi
Other key lawyers:
Claire Hunter
Key clients
Mubadala Capital
Saudi Arabia > Projects and energy
Shearman & Sterling LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: With the opening of the Dubai office in September 2015, Shearman & Sterling continues to build upon its strong base in the Middle East. The firm has maintained a presence in the United Arab Emirates since 1975 when the Abu Dhabi office opened its doors, and the office in Dubai expands its reach to both of the country’s major business centres.
Areas of practice: The firm’s areas of strength include M&A, project development, banking and finance, financial institutions advisory and financial regulatory, capital markets, private equity and international arbitration, providing legal advice to clients throughout the Middle East and foreign investors seeking opportunities within the region. The firm is also a leader in many of the major sectors of the regional economy, including oil and gas, power, financial institutions, infrastructure and finance.
The Dubai office works in tandem with other offices to serve both regional corporations and state-owned entities, as well as international companies seeking to do business in the region. The firm is renowned as a pioneer in the field of financing in the region, and has advised clients on groundbreaking Islamic (shari’ah-compliant) financings. Clients include multinational companies, government ministries, state-owned companies, banks, investment agencies and financial sponsors in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Bahrain, Algeria and Yemen, as well as Libya and Morocco.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate and M&A, Capital Markets, Private Equity | Marwan Elaraby | ||
| Corporate and M&A, Private Equity | Matthew Powell | ||
| Corporate and M&A, Private Equity | Rodney Cannon | ||
| Project development and finance, Corporate and M&A | Renad Younes | ||
| Project development and finance | Dan Feldman | ||
| International arbitration | Alexander Bevan | ||
| Finance | Iain Goalen |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Mr Jade Chu | Partner | View Profile |
 | Mr Brendan Hundt | Partner | View Profile |
 | Mr Pawel Szaja | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 850 at this office : 6Languages
Arabic EnglishOther
Other offices : Abu Dhabi Other offices : Beijing Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Frankfurt Other offices : Hong Kong Other offices : London Other offices : Menlo Park Other offices : Milan Other offices : New York Other offices : Paris Other offices : Riyadh Other offices : Rome Other offices : San Francisco Other offices : São Paulo Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : Singapore Other offices : Tokyo Other offices : Toronto Other offices : Washington DCLegal Briefings
The UK financial restructuring market
The last two years have seen significant developments and unexpected turns in the financial restructuring market. The impact of the Covid pandemic precipitated an immediate and significant uptick in the level of corporates facing underperformance and distress, only to be followed in 2021 by an incredibly ‘hot’ financing market and significant drop-off in corporate default …
- Oil, gas and natural resources
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Construction
- Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation
Firm Rankings
- Saudi Arabia > Projects and energy