Adam Pierson > White & Case LLP > Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile

Regularly advising on the sale and purchase of assets, company acquisitions and investments, and project development and financing, White & Case LLP is a popular choice for major oil and gas companies across the Middle East. Team head Adam Pierson helms the practice and takes the lead on both transactions and project development instructions. Michael Watson, who relocated from London, heads the firm’s EMEA Project Development and Finance Group and is highly active on energy transition matters. Antoine Cousin is another name for project finance and development acumen. Claire Patrick has been a key advisor to Saudi Aramco on petrochemical and hydrogen mandates, while Mark Andrews is also highly active on projects in Saudi Arabia.

Praised for its ‘outstanding‘ legal acumen and commercial understanding, White & Case LLP is frequently engaged by corporates and sovereign-backed entities on complex mandates across the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where it advises prominent clients such as NEOM, Saudi Aramco, and the Public Investment Fund on greenfield projects in energy transition and social infrastructure. Adam Pierson leads the team, serving as a principal advisor to Saudi Aramco, with projects and PPP specialist Antoine Cousin also providing extensive support across project portfolios. Co-head Yasser Riad is recognised for his work with EWEC on both new ventures and existing assets. Mark Andrews and Claire Patrick joined from the London office in 2024, adding further expertise. Jennifer Riddle left the firm in March 2025.

Leveraging its deep team of highly experienced advisors, White & Case LLP provides comprehensive counsel to financial institutions, corporates, and sovereign-backed entities on a wide range of cross-border transactions, spanning both the Gulf and the African continent. The firm is particularly well-regarded for its project finance expertise,  regularly acting for sponsors and lenders in the oil and gas, power, utilities, and infrastructure sectors. Claire Matheson Kirton heads the practice and has a strong track record in Sharia-compliant transactions. Co-head William Watson is noted for his private credit and direct lending capabilities, while co-head Debashis Dey brings expertise across finance and capital markets. Co-heads Adam Pierson and Antoine Cousin are highly active on projects in Saudi Arabia, while Yasser K. Riad focuses on project financings in the UAE. Sam Manful and Mikaela Nikolausson Toumia are key supporting presences across a number of practice mandates.