White & Case LLP > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile

White & Case LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending) Tier 1

Helming high-profile deals for a mix of leading industry players, White & Case LLP excels across the entire range of financing mandates with notable strength acting on landmark energy and infrastructure projects alongside construction and real estate developments. An enviable client list includes private credit and direct lending entities who view the firm as a go-to in the region for relevant financing advice, as well as premium financial institutions – both domestic and international – and major publicly-traded companies. The firm fields a string of experienced practitioners as team heads, including the Dubai-based Claire Matheson Kirton who is prominent adviser to government related entities on both conventional and Islamic financing; Debashis Dey, who complements his cross-border prowess with expert knowledge of Islamic financing and capital markets; and William Watson who has established strength in debt financing. Acting out of Abu Dhabi, Alexander Malahias is the fulcrum of the group’s considerable project financing offering, sharing the workload with Antoine Cousin who is a formidable PPP adviser. Adam Pierson wields a commendable regional practice, working for clients such as NEOM Company, Saudi Aramco and the Ministry of Water and Irrigation for Jordan, while Yasser K. Riad has experience acting on energy deals across the Americas, Europe and Asia.

United Arab Emirates > Capital markets Tier 1

White & Case LLP is well positioned to act on a range of market transactions, including some of the largest IPOs in the Middle East and specialise in sovereign bonds and Sukuk offerings, in addition to project bond issuances. The group’s experienced practitioners advise a variety of parties engaged in capital markets work including sellers, buyers, underwriters and hedge providers. Debashis Dey is highly regarded for his securitisation and fixed income experience. Sami E. Al-Louzi's expertise was crucial to the IPO of DEWA and Abdulwahid Alulama brings near-unparalleled regulatory understanding to bear on a number of transactions. Greg Pospodinis and senior associate Marcin Zawadzki are also noted. Ibrahim Soumrany left the firm.

United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 1

A team that approaches challenging deals with 'rigor, thought, and creativity', White & Case LLP handles several of the most significant transactions in the region, including major healthcare disposals., landmark energy acquisitions, and a range of premium equity investments by domestic and international funds. Abdulwahid Alulama is highly adept at complex cross-border transactions, active across sectors including energy, real estate and financial services, and Steven Worthington stands out for his knowledge and understanding of an array of jurisdictions. Marcus Booth is often engaged with top-end private equity entities for all forms of corporate and commercial work and Sami Al-Louzi lends extensive financing and capital markets knowledge to a number of transactions. Sonia Abdul-Rahman is the go-to in the group for traditional and renewable energy work and Fraser Galloway is reputed for his wide sector activity.

United Arab Emirates > Construction Tier 1

A key contact for employment and public sector clients, White & Case LLP is noted for its capabilities across the infrastructure and power sectors. 'Very knowledgeable in his field', Michael Turrini leads the department, and Ibaad Hakim is an experienced name in construction matters across Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Habeeb Rahman is proficient in the development and financing of infrastructure, oil and gas, as well as petrochemical projects. Aimy Roshan is experienced in ADGM and DIFC court proceedings, while Sarah Hudson’s recent caseload encompasses pre-dispute advice.

United Arab Emirates > Oil, gas and natural resources Tier 1

White & Case LLP ‘possesses deep expertise and ability, combined with an extremely high level of service’. Active on mandates across the region, with particular attention on the UAE and Saudi Arabia, the team is able to cover the gamut of projects work, including premium M&A and financings, capital markets transactions and complex litigation. The group has also seen a significant volume of big-ticket mandates pertaining to hydrogen ventures, overseeing the financing and construction of greenfield facilities. The team is jointly led by several experienced practitioners, with Antoine Cousin, Ivan Paskal and Adam Pierson standing out due to their extensive activity across a number of projects. Pierson and Cousin are among the preeminent company advisors to Saudi Aramco, where they have been engaged with the industry giant’s power, water and utilities enterprises, whereas Paskal has spearheaded a wide assortment of matters that include NEOM projects and pre-IPO restructurings. Alexander Malahias is a financing expert and retains close connections to major regional financial institutions, while Din Eshanov, who relocated to Abu Dhabi in 2023, brings further expertise in project development.

United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Financial services regulation Tier 2

White & Case LLP works with some of the largest tech companies in the world on their novel projects in the UAE and also advises asset managers on regulatory and compliance concerning the setting up of operations and investments in the region. Practice head Stefan Mrozinski is particularly well-regarded for his fintech expertise. Associates Arnold Krutilins and Gabrielle Lowe advise on financial services regulation, funds and funds regulation, and compliance and tech issues. Adrianus Schoorl left the firm.

United Arab Emirates > Infrastructure and projects (including project finance) Tier 2

Frequently instructed by international financial institutions, premium sponsors, and governments institutions for project financing expertise, White & Case LLP work on an array of blockbuster developments, spanning conventional and renewable energy ventures, social and transport infrastructure builds, and utility developments. Instututional relationships across the region gives the firm access to NEOM projects in Saudi Arabia, railway and passenger station extensions in Abu Dhabi, and novel financing arrangements in the MENA region. The practice is jointly chaired by a number of lawyers, including Adam Pierson, who is regularly sought out by oil and gas giants for his asset expertise and transactional capabilities. Yasser K. Riad is renowned for his far-reaching cross-border project financing practice, possessing comprehensive understanding of various assets, while Antoine Cousin is noted for his expertise in the power, water and utilities sectors. Alexander Malahias stands out for his work in tourism infrastructure projects, working with sovereign wealth funds on joint ventures and financing transactions, while Ivan Paskal is chiefly engaged on energy-related matters. Din Eshanov - who relocated to Abu Dhabi from Riyadh in 2023 - is a key figure for NEOM-related work.

United Arab Emirates > TMT Tier 2

Highly sought after by leading corporates and government entities in the UAE and broader Middle East, White & Case LLP is well versed in complex data, privacy, technology, cyber and fintech matters. Promoted to partner in January 2023, practice head Stefan Mrozinski has established an enviable reputation amongst big tech, large corporates and governmental authorities on cyber, cloud computing and TMT-related M&A transactions. Associate Gabrielle Lowe is well regarded by MENA-based fintech businesses in connection with financial services licensing matters.

United Arab Emirates > Real estate Tier 3

Seamlessly integrating with the firm’s capital markets, construction, and debt finance specialists, White & Case LLP’s full-service real estate offering encompasses developments, leasing, and transactions. Louise Vun heads the department and is experienced in real estate finance, joint ventures, and restructurings. Samatha Shaw handles commercial leasing and land tenure issues.

United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation Tier 4

White & Case LLP is frequently sought out by large corporations and government entities active in a variety of sectors to assist with international arbitration and litigation and is particularly strong in the construction disputes space. Practice head Michael Turrini has an extensive cross-border practice that sees him active in disputes across the region, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as further afield in Europe, Asia and China. Aimy Roshan is adept at handling complex commercial and construction contract disputes and Karim Mariey has bolstered the practice since relocating from the firm's London office in March 2023.  

United Arab Emirates > Investment fund formation and management

Saudi Arabia > Capital markets Tier 1

The ‘solution driven and very approachable’ capital markets team at White & Case often acts for high level issuers, arrangers, and managers in structuring and executing capital markets transactions. The practice is led by Sami Al-Louzi and Debashis Dey, both of whom are based in Dubai. Al-Louzi is well-versed in advising on IPOs on the Saudi Stock Exchange. Dey specialises in Islamic finance in the capital markets, and often works on establishing large Islamic finance issuance programmes. In October 2023, Ibrahim Soumrany left the practice to join Gibson Dunn.

Qatar > Dispute resolution

Qatar > Projects, real estate and construction

The project development and finance, construction, and dispute resolution-focused teams at White & Case LLP in Doha have ‘great knowledge of the region‘: with leadership from Payvand Vahdat in Doha, Michael Turrini in Dubai and Philip Stopford in London, the team pairs regional strength with local expertise. Energy projects are an area of expertise for the team, which has a longstanding relationship with QatarEnergy which is spearheaded by Stopford. The project finance team are ‘recognised experts‘ in the market. Both front-end construction work and construction disputes are strengths, Vahdat in particular is a key name for arbitration in the construction sector.

Saudi Arabia > Commercial, corporate and M&A

White & Case has a strong presence in both Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East, including offices in Egypt, Oman, Qatar, and UAE. This allows the firm to assist clients with complex, multi-jurisdictional challenges, including outbound investment to the Middle East or inbound investment to Saudi Arabia. The firm acts for private and national clients, notably, Saudi Aramco and the Public Investment Fund. Leading the practice are Sami Al-Louzi, who advises clients on cross-border M&A and privatisations; Marcus Booth, who assists large financial institutions including funds and banks with M&A transactions globally; and Sonia Abdul-Rahman, who has extensive experience of the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors.

Saudi Arabia > Real estate and construction

The team at White & Case specialises in advising on large-scale project development work for the Saudi Arabian government. Michael Turrini heads the practice from Dubai. In March 2023, Karim Mariey relocated from the firm's London office and divides his time between Riyadh and Dubai.

Oman > Dispute resolution

The ‘charismatic, experienced and well-connected‘ Mohammed Al Bahr is the key name to note at White & Case LLP‘ Oman office, and is well known for his specialist focus on construction litigation and arbitration.