K&L Gates > Doha, Qatar > Firm Profile

K&L Gates Offices

K&L Gates
QATAR FINANCIAL CENTRE BRANCH
31ST FLOOR TORNADO TOWER, AL FUNDUQ STREET,P.O. BOX 26100
WEST BAY, DOHA
Qatar
Visit website 974 4424 6100 974 4424 6101

K&L Gates > The Legal 500 Rankings

Qatar > Banking, finance and capital markets Tier 2

The team at K&L Gates advises clients on a diverse mix of financial transactions, including syndicated and bilateral loans, development financing, private equity investments, as well as project and real estate finance. The team is also experienced in advising clients on matters involving compliance with Shariah financial regulation, particularly for international clients in cross-border transactions. Amjad Hussain heads the Doha-based practice, which includes Simon Chan, who is noted for his ‘practical advice’, especially on Islamic banking and fintech-related matters. Jaime Oon and Reine Haidar are other names to note.

Practice head(s):

Amjad Hussain

Other key lawyers:

Simon Chan; Jaime Oon; Reine Haidar

Testimonials

‘Client focused, responsive, knowledgeable and no surprises on billing’

‘Simon Chan – will always be available and provides practical advice.’

Key clients

FynPay LCC

QInvest LLC

Lesha Bank (previously known as Qatar First Bank LLC)

Qatar Financial Centre

The Commercial Bank of Qatar (P.S.Q.C.)

Qatar National Bank Q.P.S.C. (QNB Group)

Lendable Asset Management LLC

Qatar Islamic Bank (Q.P.S.C.)

United Development Company

Work highlights

Qatar > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 2

Noted as ‘innovative in thinking and pragmatic in decision-making‘, the corporate and transactional practice at K&L Gates has a breadth of expertise in the technology, real estate, telecoms, and oil and gas sectors. It demonstrates a particular specialisation in advisory matters for both public and private clients, often regarding corporate policy and legislation. Amjad Hussain leads the team and is highlighted for his 'in-depth knowledge and experience in the Qatari market', often overseeing high-value transactions across the region. Associate Jaime Oon has over 15 years of experience in transactional matters in the construction, hospitality and real estate industries, while Reine Haidar is highly active in the team's cross-border matters. Associate Joelle Salame departed the firm in April 2024.

Practice head(s):

Amjad Hussain

Other key lawyers:

Jaime Oon; Reine Haidar

Testimonials

‘The practice is uniquely managed by Mr. Amjad Hussein, an exceptional lawyer with in-depth knowledge and experience in the Qatari market. His commitment to integrity and honesty sets the team apart, as he consistently aims to provide clients with accurate advice in a timely, effective, and cost-efficient manner.’

‘K&L Gates utilizes the talents of lawyers throughout the firm to meet the needs of its clients promptly. Through a number of innovative structures, the K&L Gates team continues to make a significant contribution to several key areas of M&A process and many of the transactions that they have helped to structure have now become market benchmarks.’

‘Innovative in thinking, pragmatic in decision-making, and creative in problem-solving lawyers. We have worked with lawyers specialising in complex cross-border matters. They offered a combination of exceptional transactional skills and deep industry expertise. They create cutting-edge legal solutions for clients.’

Key clients

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Mazaya Real Estate Development

Doha Venture Capital

Lesha Bank LLC

FynPay LLC

Baker Tilly JFC

Al Jazeera Media Network

Dukhan Bank QPSC (formerly Barwa Bank)

MCubed for Oil & Gas Services

Commercial Bank of Qatar (Q.S.C.)

QInvest LLC

Qatar National Bank QPSC

United Development Company QPSC

Zad Holdings

Work highlights

  • Advised a State of Qatar entity on the acquisition of assets worth more than QAR6bn in the logistics sector.
  • Advised Lesha Bank on the financing of a Qatari consortium of investors in connection with the acquisition of a further stake in Ennismore, a fast-growing lifestyle hospitality company owned by Accor.
  • Advised Qatar-based fintech company FynPay on its joint venture with Qatar International Islamic Bank.

Qatar > Dispute resolution Tier 2

The dispute resolution department at K&L Gates is composed of ‘a very wide selection of skilled individuals‘, lending to the team its capacity to handle a diverse range of disputes, including those involving several parties, multi-jurisdictional work, high-value claims and breaches of less common contract types. The team is active across a breadth of industries, including construction, media, engineering and real estate. Matthew Walker heads the team, offering over 25 years of experience in dispute resolution, especially construction-related cases, while Guillaume Hess is retained for his experience in representing international contractors and public and private owners in project-related disputes.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Walker

Other key lawyers:

Guillaume Hess; Burak Eryiğit; Christopher Abraham;

Testimonials

‘The professionalism, constant availability despite short notice and dedication to the client are the features that make the K&L Gates team unique. The level of collaboration is outstanding, as well as the understanding of the specific needs of the client.’

‘The subject matter knowledge of the individuals working with us and their understanding of our specific needs, together with their dedication and availability, make the outcome of their work incomparable.’

‘Good preparation of pleadings, excellent client care and expert team liaison. K&L Gates team are excellent to work with.’

‘Outstanding ability to outperform the sector with collaborative approach and prompt attention to all legal issues makes K&L Gates our first choice when legal assistance is required. From the partners’ attention to detail and the associates’ (team) continuous diligent attention to detail and explanation of the ongoing works with regards to billing is exceptional. Also, their diversity policy allows for useful interaction with our management.’

‘K&L Gates team deserve recognition as they have outperformed our expectations and the attention to service details is exceptional. We continue to appoint K&L Gates for all legal works due to the collaborative approach adopted by its Partner Mr. Pawel Piotrowski and Mr. Burak Eryigit. We have not experienced such holistic approach to providing legal service from any other practice.’

‘Matthew Walker has shown strong leadership skills in his role as Presiding Arbitrator, thoughtfully managing tribunal discussions, swiftly preparing proposed drafts to enable the proceedings to proceed expediently and displaying an excellent grasp of the parties’ issues and concerns.’

‘There is a very wide selection of skilled individuals in the practice which means that any area of concern or expertise can be addressed by a team member appropriately skilled. The team, support staff and offices are all excellent and provide a comprehensive professional service.’

Key clients

Aegis Services LLC

QFC Employment Standards Office

Work highlights

  • Assisting the QFC Employment Standards Office with drafting and dispute management in respect of its role as the body tasked with upholding and administering the Employment Regulations within the State of Qatar.
  • Acting as counsel to Aegis Services following the court ruling that it was liable to pay costs in a case in which it had withdrawn from acting.

Qatar > Projects, real estate and construction Tier 2

Clients praise the 'attention to detail, proactivity, and client-oriented way of working' of K&L Gates' energy, infrastructure and resources department. The team is a port of call for PPP-related projects, and advises construction, engineering, healthcare and electricity-sector clients on both local and cross-border infrastructure and projects. Paweł Piotrowski is noted by clients for his 'cool and calm approach to all matters', and is sought after for his expertise in PPP projects and project finance, oil and gas and energy transition work, including renewable and nuclear energy. Clients range from high-profile individuals to government ministries and large real estate developers. Christopher Abraham is a notable member of the team, and a specialist in construction-related work.

Practice head(s):

Paweł Piotrowski

Other key lawyers:

Christopher Abraham

Testimonials

‘Hands-on, transparent on the fees, pragmatic, client’s knowledge.’

‘We have worked alongside K&L Gates on several Infrastructure/PPP projects. They are experts in this area and our experiences with them have always been very positive.’

‘Pawel Piotrowski really knows the market in the GCC and we have confidence working with him. Not only that – he is collaborative and a pleasure to work with.’

‘The team has a very good reputation and is excellent with in-depth knowledge of laws and practices in this sector both in the Middle East region and beyond. Their attention to detail, proactivity, practical and client-oriented way of working on complex matters is exceptional.’

‘Pawel Piotrowski is an exceptional projects lawyer who is very efficient with deep knowledge and understanding of laws and practices in the Middle East. Pawel’s attention to detail, legal, commercial and pragmatic approach, professionalism, team spirit and client focus are remarkable.’

‘Closeness to the market – Good depth of knowledge of the stakeholders – Ability to respond, and availability of team in other parts of the world to maximise the efficiency and minimise the downturn, ensuring that quality outputs are achieved in a minimal timeframe.’

‘Stand out partner is Pawel Piotrowski for his reactivity, cool and calm approach to all matters.’

Key clients

Westinghouse Electric Company

ZF Devco

Paxon Consulting Group Pty Ltd

Doha Venture Capital LLC

Barwa Real Estate

MCubed for Oil & Gas Services

Iberdrola QSTP LLC

Work highlights

K&L Gates > Firm Profile

K&L Gates is an integrated, international law firm with more than 45 offices located on five continents. Through our global network of offices and practice areas, we assist our clients with their most complex issues, offering local market knowledge and access to both national and international capabilities.

The Doha office, established in 2011, presents solutions to clients’ most complex legal challenges in the Middle East, as well as supports the legal needs of regional clients abroad. Lawyers in our Doha office work across the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and beyond, on mandates for Qatari, regional, and international clients. We provide a full-service offering from our office, making us the leading law firm in Qatar. Our team has a bilingual offering and is able to seamlessly advise clients across both English and Arabic languages (as well as many more).

Our Doha office advises on all aspects of corporate, commercial, and banking activities in the state of Qatar and within the Gulf. We act for construction and infrastructure sector clients on legal issues at every stage of the construction process, from procurement and tendering; through contract drafting; to arbitration, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. We assist on engineering, procurement, and construction contracts, as well as public procurement matters. We also have many years of experience advising on Islamic finance and investment funds, regulatory (including financial services regulatory), real estate, employment and labor law, and intellectual property matters.

Areas of practice
Finance and Islamic finance: Our Doha-based banking and finance practice lawyers handle our clients’ most important, strategic transactions, regulatory issues, and operational matters. We represent lenders, borrowers, servicers, trustees, and other participants in an array of financing transactions, including some of the most complex regional workouts involving complicated cross-border and Shari’ah issues.

Our Doha office is one of the centers of excellence for our global Islamic Finance group. Our Doha team advises on the full range of Shari’ah-compliant structures and transactions within Qatar and across the globe, including Turkey, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Our lawyers have vast experience assisting clients in navigating the regulatory, policy, and business issues surrounding the fintech space. We have a progressive approach to fintech, which means we are able to provide our clients with legal advice that is in line with the cutting-edge advancements typically seen in the industry.

Corporate: Members of our Qatar-based corporate and commercial practice provide clients with a full range of legal services, from general business planning to highly specialized and business-critical matters. We serve as trusted advisors to Fortune Global 500, middle market, and emerging businesses, as well as their investors and their boards, and are at the forefront of the strategic, commercial, and governance issues affecting these clients across all of our key industries. We support our clients on the full life cycle of corporate work for high-value critical and routine issues. Our lawyers have extensive experience advising on all aspects of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions transactions, private equity, venture capital, general corporate, licensing and restructuring matters, and commercial contracts.

Regulatory, financial regulatory, and compliance: Our regulatory practice is known for providing top-tier advice to Middle East and Levant region government entities and regulators on reviews of legislation and the drafting of new legislative frameworks. In the Gulf Cooperation Council, our lawyers have advised ministries and central banks on policy-making issues in connection with foreign direct investments. We also advise a range of private sector clients facing regulatory compliance with local laws and regulations, governance, and risk management matters. K&L Gates is one of very few firms that have the expertise to advise on the full risk spectrum, from the detail of compliance with technical requirements under regulatory and industry body rules, through to investigations and, in extreme cases, to criminal liability.

We offer an in-depth understanding of Qatar law, and our lawyers have considerable expertise in a range of regulatory-related services, including complex overview of regulatory and compliance requirements affecting corporate transactions, financial services regulation, business establishment licensing, listing rules, competition, takeover rules, internal policies, standards, and procedures.

Litigation and dispute resolution: Litigation and dispute resolution team members routinely carry out advocacy in arbitration and the Qatar Financial Centre Courts, delivering our clients a full-service dispute resolution offering. They regularly advise local and international clients on litigation, arbitration, mediation, and, in particular, dispute avoidance and alternative dispute resolution, while being also known for their significant experience in complex construction disputes.

We have an impressive track record of cases in the local Qatari courts, in which we work closely alongside leading local counsel as our clients’ advocates. Our litigation and dispute resolution partners in the region often sit as arbitrators managing cases in all major arbitral forums.

Energy, infrastructure, and resources (EIR): Lawyers in our Doha EIR practice work for some of the leading clients in the infrastructure and public-private partnership (PPP) space, putting forward their commercial experience, market knowledge, technical and regulatory experience, and project management skills. Their knowledge and understanding covers all aspects of a project’s life cycle, from the early stages of finance, development, and design, through implementation, construction, and closeout. Our EIR legal practitioners have extensive experience advising on projects across a wide range of sectors, including renewables, oil and gas, petrochemicals, water and waste, energy storage, network and rail, mining, airports, telecommunications, and many others.

We take pride in having one of the few specialist PPP lawyers operating in the Middle East, and consider our Doha office to be a true market leader when it comes to advising clients on front-end construction and infrastructure project tendering, contract drafting, and financing. Our clients include major private players in the utilities and construction market, major real estate developers, infrastructure funds, state entities and companies owned by the state, project funders, private energy companies, consultants, and leading family offices (including advising members of the royal family).

Asset management and investment funds (AMIF): Our AMIF practice in Doha is a member of the world’s largest and most experienced investment management legal teams in the world. Our AMIF lawyers represent a broad array of participants in the investment industry, including institutional investors (family offices, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, etc.), regulated funds (exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, etc.), alternative funds (private equity funds, hedge funds, etc.), and intermediaries (investment managers, banks, etc.), offering our clients a full range of services, including structuring, regulation, advisory, marketing and offering, litigation and enforcement, fundraising, and operations.

We work with a large number and wide range of small, medium-sized, and boutique managers, as well as funds, investment management, and professional investor communities. We also represent many institutional investors in Qatar and across the wider Middle East in connection with their fund investments.

Real estate: With expansive knowledge regarding key real estate and infrastructure issues associated with large-scale developments, our Doha-based real estate practice members are highly skilled in producing effective, practical documents that serve our real estate sector clients’ needs, and are consistent with international best practices. We deliver strategic advice on large and complex real estate matters spanning multiple Middle East jurisdictions, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Our work encompasses advising on acquisitions, developments, construction (contentious and non-contentious), planning, environmental, tax structures, transactions investment, and project financing within the real estate sector. Our real estate team assists clients with property management, leasing, servicing, and outsourcing matters, and handles enterprisewide leasing programs for our clients. We also work alongside our litigation and dispute resolution, and international arbitration practices, which have extensive experience in complex multiparty disputes and arbitrations pursuant to the rules of all the major arbitration institutions.

Intellectual property: Our intellectual property (IP) capability in Doha is a part of the global full-service IP practice. We work on a wide range of commercial, regulatory, data protection, privacy and security, technology transaction, and intellectual property matters, particularly in the health care, technology, retail, luxury, consumer products, and sports sectors. Our global practice has a market reputation for trademark, design, copyright, and licensing, with expertise in cross-border counselling, registration, clearance, portfolio management, licensing, enforcement (opposition and cancellation proceedings), and disputes. Our IP lawyers seamlessly assist our clients in protecting and enforcing patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other rights to protect their IP as valuable business assets. We also advise on licensing and transactions, as well as IP due diligence.

Labor, employment, and workplace safety: We provide a one-stop, full-service labor and employment law practice in both contentious and non-contentious matters in the MENA region. We advise a wide range of private and public employers, from multinational companies with thousands of employees in numerous locations to companies with one site and relatively few employees. Our experience includes advising on compliance with the local employment regime, employment contracts, termination procedures, pension obligations, gratuity payments, and redundancy procedures. We also represent clients on contentious claims relating to breach of restrictive covenants, arbitrary dismissal, discrimination, and more.

Doha senior partner: Amjad Hussain

Offices
Europe: Berlin, Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, London, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Paris
Middle East: Doha, Dubai
United States: Austin, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Harrisburg, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville,
New York, Newark, Orange County, Palo Alto, Pittsburgh, Portland, Raleigh, Research Triangle Park, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington DC, Wilmington
South America: Sao Paulo
Asia: Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo
Australia: Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney.