Stephen Knight > Dentons > Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile

Dentons handles high-end project finance and development work, demonstrating activity on large scale renewable developments, district cooling projects, waste-to-energy ventures, and social, transport and tourism infrastructure builds. Team head Jon Nash is praised as an ‘excellent advisor with deep knowledge of the sector’, advising a range of sponsors, developers and lenders on complex projects across the Gulf region. Udayan Mukherjee and Stephen Knight are both recognised for their project finance expertise, having acted for both borrowers and lenders across a number of project types. Kanishka Singh leverages previous in-house experience to comprehensively advise clients on energy transition, social infrastructure, and transport projects.

Highly regarded for its expertise in the energy, infrastructure, and real estate sectors, Dentons is a go-to firm for a diverse range of clients, including major industry players, regional and international banks, multilateral agencies, and governments. The firm is increasingly active in ‘green’ initiatives, advising on green facilities, updating sustainability-linked provision frameworks, and assisting with green funds work. Group lead Stephen Knight is praised for his ‘in-depth knowledge of project financing‘ and oversees transactions across the Middle East. Qasim Aslam helms the Islamic finance practice and is a trusted advisor to regional banks, while Nathaniel Armstrong, who is also proficient in Islamic finance, is noted for his work in the shipping, aviation and real estate sectors. Umera Ali is dually focused on the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Alex Roussos left the firm in 2025.