Ross Barfoot > Dentons > Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates > Lawyer Profile
Dentons Offices
Level 4, Trade Centre - West Tower
Abu Dhabi Mall
PO Box 47656
United Arab Emirates
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Ross Barfoot
Work Department
Construction and Engineering, Corporate, Energy, Health Care, Industrial Production, Real Estate
Position
Ross is a corporate partner in the UAE with more than 21 years’ experience – first in the UK and since 2008 in the UAE and wider Middle East region.
In addition to advising both international corporations and local companies on a mix of M&A and private equity, joint ventures and corporate advisory work, he regularly advises his clients on business licensing, corporate reorganizations, commercial contracts and corporate governance mandates. He has advised on some of the largest M&A and joint venture transactions in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE.
Ross regularly advises investors and international operators on education investments, M&A, market entry, international expansion, corporate and regulatory matters. He is based in the UAE but operates on a global level, supporting clients on their international expansion.
Ross is generally regarded as the “go-to” lawyer for the education sector and has been involved in a significant number of school and university projects in the Middle East region, as well as some of the largest education M&A deals globally.
He is ranked as a “Leading Individual” in the UAE for Commercial, Corporate and M&A in the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 editions of Legal 500.
Career
- Partner, Dentons, 2024 to date
- Partner, Clyde & Co, 2013–2024
- Senior Associate, Trowers & Hamlins, 2008–2013
- Senior Associate, Mills & Reeve, 2001– 2008
Languages
English
Memberships
Solicitor, Solicitors Regulatory Authority, 2003
Education
Northumbria University Newcastle, 2000, Legal Practice Course
University of Leeds, 1999, LLB
Lawyer Rankings
United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A
(Leading partners)Dentons
remains active in multiple sectors and is frequently instructed by local, regional and local clients on complex, multijurisdictional M&A, joint ventures, and commercial instructions. The practice has recently been strengthened through the arrival of Ross Barfoot and Stephen McKenna from Clyde & Co in February 2024, who both have a deep background in M&A and PE transactions, and the relocation of Nick Simpson from the firm’s Riyadh office in May 2024, who now leads the practice and brings strong capabilities in the real estate sector. Iain Black comes recommended for his corporate expertise.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading partners United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Commercial, corporate and M&A United Arab Emirates
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending)
- Capital markets
- Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation
- Dispute resolution: compliance and investigations
- Employment
- Infrastructure and projects (including project finance)
- Commercial, corporate and M&A
- Real estate
- Shipping
- TMT