Linklaters remains a key player in the Middle East’s energy and infrastructure market, advising on some of the region’s most significant oil and gas expansions, flagship green hydrogen schemes, and large-scale renewable projects. The firm is a trusted adviser to public bodies, sovereign-backed investors, and multinational sponsors, supported by a deep regional bench and seamless cross-border capabilities across its global network. Matthew Keats continues to lead on major project development and financing mandates across the Middle East, spanning renewables, desalination, green ammonia, and landmark PPPs. He leads the team alongside Jack Allen-Fitt, who is a key port of call for sponsors, lenders, and sovereign investors on energy transition and infrastructure projects, and Sarah Hudson, who specialises in high-value construction and engineering matters. Former co-head David Miles has left the firm.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘We have been working with the Linklaters UAE and UK teams on a major energy development. Their expertise, know-how and service levels have been excellent.'
- ‘Andrew Penfold and Sarah Hudson have provided excellent support to our team on our projects. They have extensive technical expertise, market knowledge and commercial acumen.'
- ‘Market leaders in Projects and Financing, lean teams, partner-led, very responsive (24/7) and a great understanding of the region.'
- ‘Jack Allen-Fitt is a great Lawyer, proactive and commercial and willing to work to deadlines.'
- 'Dan Tyrer is a fantastic finance lawyer, happy to hand-hold the team.'
- ‘Prompt and efficient support.'
Key clients
- NEOM
- Public Investment Fund
- Saudi Electricity Company
- Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
- SABIC
- Saudi Power Procurement Company
- Bapco Energies
- Japan Bank for International Cooperation
- The Export–Import Bank of Korea
- Korea Trade Insurance Corporation
- SACE
- Plenary
- Hassana Investment Company
- Energy Development Oman
- Ceyhan Polipropilen Uretim A.S.
- TAQA
- Masdar
- EDF
- Borouge
- BP
Work highlights
Advising Bapco Refining, the flagship refining company wholly owned by the Kingdom of Bahrain, on all matters relating to the development and USD4.2bn multi-source conventional (including ECA-backed) and Islamic financing of its +USD7bn expansion and upgrading project.
Advising TAQA on the AED1.6bn (approximately USD444m) Project Financing and Development of the Shuweihat 4 Reverse Osmosis Water Desalination Project in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Advising the sponsors (Ronesans and Sonatrach) and borrower (Ceyhan) on the development and ECA/DFI-backed financing of a greenfield propane dehydrogenation unit, polypropylene unit, and associated facilities in the planned Ceyhan Petrochemical Industrial Zone in the Adana Province of Turkey.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Practice head
Matthew Keats; Jack Allen-Fitt; Sarah Hudson
Other key lawyers
Dan Tyrer; Adam Hanssen; Andrew Penfold