Our team serves both local clients who are expanding globally and international clients conducting business in the Middle East. We are deeply involved in high-profile cross-border disputes, as well as transactional, regulatory, and trade matters.

Our team has a strong understanding of the region’s business practices, culture, and customs, with team members having lived and worked in the Middle East. This gives us the ability to offer advice that is both globally informed and regionally relevant.

We represent a diverse range of clients, including multinational corporations, government entities, and high-net-worth individuals, delivering tailored solutions across various sectors. Our expertise extends to navigating the complex legal and regulatory frameworks within the Middle East, where we regularly partner with the region’s top local counsel to provide clients with insightful, strategic, and culturally aware advice.

By leveraging our deep understanding of local dynamics and international best practices, we ensure that our clients’ interests are effectively represented and protected in this evolving and diverse marketplace.

• Represented an online food retailer in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration in a shareholder dispute over ownership and control over one of the leading food delivery companies in the Middle East.
• Representing a leading paint supplier in the Middle East in three separate arbitration proceedings concerning issues of product liability for an industrial paint, manufactured by our client and used to coat oceangoing tankers.
• Represented a multinational media company on the Middle East aspects of its sale of a 55% stake in its financial and risk (F&R) business to a leading private equity firm.
• Represented a Middle East financial regulator to establish and review anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance requirements for foreign financial institutions opening in that jurisdiction.
• Conducted several investigations and drafted related voluntary self-disclosures to OFAC of potential violations of OFAC sanctions by Middle Eastern-based companies
• Represented a Saudi Arabian Petrochemicals Facility in a series of five claims arising under its high-volume long-term utilities contract with a neighbouring facility.
• Represented a leading global minerals and mining company in connection with a substantial gold and copper mining and exploration joint venture with the state-owned mining company of Saudi Arabia.
• Representing a leading global Visa concierge provider in defending a highly complex DIAC claim, seated in the DIFC and subject to UAE law, concerning a breach of contractual obligations.
• Represented a Saudi Arabian Petrochemicals Facility in relation to the financing aspects of financial completion of their second development phase.
• Represented a Dubai-based oil and gas engineering company in defending a claim for US$100M brought by a previous shareholder in an arbitration under DIAC rules and seated in London.
• Represented a UAE-Government employer in connection with a claim against its main contractor for failing to deliver a critical infrastructure project on schedule. The matter was subject to ADCCAC arbitration rules.
• Represented a UAE telecoms company in an ICC arbitration against a Nigerian state-owned entity which involved advising on strategies for enforcement of a London-issued arbitration award in Nigeria.
• Represented a leading main contractor in the power generation sector in connection with a gas-fired power station in Oman on construction disputes relating to the responsibility for unforeseen civil works and force majeure events.
• Represented a Saudi Arabian Petrochemicals Facility as on-lender and as shareholder, in relation to its exit from two joint venture companies.
• Represented a major petrochemicals plant in Oman in numerous claims against an associated refinery, in particular relating to construction and commissioning phases and numerous delays and force majeure events on-site, leading to failures to deliver and failures to accept feedstock.
• Represented an oil and gas client in international conciliation proceedings, concerning significant production in North Africa and the triggering of a change in circumstances clause and associated calculation and re-allocation of profit oil.