Walkers, Offshore | Chambers Global Profile

About

Provided by Walkers

Walkers’ Dubai office was opened in 2005 and is led by Managing Partner, Daniel Wood.

Our Dubai office provides our clients throughout the region with British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Cayman Islands legal advice in their own time zones. We provide first-class, commercially-focused advice that is attuned to our clients’ requirements and facilitates their business.

Our clients include global corporations, financial institutions, capital markets participants, investment fund managers and high net worth individuals located throughout the region, with a particular focus on the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

In addition, Walkers Professional Services provides registered office services, directors and company secretarial services to Cayman Islands and DIFC Special Purpose Companies, as well as, ADGM Special Purpose Companies and Restricted Scope Companies (SPVs).

We are a full service law office. Our core practice areas are:

Corporate
Finance
Islamic Finance
Investment Funds
Private Equity
Insolvency
Dispute Resolution

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Offshore - United Arab Emirates

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Walkers (Dubai) LLP has a seasoned Dubai team which is a popular choice among onshore lawyers seeking Cayman or British Virgin Islands counsel. The group offers specialist expertise in investment funds, M&A and finance. It is also able to provide on-the-ground Jersey law advice from Dubai. The team is well versed in Islamic and aviation finance, having advised on some of the MENA region's most significant transactions in these fields. It acts for a range of financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds and well-known corporations. Walkers also represents clients in a variety of commercial and shareholder disputes.

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Work Highlights

Walkers represented Allfunds Bank in its petition to wind up the Rasmala Trade Finance Fund, in which it held shares.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Walkers is the best law firm for offshore disputes.

Offshore respondent
Global

The Walkers team has an excellent reputation and deep expertise.

Offshore respondent
Global

Walkers' funds team stands out for its deep technical knowledge of Cayman law in the context of fund structures, combined with an understanding of the objectives of Middle Eastern investors.

Offshore respondent
Global

Walkers demonstrates strong commercial awareness and a deep understanding of client businesses, tailoring their advice to sector-specific needs and market developments.

Offshore respondent
Global

The Walkers team is extremely proactive and responsive.

Offshore respondent
Global

Walkers is the best law firm for offshore disputes.

Offshore respondent
Global

The Walkers team has an excellent reputation and deep expertise.

Offshore respondent
Global

Walkers' funds team stands out for its deep technical knowledge of Cayman law in the context of fund structures, combined with an understanding of the objectives of Middle Eastern investors.

Offshore respondent
Global

Walkers demonstrates strong commercial awareness and a deep understanding of client businesses, tailoring their advice to sector-specific needs and market developments.

Offshore respondent
Global

The Walkers team is extremely proactive and responsive.

Offshore respondent
Global

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Daniel Wood

Head of Offshore

Eminent Practitioners

Daniel Wood is particularly noted for his deep experience advising on investment fund, M&A and venture capital matters. He is managing partner of Walkers' Dubai office and enjoys great acclaim for both his rigorous client service ethic and his admirable leadership of the team.

Daniel’s deep market insight and responsiveness set him apart as a go-to adviser for sophisticated fund transactions in the Middle East.

Daniel Wood is extremely smart, reachable and goes the extra mile.

He consistently delivers clear and pragmatic advice, tailored to complex structuring and regulatory matters, earning client trust with his proactive and solutions-driven approach.

Daniel Wood is highly regarded for his technical expertise and commercial acumen in the funds space.

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Ciaran Bohnacker

Band 1

Ciaran Bohnacker enjoys a sterling reputation among onshore counsel in Dubai. He is known for his assured handling of many very high-value finance transactions, including acquisition and aviation finance matters, as well as advising on bond issuances.

Ciaran Bohnacker is reliable and great to work with.

Ciaran Bohnacker is my go-to person. He is responsive and approachable.

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Tom Cochrane

Band 1

Tom Cochrane garners significant praise for his impressive capabilities regarding investment fund launches and venture capital investments. He is widely viewed as a leading market figure, with a wealth of experience acting for asset managers.

Tom Cochrane is very smart and helpful.

Tom provides clients with practical and commercially focused solutions. His responsiveness and deep sector knowledge make him a trusted adviser for clients seeking sophisticated guidance.

Tom Cochrane stands out for his sharp understanding of private equity and venture capital fund structures. He is able to navigate complex issues with clarity and precision.

Tom Cochrane is a very pragmatic, commercial and extremely affable practitioner.

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Luke Petith

Band 2

Luke Petith heads up Walkers' insolvency and dispute resolution practice in Dubai. He assists clients with the Cayman and BVI aspects of a wide variety of commercial and shareholder disputes, as well as high-value insolvency and restructuring proceedings.

Luke Petith is far-sighted and strategically excellent.

Luke Petith is exceptional. He has extensive legal knowledge and acute commercial awareness.

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Murray Laing

Band 3

Murray Laing is an experienced offshore litigator and represents several big-name clients in a variety of cross-border commercial disputes. His expertise includes asset transfer disputes and white-collar criminal cases.

Murray Laing is excellent all round. He is calm under pressure, technically very strong and builds the trust of clients.

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Cate Barbour

Associates to watch

Cate Barbour is a senior counsel with considerable experience advising on high-value shareholder disputes and insolvency matters, including with regard to the imposition of freezing orders.

Cate Barbour is an excellent team member and is very diligent.

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