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 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.

View ranking table

Work Highlights

Provided by Walkers

Walkers advised the lenders, Citibank and FirstRand Bank, on the Cayman law issues underpinning its granting of finance facilities with a combined value of USD966 million to IHS Holdings.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

They could not be more responsive. That responsiveness is a standout feature of their service.

Offshore respondent
Global

They understand their client base and the sensitivities of the region while also having a depth of knowledge on the relevant offshore structures and regulations.

Offshore respondent
Global

The Walkers team is exceptionally available and gives timely responses.

Offshore respondent
Global

The team are sophisticated and pragmatic in their approach

Offshore respondent
Global

They are at the top of their game in investment fund formation.

Offshore respondent
Global

They could not be more responsive. That responsiveness is a standout feature of their service.

Offshore respondent
Global

They understand their client base and the sensitivities of the region while also having a depth of knowledge on the relevant offshore structures and regulations.

Offshore respondent
Global

The Walkers team is exceptionally available and gives timely responses.

Offshore respondent
Global

The team are sophisticated and pragmatic in their approach

Offshore respondent
Global

They are at the top of their game in investment fund formation.

Offshore respondent
Global

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

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 is a superb lawyer who is responsive and accommodating.

Ciaran runs an excellent team. He is always available and very hands-on.

Ciaran really knows his stuff when it comes to Cayman law. He is always willing to go above and beyond for clients and is incredibly responsive.

View Profile

Daniel Wood

Head of Offshore

Band 1

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.

He is super-responsive and commercial. He runs an excellent team and we enjoy working with him.

Dan's experience in the Cayman fund field is extensive, and he leverages that to provide deep market insight in fund formation matters.

He displays very strong leadership skills and takes care of his team.

He is our go-to lawyer for large, complex and cross-border fund formation matters involving any fund domiciled in Cayman. He has exceptional technical skills, and is pragmatic and solution-oriented.

View Profile

Tom Cochrane

Band 2

Tom Cochrane is noted for his impressive capabilities regarding investment fund launches and venture capital investments. He has a wealth of experience acting for leading asset management firms.

Tom is a very commercial lawyer and I always appreciate the timeliness and usefulness of his advice.

Tom is one of the best funds lawyers in the market. He is client-friendly, responsive and understands complicated structures which are based offshore.

He is very knowledgeable. He is our go-to partner with funds work and his advice is always on point.

View Profile

Luke Petith

Band 3

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.

He's a real standout.

Luke Petith is knowledgeable on insolvency issues.

View Profile

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 matters. He transferred to Walkers' Dubai office in 2024 having most recently operated from the BVI.

View Profile

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.

View Profile

Filter by