GLA & Company

Firm Overview

GLA & Company is a regional MENA-based law firm with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Kuwait, Cairo and Beirut. It provides strategic, cost-effective and forward-thinking legal representation for companies seeking to do business in the Middle East. The firm boasts a diverse portfolio of clients, ranging from start-ups to global enterprises doing business in the Middle East. GLA’s practice consists of a full-service law firm that handles everything from simple advisory work to complex contentious and non-contentious matters. With extensive experience advising clients in the key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE – as well as in Egypt and Lebanon – the firm offers unique insights for companies seeking quality legal services. Data protection and privacy, in particular, is a key focus area for the firm, considering the expansion and revamping of applicable laws and regulations across the GCC.

GLA & Company is headed up by Nader Al Awadhi, Senior Partner, and Alex Saleh, Managing Partner. As a founding partner, Nader Al-Awadhi has over 44 years of legal experience. Nader Al Awadhi’s reputation in the Kuwait legal profession is well-known. He has developed a strong forte for commercial and corporate litigation matters representing many of the top Kuwaiti companies and institutions as well as many famous international companies.

Alex Saleh is the Managing Partner of GLA & Company and takes a leading regional role within the firm with respect to its M&A and Private Equity practice. With over 25 years of experience in both the GCC markets as well as the US, he has accumulated sizable expertise in the areas of banking & finance, mergers & acquisitions, capital market deals and infrastructure projects. His experience garners praise from the leading legal directories as he is annually awarded “Market Leader” by the IFLR1000, “Band One” by Chambers & Partners and “Leading Individual” by Legal 500. Alex’s transactions regularly win Deals of the Year by the same institutions and organizations.

GLA & Company works with companies and their international counsel

GLA & Company works with many of its clients directly. This includes clients located in the Middle East and in other regions worldwide in a diverse array of industries. But it also works with companies’ international law firm counsel in many instances. If your firm has a client with interests in the Middle East, GLA & Co attorneys can either shoulder the load or work alongside your firm’s attorneys to meet your client’s needs in a timely and cost-effective manner.

We Offer Unique Perspectives on Doing Business in the Middle East

As a result of the attorneys’ decades of local experience, the firm offers unique perspectives on doing business in the Middle East. Not only are its attorneys intimately familiar with the legal and regulatory issues, but they are knowledgeable about local and regional customs as well. As a result, they can help their clients avoid costly—and potentially embarrassing—mistakes while fully addressing their legal needs.

The firm is different from its competitors

As a boutique law firm with the resources and talent of much larger firms, the firm stands out from its competitors. It offers custom-tailored, one-on-one legal representation at reasonable rates, and its attorneys take a personal interest in ensuring that their clients have every available opportunity to succeed.

Moreover, what sets GLA & Co apart is its unparalleled combination of international and local expertise. GLA & Co combines the best and brightest regional international advisors with local experts who often hold an established and respected relationship with many key regulatory authorities, allowing the firm to provide the best advice and representation in a timely manner.

We Provide a Full Suite of Necessary Legal Services for Global Companies

We have structured our firm to serve as full-service outside counsel to multi-national companies seeking to do business in the Middle East and regional companies ranging from high-tech startups to established real estate developers, financial institutions, and retailers. This is illustrated by ourpractice areas, which include:

• Anti-Trust & Competition
• Banking & Finance
• Capital Markets
• Commercial Advisory
• Construction & Projects
• Corporate and M&A
• Data & Technology
• Disputes
• Employment & Benefits

Corporate

• Acted as local counsel in advising ItalianMapeiS.p.A. on its acquisition of 100% of the shareholding in Saudi-based Bituminous Products Limited Company (“Bitumat”) on various matters including the restructuring of Bitumat’s operations in the GCC as well as securing merger control clearance;
• In one of the largest M&A transactions in 2023 in the GCC, acted for Cognita Middle East in their majority stake acquisition in Universe Education Company, the owner of Kuwait’s renowned Dasman Bilingual Schools, in a co-counsel role;
• Instructed by international counsel on behalf of Apollo Management X, L.P. in the acquisition of Applus Services, S.A. by Manzana Spain Bidco, S.L.U., a global transaction worth Euro 1.23 billion on all GCC matters including merger control clearances from both KSA and Kuwait;
• Acted as Saudi and GCC counsel to DSV – Global Transport & Logistics regarding the establishment of a ground-breaking USD 10 billion exclusive transport and logistics joint venture between it and NEOM Company.This strategic partnership is set to reshape the logistics landscape and significantly boost the Saudi Arabian economy;
• Acted as GCC counsel to Silver Lake in its successful completion of a voluntary public tender offer of Germany’s Software AG;
• Acted as sole legal counsel for Sellers in the sale of 35% of their stake in Gissah Perfumes Company, which does business in several GCC states, ahead of the fragrance company’s planned initial public offering to Jadwa Investment, a private equity firm owned by the KSA government;
• AdvisedEmersonas co-counsel with respect to securing merger control clearance with the Kuwait Competition Agency on the mega-deal involving the sale of a majority stake in Emerson’s Climate Technologies business.The transaction was valued at $14 billion;
• Led a group owned by members of the Al Kharafi merchant family in acquiring Investcorp’s 35% stake inAutomak Automotive Company, a vehicle leasing and rental company in the GCC;
• Represented EnerTech, a subsidiary of the Kuwait Investment Authority-owned National Technology Enterprises Company and a Kuwait government-backed clean energy investor and developer, as one of the members of an international consortium developing an integrated green hydrogen mega project in the Sultanate of Oman (GEO Green Hydrogen Project), with investments worth more than USD $20 billion.

Capital Markets

• Represented DXB Entertainments, an UAE company, in the issuance of an AED 1.23 Billion convertible bond with the majority shareholder, Meraas;
• Represented Dana Gas, an UAE listed company, in the restructuring of a US$700 Million Sukuk, which has both a convertible and non-convertible tranche of US$ 350 Million each;
• Acted on behalf of Shuaa Capital, an UAE listed financial institution, in a complicated US$ 30 Million Voluntary Acquisition Offer transaction of Amwal Investment Company, a financial company listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange;
• Represented HSBC Bank plc and Citigroup Global Markets Limited, in their joint capacity as Arrangers, with respect to a US$ 500 Million Euro Medium Term Note Programme with Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait KSCP;
• Representing Warba Bank, in its capacity as Issuer, in a US$ 500 Million Tier 1 Sukuk issuance, which is being led by Standard Chartered Bank as Lead Manager;
• Represented Boubyan Bank, in its capacity as Issuer, in the first Tier 1 Sukuk issuance in the State of Kuwait for US$250 Million, which was led by Standard Chartered Bank and HSBC as Joint Lead Managers;
• Represented Rasameel Structure Finance Company, as Lead Arranger, in the structuring of the first Sharia-compliant securitization of consumer receivables from Yusuf A. Al-Ghanim & Sons, the largest electronic retailer in the State of Kuwait (awarded IFN Sukuk Deal & Kuwait Country Deal of the Year for 2012);
• Represented United Real Estate Company, as its capacity as Issuer, in a KD 60 Million unsecured bond composed of two tranches of fixed and floating rates which was led by KAMCO, Burgan Bank and Gulf Bank as Joint Lead Managers and Arrangers;
• Acted as sole legal advisor to Commercial Bank of Kuwait, in its capacity as Issuer, and KIPCO Asset Management Company, in its capacity as Lead Arranger and Placement Agent, with respect to an unplaced issuance of a KD 120 Million conventional subordinated Tier II bond compliant with BASEL III regulations under Kuwaiti laws.

Banking & Finance (Conventional & Sharia-Compliant)

• Acted aslegal advisor for Deutsche Bank AG in a ground-breaking sovereign debt issuance thatallowed the Arab Republic of Egypt to secure a $500 million 7-year international commercial loan, insured by the Arab Investment and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation;
• Acted on behalf of Standard Chartered Bank, which was the lead bank in the acquisition financing in the amount of US$ 2.4 Billion to Alabbar Enterprises, a UAE company, in its acquisition of Kuwait Food Company (Americana) KCSP, a major Kuwait listed company;
• Acted on behalf of the Tata Group, the Indian conglomerate, in the structured finance transaction wherein its receivables from several African nations were rolled up and sold to an ADGM SPV, which in turn borrowed from ICICI Bank in India on a non-recourse basis;
• Appointed as transaction co-counsel with respect to a US$ 200 Million financing from Natixis to ALAFCO with respect to five aircraft;
• Represented Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait in a cross-border finance transaction with Egypt Kuwait Holding Company, an Egyptian company, in lending US$ 108 Million for the finance of certain gas projects in Egypt and the acquisition of a major stake of a listed Kuwait entity;
• Acted as lead counsel for Warba Bank in its Sharia-compliant structured finance acquisition of an US$ 66 Million auto finance portfolio from Al Mulla International Finance Company;
• Acted as lead counsel for Commercial Bank of Kuwait, as Lead Arranger, in a syndicated loan financing transaction for Mohammed Al-Kharafi & Sons with respect to a major contract with the Amiri Diwan valued at KD 365 Million (US$ 1.2 Billion) regarding New Jahra Hospital in Kuwait;
• Acted as sole legal counsel to National Bank of Kuwait on a US$ 200 Million financing (included both credit instruments and cash facilities) of submersible oil pumping stations for Al Khorayef Group Company with respect to Kuwait Oil Company;

Projects, Energy & Infrastructure

• Acted for National Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Finance House, as Lead Arrangers, with respect to the syndicated project financing of US$ 800 Million to Limak Insaat, a Turkish company, with respect to the construction of the New Kuwait International Airport;
• Acted for Kuwait Oil Tanker Company, a state-owned entity, in connection with a Sharia compliant syndicated finance deal for an amount of US$ 460 Million from Warba Bank, Ahli United Bank and Kuwait International Bank, which was used to purchase eight (8) oil tankers;
• Represented Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company, a subsidiary of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, in securing US$ 2.3 Billion in finance from both local and foreign banks to fund its liquified natural gas project;
• Represented Kuwait National Petroleum Company, as the borrower, in a corporate syndicated financing of up to $10.3 Billion for the upgrade and expansion of the Mina Abdullah Refinery and Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery in Kuwait known as the Clean Fuel Project;
• Represented a consortium of international banks and agencies led by Japanese Bank of International Cooperation, Nippon Export & Investment Insurance and National Bank of Kuwait with respect to the Az-Zour North IWPP Project and its related US$ 1.2 Billion plus financing, which is expected to provide approximately 1,500 MW of additional power generation capacity and 100 MIGD of desalinated water.The project was the first one to be completed in Kuwait on a Public Private Partnership basis;

Dispute Resolution

• Acted for National Bank of Kuwait and Kuwait Finance House, as Lead Arrangers, with respect to the syndicated project financing of US$ 800 Million to Limak Insaat, a Turkish company, with respect to the construction of the New Kuwait International Airport;
• Successfully defended a main contractor to a multi-billion dollar oil refinery project in Kuwait against several subcontractor claims, resulting in numerous dismissals of claims and other favorable settlements.
• Successfully represented a main contractor to a multi-billion-dollar oil refinery project before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and secured an award in the amount of USD 180 million against the project owner for claims of excusable and compensable delays incurred on the project.
• Successfully represented a contractor to a BOT contract in Kuwait against the project owner claiming compensation for additional works exceeding USD 19 million.
• Successfully represented a consortium in an ICC arbitral proceeding seated in Houston, Texas, USA, successfully defendingUSD 45 millionin contract claims asserted against our clients relating to overseas module transportation in connection with an EPC project in the GCC, resulting in dismissal of multiple clients and securing a net costs award in our remaining client's favor;
• Secured amultimillion-dollarICC Dispute Review Board claim, including an award of attorneys' fees, on behalf of a US-based, multinational EPC contractor, in a Paris-seated proceeding administered by the ICC International Centre for ADR. The contractor's claim against the project owner related to unforeseeable site conditions arising out of the construction of an oil refinery megaproject in the GCC;
• Won substantial ICC dispute board claim, including award of attorneys' fees, on behalf of the same EPC contractor, in another Paris-seated proceeding administered by the ICC International Centre for ADR. The contractor's claim related to contractual entitlement to an award of significant schedule and quantum relief based on changes in law and restrictions imposed by the local government in response to COVID-19, during construction of an oil refinery in the GCC;
• Represented an EPC contractor in bringing claims for entitlement to disputed change orders, and associated losses, in the construction of a major oil refinery in the GCC;
• Represented amajor US defence contractorin lease related matter against a local real estate company;
• Represented amultinational construction JVin litigation values at USD 150,000,000;
• Represented aforeign bankin a criminal case worth KD 10,100,000;
• Represented anItalian construction companyin litigation values at USD 115,00,000;
• Represented a prominentItalian petrochemical companyin its dispute with a governmental entity for an amount reaching US$152,565,348;
• RepresentedInternational Oil Trading Companiesin the enforcement of a foreign arbitral award before Kuwaiti courts;
• Represented a localinvestment companyin a dispute amount to US$ 6,633,276;
• Represented alocal bankin a finance dispute amount to US$ 126,032,244;
• Represented thelargest Islamic bankin a misrepresentation case amount to US$331,673,400;
• Represented ashareholding power companyagainst a government entity in all litigation stages to reassign land for a northern electricity plant;
• Represented a manufacturing company against an individual that stole equipment and inventory from an industrial site was able to successfully convict the wrongdoer and reclaim the assets;
• Engaged in working with international lawyers in several jurisdictions located in USA, EU, and Asia in representing Kuwaiti Clients that have legal claims and ownership interest in such jurisdictions;
• Advised a major client on forensic reports issued by an auditing firm in relation with discrepancies in financial reports issued post-acquisition of a regional company and implemented a strategy to successfully settle the matter to the client’s favour;
• Conducted a forensic legal audit investigation on behalf of a listed company against a previous key personnel who was found to have committed fraud actions and the embezzlement of an amount upwards of $50,000,000;
• Represented a major tech startup inEGP 10Mclaims negotiation

Kuwait City

Arraya Tower II

36th and 37th Floors

Al Shuhada Street

Sharq,Kuwait

Tel:+965 2291 5800

Dubai

O14 Tower, Level 14

Al Abraj Street

Business Bay

Dubai,United Arab Emirates28240

Abu Dhabi

24th Floor, Al Sila Tower

Abu Dhabi Global Market Square

Al Maryah Island

Abu Dhabi,United Arab Emirates

Riyadh

8th Floor, M7 Tower

King Fahad Road

Riyadh,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Cairo

Hyde Park, HPO/B3-1/119 &120

New Cairo, 5th Settlement,

Cairo,Egypt