Nathaniel Armstrong

Practice Areas

Banking and Finance, Islamic Finance, Real Estate Finance, Ship and Marine Finance, Aviation Finance, Asset Finance and Lending, Restructuring, Insolvency and Bankruptcy

Career

Nathaniel is the managing partner of Denton's' Abu Dhabi office as well as a partner in Denton's' Middle East Banking & Finance team. He has over 15 years’ experience advising on all types of debt finance transactions, both conventional and Islamic. He acts for a number of domestic and international financial and corporate institutions.

Nathaniel is a specialist in general corporate, asset (shipping and aviation), real estate and Islamic finance under both English and UAE (including free zones such as the ADGM and DIFC) law.

He has broad international experience having worked for international law firms in England, Australia and the UAE on a range of complex, high-value transactions.

Nathaniel has published numerous articles on banking and finance related issues and is ranked in various international legal directories.

Professional Memberships

Solicitor, Senior Courts of England and Wales, 2010

Experience

Prior to joining the Firm in 2015, Nathaniel worked alongside leading individuals in the legal and financial sectors in London and Brisbane.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank: Advising on an AED710 million (US$193.3 million) real estate financing of Phase 1 of the Jubail Island development in Abu Dhabi.

National Bank of Bahrain: Advising National Bank of Bahrain on an English law governed secured financing for McLaren Group, the elite motorsports and luxury supercar maker that competes in Formula 1.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank: Advising Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank on an English law financing made available to a UAE incorporated entity in respect of financing the delivery of five new aircraft manufactured by Airbus.

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank: Advising Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank on an English law governed US$370 million pre- and post-delivery Islamic Istisn'a financing for a joint venture company incorporated by Al Seer Marine Supplies and Equipment Company PJSC and BGN INT DMCC, to part finance the purchase of five state-of-the-art very large gas carriers (VLGCs) from shipyards in South Korea and Japan.

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank: Advising Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank on an English law governed AED750 million multi-tranche loan and Islamic facility involving the construction of a mixed residential and hotel development in the United Arab Emirates. This deal won Real Estate Finance Deal of the Year at the 2017 Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Awards Middle East.

National Australia Bank: Advising National Australia Bank and a syndicate of banks on the restructuring of an English law governed US$180 million financing in respect of six MR class product tankers made available to a UAE based international shipping group, including the take out of a fixed rate junior tranche by an additional floating rate senior tranche and replacement of LIBOR with a Term SOFR benchmark for the calculation of interest. The matter involved multiple jurisdictions.

Banco Santander: Advising Banco Santander and a syndicate of banks on an English law governed US$166 million syndicated lease financing of an international logistics group, Tristar, to part finance the purchase of six chemical tankers from a shipyard in South Korea. The matter involved senior and junior financing tranches and multiple jurisdictions.

Etihad Airways: Advising Etihad Airways on the prepayment and release of multiple aircraft.

Languages Spoken

English

Education