Banking & Finance | Global

A&O Shearman has long been one of the foremost law firms in the Middle East, with deep experience in various aspects of commercial lending. The team has an excellent reputation for project finance, with expertise in power, renewable energy and infrastructure. Its lawyers also represent blue-chip clients, both domestic and international, in major restructuring and refinancing matters. Other areas of expertise include asset and Islamic finance. The firm is noted for its ability to assist with transactions originating across the region, with particular expertise relating to Saudi Arabia and Oman. On 1 May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Clifford Chance has an impressive team with robust offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi that continue to lead the market in providing professional legal services in banking and finance. The firm advises on a broad spectrum of finance matters and possesses complementary expertise in capital markets and corporate/M&A. The team is also noted for its dedicated Islamic finance practice and extensive experience in aviation finance, where it often works in conjunction with the firm's highly rated asset finance practice in London. Clifford Chance also has a dedicated regulatory team, which has become increasingly active in growing areas such as fintech.

The Dubai office of Linklaters features an esteemed bench of lawyers who advise leading investment banks on the full spectrum of finance matters. The department is notable for its experience of development and structured finance and is also widely recognised for its advice on syndicated loans and debt restructuring. The team's other areas of expertise include acquisition finance, real estate finance and banking regulatory matters. Linklaters is equally well known for its Islamic finance expertise, with several major transactions featuring a Sharia-compliant tranche. The firm is a popular choice as lenders' counsel, while also being very experienced in acting for borrowers.

The Dubai office of Addleshaw Goddard acts for a host of international financial institutions and regional corporate clients on both lender- and borrower-side mandates. The firm has an expanding finance practice and is noted for its complementary expertise in restructuring and insolvency mandates. The firm also benefits from expertise in Islamic finance, with lawyers advising on matters throughout the region.

Dentons is a respected law firm offering significant banking expertise from its Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices. Particularly eminent in Islamic finance, the team often advises on Sharia-compliant financings, sukuk and hybrid conventional/Islamic facilities. Its lawyers are regularly mandated on cross-border matters in territories including Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The firm also assists domestic and international entities with project financing, refinancing and restructuring. Dentons also possesses expertise in trade and asset finance, with syndicated finance being a prominent feature of its workload. Its clients include financial institutions, corporations and multilaterals.

Freshfields offers a compact practice with a strong reputation in the Dubai market. The firm has particular experience in acting on leveraged and acquisition finance matters, providing invaluable support to the firm's top-tier M&A group. In this regard, the finance team regularly acts for some of the Middle East's leading private equity houses. Its clientele also includes corporate borrowers from across the MENA region as well as leading Sharia-compliant banks.

Norton Rose Fulbright's Dubai-based banking and finance team is a respected name with a strong regional reputation for both conventional and Sharia-compliant financing. The firm has a long history in Islamic finance and is often sought out to advise on Sharia regulatory issues. Its lawyers act for a blue-chip roster of international clients, including major investment banks and high-profile borrowers. The team regularly assists with cross-border syndicated financings. Norton Rose also has an extensive project finance practice.

White & Case is a respected name with well-established offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The firm has a strong regional reputation in both conventional and Sharia-compliant financing. It acts for a blue-chip roster of international clients, including major investment banks and high-profile borrowers. The firm maintains a formidable project finance practice capable of handling construction, oil and gas, and development finance matters. Its lawyers are well versed in all forms of corporate financing, including syndicated and asset finance. Further areas of expertise for the team include Islamic finance, derivatives and structured finance, while it is also widely respected for its capabilities in debt restructuring.

DLA Piper is an esteemed international law firm noted for its strong regional offering. Its Dubai-based team advises both borrowers and lenders on a range of matters, including acquisition and project finance. The firm also has a dedicated restructuring and insolvency team, which is especially skilled in project-related restructurings. It also has expertise in financial regulation and derivatives, as well as trade and Islamic finance.

Eversheds Sutherland has a robust team with a considerable aptitude for project finance. Lawyers from its Dubai office can be seen acting for clients on the financings for major energy projects throughout the region. Its lawyers are also highly active in trade finance, where the firm maintains an impressive roster of investment banks as clients. Eversheds also demonstrates notable prowess in Sharia-compliant project finance facilities.

Latham & Watkins is a highly regarded presence in the Dubai market that frequently assists with the finance aspects of energy and infrastructure projects. The team has considerable expertise in Islamic finance. It advises on a variety of matters including real estate finance and sovereign sukuk. Its lawyers cater to a range of clients including corporate borrowers, project sponsors, private equity houses and financial institutions. Latham & Watkins regularly advises on major transactions in Saudi Arabia. The firm is prolific in restructuring and insolvency mandates, both within the UAE and across the region.

Ashurst maintains a notable profile in project finance across the region. The firm advises an impressive list of international and regional lenders on major energy and infrastructure projects throughout the Middle East, with notable expertise regarding projects located in Saudi Arabia. Its lawyers' other areas of expertise include the restructuring of project finance facilities and advising on Sharia-compliant finance matters.

Hadef & Partners is a respected, independent UAE law firm with a noteworthy finance practice. The team's lawyers frequently act as domestic counsel alongside international law firms on major cross-border transactions. Hadef has noteworthy project finance expertise, encompassing the financing of IWPPs and renewable energy projects. It is equally capable of advising on Sharia-compliant transactions and banking regulatory matters.

Reed Smith advises on lender- and borrower-side transactions in both conventional and Islamic mandates and revolving credit facilities. The firm has experience acting for a wide range of financial institutions, with expertise in delivering cross-border transactions.

Watson Farley & Williams offers clients a strong international practice with a focus on asset and project finance. Lawyers in the team frequently act for lenders and borrowers on the financing and refinancing of aviation and marine assets. The firm also acts on the financing of energy projects, including solar farms.