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Global Middle East-wide Corporate/M&A

This section relates to transactions involving different companies, corporate governance, corporate restructuring, shareholder issues. This broad category covers both public company and private equity (including venture capital) matters. The chapter includes company acquisitions, dispositions and capitalisations, entity selection and formation, operating and partnership agreements, securities and governance matters. Also covers those transactions designed to help restructuring within companies and their subsidiaries by change of ownership. Priority is placed on primary representatives, those acting for buyers and sellers, whilst those acting for financial advisors, underwriters and the banks financing such transactions are also considered.

Rankings overview for Departments

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1
Band 1
  1. Clifford Chance LLP
    1
    Clifford Chance LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 1 | 9 Years Ranked
    Clifford Chance is a highly regarded law firm that is very well established in the UAE. It also maintains an exceptional presence on transactions based in Saudi Arabia and Oman. The firm's lawyers have wide-ranging strengths in a plethora of corporate matters including high-value M&A, joint ventures, private equity buyouts and other strategic investments. Energy and oil and gas are key sectors from which the firm draws its client base, with the firm demonstrating further recent work on behalf of major players in insurance, healthcare and logistics.
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  2. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    1
    Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 1 | 9 Years Ranked
    Freshfields is a pre-eminent law firm with an impressive corporate offering across the MENA region, comprising offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain, in addition to the three offices of its Saudi Arabian associated firm in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. This is complemented by a noteworthy Iranian practice principally run from Vienna. The firm typically advises private equity firms on investment matters and assists clients with high-profile M&A deals. Its lawyers offer sector-specific experience in the TMT, healthcare, automotive, and oil and gas industries.
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  3. Linklaters
    1
    Linklaters
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 1 | 9 Years Ranked
    Magic circle law firm Linklaters continues to be highly ranked for its strength in the UAE. In addition, it frequently acts on market-leading transactions in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait. The team assists with a broad spectrum of outbound and inbound investments, commonly representing private equity houses, sovereign wealth funds and foreign investors in major M&A deals. Its lawyers are also adept at corporate structuring and strategic partnerships.
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  4. Allen & Overy LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 1
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2
Band 2
  1. White & Case LLP
    2
    White & Case LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 2 | 9 Years Ranked
    White & Case has highly respected corporate practices in Qatar and the UAE, plus strong relationships with much-praised law firms in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. The team garners widespread recognition for its eminent roster of clients, including sovereign wealth funds and state-owned oil companies. Its lawyers regularly act on strategic partnerships and are highly experienced assisting with private equity investments. It is also commonly seen on transactions in such sectors as TMT, energy and real estate. The practice is frequently praised for its strengths in M&A deals, corporate governance, joint ventures and group restructuring.
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  2. Latham & Watkins LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 2
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3
Band 3
  1. 3
    Baker McKenzie
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 3 | 9 Years Ranked
    Baker McKenzie is a highly regarded law firm with a robust footprint throughout the Middle East. It maintains a top-notch offering in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain, in addition to a strong team in the UAE. Its lawyers regularly act for multinational companies on multi-jurisdictional M&A transactions and joint ventures occurring in a broad spectrum of industry sectors, including retail, construction and financial services. It also often advises on corporate governance, distributor arrangements and regulatory matters.
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  2. Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP - Dubai
    3
    Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP - Dubai
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 3 | 5 Years Ranked
    Eversheds Sutherland is a well-recognised force in the Middle East, with established offices in the UAE and Qatar and respected association partners in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq. Its lawyers are frequently active on cross-border M&A, restructuring and investment, often representing private equity and venture capital entities, as well as technology and real estate companies.
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  3. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    3
    Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 3 | 9 Years Ranked
    Gibson Dunn is highly regarded for its expertise in private equity investments and corporate structurings. It often advises sovereign wealth funds, private equity houses and a range of domestic and multinational companies on a wide variety of transactions. Much of its regional work is run via the UAE, where the firm recently made several very significant lateral hires, and its team in the Middle East is ably supported by lawyers in London.
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  4. King & Spalding LLP
    3
    King & Spalding LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 3 | 9 Years Ranked
    King & Spalding is a notable law firm in the Middle East, acting for an impressive roster of clients on regional and international corporate transactions. Its lawyers are notably experienced in private equity and venture capital matters. The team maintains a distinguished offering in two key GCC markets: Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is well versed in M&A deals in the financial services, retail, and food and beverage sectors, and is also prominent on oil and gas transactions.
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  5. Shearman & Sterling LLP
    3
    Shearman & Sterling LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 3 | 9 Years Ranked
    Shearman & Sterling offers a well-respected corporate group in the Middle East, with notable experience concerning transactions in Qatar and Kuwait. The firm is also particularly noted for its impressive history of work relating to Egypt and state-owned entities in Abu Dhabi, while its Saudi affiliate is a robust presence on private equity investments and joint venture structuring.
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  6. Clyde & Co LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 3
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4
Band 4
  1. Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    4
    Addleshaw Goddard LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Addleshaw Goddard is a prolific international law firm with strong offices in the UAE and Qatar alongside a market-leading team in Oman. The firm's lawyers assist with cross-border M&A and are also skilled in establishing joint ventures and negotiating shareholder agreements. Its clientele ranges from international corporations and private equity houses to domestic entities and family-owned companies.
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  2. 4
    Dentons
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 4 | 9 Years Ranked
    Dentons possesses an extensive footprint throughout the MENA region. It offers considerable transactional capabilities in the UAE and is widely regarded as a market leader in Oman and Qatar. Clients also benefit from its well-established associations with law firms in Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon, in addition to its impressive Iran desk, run from Paris. The firm's lawyers frequently assist clients with high-value acquisitions and joint ventures. It offers further expertise in regulatory matters and corporate restructurings.
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  3. DLA Piper LLP
    4
    DLA Piper LLP
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    DLA Piper provides a comprehensive Middle East offering that includes well-regarded teams in the UAE and Bahrain. It is further noted for its expertise in Qatar and Oman. The firm's corporate team advises on major acquisitions, disposals and mergers, as well as establishing joint ventures and assisting with corporate reorganisations. Its lawyers are especially accomplished in transactions within the healthcare and technology sectors, with further experience in power, oil and gas.
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  4. Al Tamimi & Company
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 4
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  5. Herbert Smith Freehills
    Corporate/M&A
    2023 | Band 4
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