Corporate/M&A | Global

This is a distinguished global law firm with excellent corporate teams in Dubai and Abu Dhabi ably supported by colleagues in London. The firm offers an enviable depth of resources and expertise in corporate matters, assisting domestic and international clients across the MENA region. Its lawyers handle a diverse range of matters, including private and public M&A and corporate restructuring mandates. It demonstrates further experience in joint ventures, antitrust and corporate governance. The team regularly acts for clients in such industry sectors as energy, healthcare, retail and financial services. At the time of writing Allen & Overy is set to merge with Shearman & Sterling in the first half of 2024, giving its regional credentials a further boost, specifically with regard to Saudi Arabia.

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 in 2023 it became one of the first international law firms to open on the ground in the Kingdom. 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.

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.

Magic circle law firm Linklaters has long been noted for its strength in the UAE. As of 2023 it also offers a noteworthy office in Riyadh. In addition to this, the firm frequently acts on market-leading transactions in 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.

Latham & Watkins offers clients strong coverage of the Middle East. It is especially noted for its outstanding track record in Saudi Arabia, while also fielding a significant offering in Dubai. The firm has considerable expertise in regional and international M&A transactions, joint ventures and corporate structuring mandates. Its clients include financial institutions, multinational corporations and private equity houses. The team's lawyers are well equipped to advise on corporate matters within the healthcare, financial services and TMT sectors.

White & Case has highly respected corporate practices in Qatar and the UAE, plus strong relationships with much-praised law firms elsewhere in the region. 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.

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.

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.

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; its strength in Dubai and Abu Dhabi is now also complemented by its recently established Riyadh office. Its team in the Middle East is ably supported by lawyers in London.

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.

Al Tamimi is a well-regarded regional law firm with an expansive Middle East footprint. Clients benefit from the depth of resources across its many offices throughout the GCC, as well as in Egypt, Jordan and Iraq; the firm is regularly cited as a first choice for local law advice in many of these jurisdictions. Its lawyers often act for prominent domestic and international companies on major M&A transactions, in addition to assisting with joint ventures and corporate structuring and licensing matters.

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.

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. 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.