Projects & Energy | Global

A&O Shearman has a broad projects practice that is prominent throughout the region. It is active on all aspects of project development, with a thoroughly commended finance team. The group maintains a strong petrochemicals practice, which is notably active in Oman, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The firm's lawyers undertake a range of PPP projects and have acknowledged expertise in solar and renewables.

Clifford Chance offers a leading project finance practice in the Middle East, with lawyers operating primarily from its UAE and Riyadh offices. The team is particularly commended for its experience in Islamic financing as well as its broad range of work. The firm has a strong oil and gas team active across the region, as well as offering impressive credentials in renewable energy. The group's lawyers are acclaimed for their representation of both lenders and project companies, and the team is also active on major IPPs.

White & Case is known for its pre-eminent oil and gas practice, advising on the full scope of petrochemical projects, including acting as counsel on the region's larger project financing agreements. The team has an accomplished wider project finance department, undertaking financing and refinancing for projects across several major sectors, and acting for lenders as well as borrowers. The group's lawyers possess strong experience working with various governments and government entities, including major state-owned energy companies. The firm has notable experience regarding projects located in Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Key projects personnel are based in London, backed by strong support from the firm's several offices within the region.

Covington & Burling is a respected US law firm that is well established in the Middle East projects and energy market. The firm is noted for its expertise in energy projects and PPPs, and is well versed in numerous forms of project financings. The group particularly excels in utilities and power work, including IPPs and IWPs. Its Middle East files are typically staffed from Dubai, London and Johannesburg.

King & Spalding offers a broad and diverse team of utilities lawyers who are highly active on PPPs. It has an especially strong Saudi Arabian practice, with further experience of matters in Oman and the UAE. The firm advises on a number of major development projects, including in the areas of desalination and waste water treatment. The team has extensive experience in district cooling, advising both public and private entities. It also possesses a wealth of experience in conventional and renewable energy mandates, and regularly assists with build-operate-transfer financings.

Linklaters offers clients a respected finance team that is primarily noted for its work undertaken on behalf of lenders. The group demonstrates expertise in both conventional and Islamic facilities, and has wide-ranging experience relating to oil and gas. The team regularly advises on cross-border facilities. In addition to its oil and gas work, the firm has also advised on energy transition and is present on matters across the Middle East.

Norton Rose Fulbright is noted for its versatile energy practice, which handles renewable energy mandates across the Middle East, staffing such matters primarily from its Dubai and London offices. The firm's lawyers have a strong track record of acting for government project sponsors, particularly in relation to PPPs. The team possesses additional experience in mandates relating to major infrastructure and utilities projects.

Dentons has a well-established projects practice spanning the region, with especially well-regarded offices in the UAE, Oman and Qatar. The firm provides experienced local advice on projects mandates, in addition to advising on the international aspects. The team is noted for its significant market share of district cooling mandates, with additional expertise in a range of social infrastructure matters, such as those relating to the development of ports. The firm often provides advice on regulatory matters impacting projects throughout the Middle East.

DLA Piper has a well-developed projects team that is particularly acclaimed for its representation of project sponsors. Its lawyers are recognised for their work on PPP projects in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the wider Gulf region, notably in relation to infrastructure projects. The team's infrastructure expertise is complemented by its experience acting on behalf of sovereign entities on renewable energy matters.

Herbert Smith Freehills has noted experience working for sponsors and developers. It undertakes projects work across the GCC and has further noteworthy expertise concerning Iraq. The team also assists with a range of corporate agreements and investments in the energy sector, including in relation to solar projects. The firm staffs matters principally from Dubai, but with the input of lawyers throughout its global network.

Latham & Watkins has a respected project finance team with experience in a broad array of work. The team's lawyers advise on a wide range of PPP projects in the Middle East, including infrastructure and utilities projects. The team is involved in large-scale cross-border financing transactions, frequently acting for major energy companies and government entities. The group also has extensive experience advising on EPC contracts.

Pinsent Masons is a strong projects law firm whose Dubai-based team is known for its focus on renewables and infrastructure. It advises on significant financings across the full breadth of the Middle East. The firm completes mandates on both the transport and leisure sides of infrastructure projects, and its lawyers also have noted experience executing waste-to-energy and oil and gas projects in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

CMS is a prominent international law firm that fields a notable projects practice in Dubai, as well as an experienced team of energy lawyers based in Oman. The firm particularly excels in infrastructure projects, with recent experience acting on PPPs and IWPs in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain. The team is also well regarded for its capabilities in power and oil and gas projects, most often advising on procurement, finance and construction issues.

Gibson Dunn presents a broad offering when it comes to its Middle East projects and energy practice. The team advises corporates, financial institutions and government entities on a range of projects at all stages of their life-cycle, and offers expertise in energy and infrastructure alike. Lawyers based in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi are equally adept at handling mandates in the oil and gas and renewables spaces.

Milbank has a prominent international projects team that is recognised primarily for its lender advisory work. In the Middle East, the team advises on energy and oil and gas projects, and it is particularly noted for its involvement in very high-value matters. The firm staffs much of its Middle East work from London and receives strong praise for its abilities in cross-border financing.