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Ranking tables

Global Middle East-wide Projects & Energy

This chapter focuses on the development, acquisition and divestitures of large projects within the infrastructure and energy markets. Clients in this sector include sponsors, lenders, project originators and multilateral agencies and development banks. This section includes the development of refineries, pipelines, LNG and petrochemical terminals, power plants and wind power, waste-to-energy and hydropower technology. It also covers exploration, licensing, operation agreements and regulatory compliance across conventional, renewable and nuclear energy, as well as mining and minerals. It also features private and state-sponsored infrastructure projects, including motorway, toll road and bridge developments, rail and light rail systems and water treatment plants. It also includes the development of social infrastructure projects, such as hospitals, schools, housing and prisons.

Rankings overview for Departments

All Departments profiles

1
Band 1
  1. Clifford Chance LLP
    1
    Clifford Chance LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 1 | 11 Years Ranked
    Clifford Chance offers a leading project finance practice in the Middle East, with lawyers operating primarily from its UAE offices and association partner in Riyadh. The team is particularly commended for its experience inIslamic financing as well as its broad range of work. The firm has a strong oil and gas team active across the region, with noteworthy experience regarding projects in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman. The group's lawyers are acclaimed for their representation of lenders and project companies, notably in the energy sector, and including renewables. The team is also active on major IPPs.
  2. White & Case LLP
    1
    White & Case LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 1 | 11 Years Ranked
    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 both lenders and 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.
  3. Allen & Overy LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 1
2
Band 2
  1. Covington & Burling LLP
    2
    Covington & Burling LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 2 | 6 Years Ranked
    Covington & Burling is a respected US law firm which continues to cement its place in the Middle East projects space. The firm is noted for its expertise in energy projects and PPPs, and is well versed in numerous forms of project financings, including matters undertaken on a build-operate-transfer basis. The group particularly excels in utilities and power work, including IPPs and IWPs.
  2. DLA Piper LLP
    2
    DLA Piper LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 2 | 8 Years Ranked
    DLA Piper has a well-developed projects team which is particularly acclaimed for its work on behalf 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.
  3. Norton Rose Fulbright
    2
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 2 | 11 Years Ranked
    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 acting for government project sponsors, particularly in relation to PPPs. The team possesses additional experience in mandates relating to major infrastructure and utilities projects.
  4. Shearman & Sterling LLP
    2
    Shearman & Sterling LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 2 | 11 Years Ranked
    Shearman & Sterling is noted for its strong track record when it comes to advising some of the region's largest oil companies and state-owned entities. The firm undertakes project finance work relating to the whole spectrum of energy and oil and gas projects, and also maintains a pre-eminent renewables practice. The firm's expertise is primarily centred in Abu Dhabi with the support of a seasoned team of projects experts based in London.
  5. Ashurst
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 2
  6. Latham & Watkins LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 2
3
Band 3
  1. 3
    Dentons
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 3 | 11 Years Ranked
    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 also noted for its regional expertise in oil and gas. The firm's lawyers have additional experience advising on large-scale renewable energy, social infrastructure and transport projects. The firm often provides advice on regulatory matters impacting projects throughout the Middle East.
  2. King & Spalding LLP
    3
    King & Spalding LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 3 | 11 Years Ranked
    King & Spalding offers a broad and diverse team of utilities lawyers which is 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 healthcare, desalination and waste water treatment. It also has extensive experience in district cooling, advising both public and private entities. The team possesses a wealth of experience in conventional and renewable energy mandates and regularly assists with build-operate-transfer financings.
  3. Linklaters
    3
    Linklaters
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 3 | 11 Years Ranked
    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 transport infrastructure projects and is present on matters across the Middle East.
  4. Milbank LLP
    3
    Milbank LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 3 | 11 Years Ranked
    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 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.
  5. Herbert Smith Freehills
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 3
4
Band 4
  1. Bracewell LLP
    4
    Bracewell LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 4 | 7 Years Ranked
    Bracewell offers a focused energy practice that is active both in oil and gas and in renewables. Its lawyers receive widespread recognition for their oil and gas expertise, advising on field development throughout the Middle East. The firm also acts on major IPPs and IWPPs across the region, including matters originating in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
  2. CMS
    4
    CMS
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 4 | 2 Years Ranked
    CMS is a prominent international law firm that fields a notable projects practice from 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.
  3. Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
    4
    Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 4 | 6 Years Ranked
    Eversheds Sutherland houses a strong projects and energy practice with expertise spanning the Middle East. Its Dubai-based team is ably supported by seasoned lawyers across its extensive regional network, with particularly notable projects experience in Qatar. The group advises on financing and development issues pertaining to oil and gas, renewable energy and PPP projects. The team's clientele includes government entities, developers and lenders.
  4. Pinsent Masons LLP
    Projects & Energy
    2023 | Band 4