Dubai Office

Senior Partner: Dr. Ahmad Bin Hezeem
Managing Partner: Jimmy Haoula
Number of partners: 17
Number of lawyers: 70
Languages: Arabic, Afrikaans, Bengali, English, French, Greek, Hindi, Russian, Spanish, Ukrainian, Urdu

Firm Overview:
BSA is a regional law firm in the Middle East with 9 offices across 5 countries, with a diverse team of 150 lawyers from 35 different cultural backgrounds. BSA are market leaders in new and evolving sectors, partnering with their clients towards a sustainable, progressive future. More than just a law firm, they pride themselves on being connective: sparking collaboration, creating synergy, driving change. Established for 20 years, they are expanding organically, nourishing talent and investing in their people.

What makes them different?
Their client care: BSA are trusted counsellors who provide flexibility, strength of expertise, dynamic fee structures and a focus on personal relationships. Clients appreciate that they will receive clear advice with strategic recommendations including any potential risks, directly contributing to the success of their latest challenge. BSA apply this ethos to everything they do. From working with grassroot startups to multinational corporations, from pro bono legal clinics to employee development programmes - BSA understand the importance of a holistic approach.

Main Areas of Practice:  

Insurance:
Partners: 3 Fee earners: 9
Matters:
■ Advised a UAE based holding in its acquisition of a Takaful company – the first such acquisition in the UAE of Takaful company by a non-insurance entity.
■ Carried out incident response services in relation to Cyber Insurance Cover provided in the Middle East by our client, one of the largest reinsurance companies in the world.
■ Conducted the entire voluntary liquidation process of a Third-Party Administration service in the UAE, registered with the UAE Insurance Authority, involving negotiations and approvals from the Insurance Authority and Dubai Health Authority
Key clients: Munich Re, AIG, Bupa Global & UK
Contact: Simon Isgar
Tel: +971 4 528 5555 Email: [email protected]

Intellectual Property:
Partners: 1 Fee earners: 4
Matters:
■ Provided advice to a leading Middle East broadcasting company in relation to the launch of new TV channels, trademark registration and protection in various countries.
■ Advised a semi-governmental organisation on the creation of a new brand identity, including an assessment on their trademarks and recommendations on an appropriate filing strategy.
■ Complex copyright dispute in relation to mobile game applications and related updates.
■ IP rights and trademark assignments regarding a restructuring project of a food chain
Key clients: MBC Group, World Wrestling Entertainment Inc, Andersen Tax LLC, Etihad Rails
Contact: Munir Suboh
Tel: +971 4 528 5555 Email: [email protected]

Banking & Finance:
Partners: 2 Fee earners: 4
Matters:
■ Advised a UAE bank led syndicate of lenders from a UAE, DIFC and ADGM law perspective in complex debt restructuring of a regional business conglomerate.
■ Advised a fund manager in structuring and setting up a US$ 75 million private equity fund (qualified investor fund) in DIFC.
■ Represented JBF RAK in a debt-for-equity swap, involving several local and international creditor banks with an approximate value of 800 million USD, considered to be one of the largest restructuring exercises in the UAE.
■ Acted for CES Investments Limited in all aspects of structuring, developing and setting up German Usufruct Fund (a EUR 100 million property fund) in DIFC. The fund will invest in real estate and usufruct in Germany
Key clients: JBF Group, Emirates NBD, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait KSCP, Gulf Petrochem Group, CES Investments
Contacts: Michael Kortbawi/Musab Iftikhar
Tel: +971 4 568 5555 Email: [email protected]

Construction:
Partners: 5 Fee earners: 21
Matters:
■ Represented a Japanese power generation company in a USD 100 million, cross-border matter and arising dispute due to delays in EPC works for one of the largest energy projects in the UAE.
■ Conducted the arbitration, advocacy and award enforcement for a security systems integrator, in DIFC-LCIA arbitral proceedings against a major MEP subcontractor for amounts due under a security subcontract.
■ Instructed by a French industrial group to commence local arbitration proceedings in a multi-jurisdictional matter related to contract termination and disputes arising out of a performance bond, in turn leading to international litigation proceedings.
■ Represented a construction contracting company in a AED 300 million DIAC arbitration against a large local developer, which also included award enforcement before the UAE courts
Contact: Antonios Dimitracopoulos
Tel: +971 4 528 5555 Email: [email protected]

Corporate:
Partners: 5 Fee earners: 12
Matters:
■ Advised one of the largest energy players in renewable energy on their regional set up and on a PPP arrangement in relation to the building of solar plants across the UAE.
■ Advised Delivery Hero with their acquisition of InstaShop, valued at USD 360 Million, Delivery Hero’s first acquisition in the region’s e-grocery industry.
■ Advised a well-known family entity with respect to company restructuring involving their trading entity, a UK-listed entity, the largest medical/healthcare group in the UAE and a collection of other connected entities. This matter involved a combination of alleged mismanagement of the companies and alleged fraudulent activity.
■ Advised on the structure and set up of the first energy bank based in the DIFC
Key clients: Total, Halliburton Worldwide Limited, Emirates NBD, Cimic Group, Banijay Group
Contact: Jimmy Haoula/Rima Mrad
Tel: +971 4 528 5555 Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Dispute Resolution:
Partners: 8 Fee earners: 32
Matters:
■ Advised a UAE based visual communications company in a AED 200 million commercial dispute against a building material company.
■ Represented a UAE based client in a AED 42 million real estate dispute against a major property developer regarding a breach of contract.
■ Advised a leading supplier of clothing manufacturing materials in a USD 800 million debt-for-equity swap, allowing the client to avoid insolvency and continue operations
Key clients: Metlife Alico, Emirates Neon, Meydan, JBF RAK LLC
Contact: Asim Ahmed
Tel: +971 4 528 5555 Email: [email protected]

Fintech:
Partners: 1 Fee earners: 3
Matters:
■ Advised on the creation of an in-application wallet for Delivery Hero /Talabat which included advising on e-money regulations and liaising with the UAE Central Bank on the client’s behalf.
■ Advised a UAE investment management firm on their involvement in a Series A round of funding for a blockchain based financial and regulatory tool which included conducting a due diligence on the target and advising on all contractual documents.
■ Provided detailed regulatory advice regarding a new cloud-based payment system, involving negotiations with the UAE Central Bank, the DFSA and the FSRA Key clients: Delivery Hero / Talabat, DEWA, Panthera Capital Investments LLC
Contact: Nadim Bardawil
Tel: +971 4 528 5555 Email: [email protected]