Meysan Partners

Firm Overview: 

Managing Partner: Bader El-Jeaan
Number of partners: 15
Number of lawyers: 65
Languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian

Contacts
Arbitration: Tarek Badawy & John Reynolds
Corporate: Bader El-Jeaan
Capital Markets: Tarek Yehya
Competition & Regulatory: Abdulwahab Sadeq
Projects: Abdulaziz Al Yaqout & Tarek Yehya
Litigation: Waleed Al Tattan

Firm Summary:  

• Launched in 2015, Meysan is an innovative and ambitious international law firm,
• Leading legal experts from the Middle East and the UK, serving those territories and beyond.
• Team consists of more than 60 lawyers covering all key areas of corporate and finance
• Work on more M&A transactions (by value) than any other law firm in Kuwait
• Advised on 50+ M&A deals, exceeding US$30 billion in total value, over last seven years
• One of the top advisers on corporate financings and capital markets transactions in the Middle East
• Work across spectrum of equity, debt, and hybrid instruments, and all the innovative “market firsts”
• Boutique approach to practice, limiting number and type of matters in order to focus on high-value work
• Partner: associate ratio is lower than other firms to ensure high level of hands-on partner attention
• Clients include the largest Kuwaiti and Middle Eastern blue-chip companies and family groups

Main Areas of Practice: 

Corporate: Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A):
In the last seven years the firm's lawyers have advised on more than 40 multimillion-dollar M&A deals, exceeding $40 billion in total value. This accumulated deal value makes Meysan Partners the undisputed leader and the number one law firm in Kuwait in M&A practice, and one of the leaders in the region. As a testament to its strength in M&A, in the first half of 2021, Meysan was ranked 16 on the Mergermarket Middle East and Africa League Table (By Value) with combined transaction value of $4.1 billion for deals executed, surpassing or on par with significantly larger competitors in the region such as Linklaters and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom. Meysan was the only regional firm ranked on the league table.

• The firm handled the largest private M&A deal in the region: DSV’s $4.1 billion acquisition of Agility’s logistics business.
• The firm is also involved as legal advisor to Zain on its proposed $1.2 billion sale of its Sudan business which was recently announced.
• The firm advised Kalaam Telecommunications in connection with its acquisition of Zajil Telecom.
• In July 2021, Kuwait Integrated Petroleum Industries Company (“KIPIC”), the company behind Kuwait’s $27bn Al Zour refinery project, selected Meysan Partners as their primary external legal counsel to represent them in all their corporate and litigation matters.

Corporate: Capital Markets:
The firm is recognized as one of the top advisers on corporate financings and capital markets transactions. Its experience encompasses the complete spectrum of equity, debt, and hybrid instruments. No firm in Kuwait matches us for the depth of our capital markets experience.

• Advised Ahli Bank of Kuwait on its $600m issuance of AT1 sukuk.
• Advised the underwriters on the $250 million Tier 2 capital issuance by Warba Bank.
• Advised Agility in connection with the proposed IPO of its subsidiary, Tristar Transport.
• Advised KIPCO on its $200m capital rights offering.
• Advised Gulf Insurance on its capital rights offering.

Competition & Regulatory:
Meysan is recognised as a destination practice for navigating the complex landscapes of Competition and Antitrust, as we work in close collaboration with the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and the various ministries that shape the region’s regulatory frameworks. Our in-depth understanding of the legal frameworks, coupled with our resolve to uphold the principles of free and fair trade, has made us a trusted partner for businesses seeking guidance, representation and strategic counsel.

Project Development:
The firm's lawyers advise on the development, financing, and projects of some of the most cutting-edge transactions in the region. This includes public-private partnerships, acquisitions and divestitures (including privatizations), private equity investments, debt restructurings, tax equity transactions and the resolution of political risk claims and investment disputes.

Dispute Resolution: 

Summary of the Department 

• Dedicated team of 40 lawyers focused on domestic and international litigation and arbitration
• Litigation team has grown year on year since firm was formed in 2015
• Involved in most of the most high-profile commercial disputes in Kuwait
• Particular expertise of litigation in industries like financial services, transport, telecoms, consumer goods
• Strong focus on automotive sector, acting for leading companies like Ford and Daimler in disputes
• Clients include the largest Kuwaiti and Middle Eastern blue-chip companies and family groups

Offices: 

Kuwait
PO Box 298, Safat 13003
Al Hamra Tower. Floors 15, 16 and 17,
Al Shuhada Street, Sharq, Kuwait
Tel: +965 2205 1000

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Al Olaya Riyadh 12213, Tower B, Floor 20,
Office 1, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Telephone: +966 54 020 0400

United Arab Emirates 

Abu Dhabi
Office 2470, 24th floor,
Al KhatemTower, Abud Dhabi Global Market Square (ADGM),
Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +971 2 694 8532

Egypt
Cairo Business Plaza,
Northern Road 90
Cairo, Egypt

Lebanon
P.O. Box 116-2496 Court of Justice, Beirut,
109 Marfaa, 2nd floor, Allenby Street
Downtown, Beirut, Lebanon
Tel: +971 2 694 8532

United Kingdom
16 Berkeley Street, Berkeley Square London
W1J 8DZ, UK