Construction | Global

Freshfields has an acclaimed construction practice which continues to be highlighted for its experience in major engineering projects. Its lawyers often assist with issues such as the structuring and negotiation of contracts, procurement matters and risk management. The firm also has strong international capabilities which allow it to act on a wide array of cross-border matters, with the Dubai team often drawing upon disputes expertise based in other Freshfields offices worldwide.

This team draws praise for its strengths in non-contentious mandates, regularly advising on big-ticket infrastructure projects. From its Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices, the firm frequently serves oil and gas clients and has complementary expertise acting for financial institutions on the financing of major construction projects. Its lawyers have notable experience concerning the construction and operation of district cooling plants and renewable energy projects. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Addleshaw Goddard is an accomplished international law firm with a strong presence both in the UAE and in the wider GCC region. The firm advises on the full life cycle of construction projects, from financing to any resultant disputes, and is regularly called upon to assist contractors, subcontractors and consultants with the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious mandates. Addleshaw Goddard serves a range of clients in the infrastructure and utilities sectors, and its lawyers also possess significant experience in energy projects.

DLA Piper is a well-regarded law firm with a strong footprint in the Middle East. The firm maintains a full-service construction team in its Dubai office with expertise in transactional and contentious mandates. The team frequently advises developers on multipurpose units. Its lawyers are noted for assisting clients with high-profile construction matters in sectors such as retail, infrastructure and energy.

King & Spalding has an esteemed construction practice based in Abu Dhabi and which has particular expertise in non-contentious construction. The firm is frequently sought out to assist with a broad spectrum of transactional mandates. Its lawyers are known for their expertise in utilities projects, particularly those relating to water and district cooling, as well as renewable energy schemes. Its clients include multinational companies and government entities. The team's experience includes advising on issues relating to the maintenance and operation of large-scale project developments.

From its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Reed Smith is able to advise clients on construction-related transactional work, including procurement issues and PPP projects. The firm's lawyers are also active on contentious matters, including ICC arbitrations. The team is experienced in representing contractors and employers, including oil and gas companies.

Beale & Co is an international boutique law firm with an emphasis on construction, engineering and insurance mandates. Its Dubai office possesses a deep understanding of international arbitrations and mediations in the construction sphere, and is also knowledgeable on non-contentious matters. Its lawyers act for an impressive list of developers and construction contractors on a range of infrastructure and mixed-use real estate projects.

Clifford Chance has a highly regarded construction practice with a longstanding presence in the UAE. Its offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai offer robust capabilities for matters throughout the MENA region. The team regularly advises clients on large-scale construction disputes, often on the contractor side. Its lawyers are further able to assist with a range of non-contentious projects. The firm also has strengths in sectors such as energy and infrastructure.

Dentons maintains a strong construction practice with highly rated capabilities throughout the GCC region, and fielding specialist lawyers in its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The firm is active on high-profile construction disputes, including high-value arbitrations. Its key clients hail from sectors such as oil and gas, transportation and energy. The team also possesses considerable experience assisting with non-contentious matters relating to large-scale construction projects as diverse as airports, desalination plants and district cooling facilities.

Pinsent Masons frequently draws praise for its MENA region construction expertise, with considerable knowledge of renewable energy and infrastructure projects. The firm's Dubai office offers a full-service construction practice, capable of assisting with transactional matters as well as major disputes. Its lawyers are also particularly skilled in construction matters arising in the hospitality, energy and technology sectors.

White & Case is regularly highlighted for its strengths in the construction sector both regionally and on a global scale. The firm is active on contentious cross-border mandates as well as infrastructure arbitrations and FIDIC disputes. It also offers a strong regional practice acting for clients from across the GCC, and is frequently sought out by major energy companies and state-owned entities. Furthermore, its lawyers possess a wealth of experience in non-contentious contractual matters, acting particularly for government entities and energy groups.

Baker McKenzie offers a notable construction practice in Dubai. The team has strong experience in a range of commercial construction transactions, particularly in contractual matters. Its lawyers also demonstrate significant capabilities in disputes. The firm acts for an extensive client list consisting of contractors, subcontractors, engineers and developers.

The Dubai office of CMS maintains a strong focus on construction issues in sectors such as hospitality and energy. The firm is able to advise on both transactional and contentious work and possesses a wealth of experience acting for contractors. Its lawyers are also skilled in acting on construction disputes related to oil and gas projects.

From its UAE base, the Squire Patton Boggs construction team advises a range of clients, including international and local contractors as well as sovereign governments, ministries and government agencies. The firm is noted for its skill in litigation and arbitration mandates. It is well placed to leverage the strengths of the firm's recently opened office in Saudi Arabia on cross-border matters.

Al Tamimi & Company is a leading Middle Eastern law firm noted for its deep knowledge of the local market combined with its expansive reach throughout the region. Primarily staffing construction matters from its Abu Dhabi office, the firm assists clients with contentious mandates as well as transactional construction matters, including contract negotiations and the construction of mixed-use developments. Its lawyers frequently work on behalf of developers, subcontractors and other clients in sectors such as tourism and oil and gas.

Fenwick Elliott is a global construction boutique which has maintained a presence in Dubai for close to a decade. It is especially active on contentious construction, with work relating to a variety of real estate, infrastructure and energy projects located throughout the Middle East. The local team works in tandem with its London colleagues on a number of significant matters.

Heavyweight domestic law firm Hadef & Partners offers a robust construction practice that is able to represent clients at all levels of the UAE and DIFC courts, utilising its substantial knowledge of local litigation. The firm also often assists with arbitration claims against government entities and acts for a wide variety of international clients.

Horizons & Co Law Firm is a respected Emirati law firm which is widely praised for its knowledge of construction. The team is typically active representing multi-jurisdictional clients in litigation and arbitration proceedings. In such matters it has extensive experience counselling developers, contractors and banks on cases involving issues such as extension of time and defaults on payment.

K&L Gates maintains a compact yet high-quality construction department in its Dubai office. It is principally noted for handling contentious matters, and assists clients both within the UAE and across the region. It is especially noteworthy for its expertise in cases which arise from high-profile infrastructure projects, with equally notable experience concerning insolvent contractors.

Norton Rose Fulbright has a well-recognised group regularly tasked with advising on construction projects across a multitude of sectors, including infrastructure, healthcare and power. With notable expertise in the non-contentious aspects of projects, the team is frequently engaged to handle arbitrations as well as procurement structuring. Its lawyers are capable of acting for developers, contractors and sponsors.