Corporate/M&A: Dubai-based | Global

David Foster has fast become a go-to lawyer for market-leading M&A transactions in the UAE. As regional head of corporate in the Dubai office, he is very experienced in cross-border mergers, equity investments and joint ventures, acting particularly for clients in the education sector.

Marwan Elaraby is a highly accomplished transactional lawyer in charge of the firm's Dubai office. He advises on acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and ECM matters. He is particularly well known for his significant track record of acting for major clients in the oil and gas sector. Active throughout the region, he maintains an especially prolific practice in Egypt and recently joined Gibson Dunn after leaving Shearman & Sterling.

Mohammed Al-Shukairy is Clifford Chance's regional managing partner and is an accomplished lawyer in high-profile outbound acquisitions. He is also noted for his considerable expertise regarding mergers in the financial services sector.

Pervez Akhtar is an eminent lawyer who is widely considered a top choice for private equity and M&A transactions in the UAE and further afield. He regularly handles ground-breaking acquisitions on behalf of venture capital firms, sovereign wealth funds and clients in the energy and education sectors. He is further recognised for his expertise in Egypt-related deals.

Scott Campbell is widely acclaimed for his considerable experience in cross-border M&A transactions. He is especially seasoned in representing major regional clients in acquisitions, disposals and corporate finance transactions. He offers additional expertise in capital markets mandates, particularly IPOs.

Zubair Mir maintains a broad-ranging practice that encompasses region-spanning M&A mandates as well as investment fund formation. He is a well-known figure in the market and is based in Dubai.

Abdulwahid Alulama is an esteemed Emirati lawyer who is widely respected for his expertise in cross-border M&A, strategic partnerships and joint ventures. He is based in Dubai and is also notably experienced in corporate governance and commercial contracts relating to high-profile acquisitions.

Andrew Johnston is Addleshaw Goddard's regional managing partner for the Middle East and Asia, and also head of its Middle East corporate practice. He is renowned for his extensive capabilities in international M&A and private equity transactions, as well as joint ventures. He is well versed in acting for clients from the food and beverage, education, hospitality and retail sectors.

Marcus Booth is a highly regarded Dubai-based lawyer who co-heads the firm's financial sponsor practice. In this arena, he acts for leading private equity houses, venture capital entities and sovereign wealth funds on cross-border buyouts and major corporate structuring matters.

Middle East managing partner Nabil Issa is a well-known lawyer with a remarkably broad practice that encompasses M&A, private equity and investment funds. He splits his time between Dubai and Riyadh and is widely esteemed for his expertise concerning the Saudi Arabian market.

Chris Lester has extensive experience which spans the full gamut of mergers, demergers and acquisitions, in addition to restructurings, privatisations and joint ventures. His clientele includes prominent regional banks, private equity houses and entities in the oil and gas sector.

Deniz Tas operates a wide-ranging practice advising clients in the energy, logistics and real estate sectors, among others. He is adept at advising on high-value, cross-border transactions.

Lowri Llwyd heads Addleshaw's corporate practice in the UAE. She offers extensive expertise in cross-border M&A and private equity, in addition to a very strong standing in the field of commercial contracts and joint venture arrangements. Her clients hail from a variety of sectors, including education and real estate.

Sami Al-Louzi is a highly capable lawyer who is well versed in cross-border M&A and often mandated on ground-breaking transactions across the region. In addition to his M&A practice, he offers expertise in privatisations and ECM work. He is based in Dubai and is especially experienced in corporate and capital markets transactions within Saudi Arabia.

William Seivewright is an experienced M&A lawyer who is DLA's regional head of corporate. He regularly acts for clients in the real estate, telecoms and energy sectors on cross-border acquisitions and joint ventures, offering additional expertise in corporate restructurings.

Eyad Latif is a well-established Dubai-based lawyer who has a burgeoning reputation for cross-border M&A. He is often recognised by sources for his strengths in venture capital and is also skilled in transactions related to regional technology startups.

Haitham Hawashin leads the Dubai M&A team at Baker Botts. He is well versed in M&A transactions involving major regional financial institutions. He also regularly acts for private equity clients.

John O'Connor is head of corporate and commercial in Dubai. He is a well-established figure in the market whose wide-ranging practice covers buyouts and joint venture structuring, in addition to group reorganisations and various commercial contracts considerations.

Matthew Powell of Squire Patton Boggs advises on the full gamut of corporate/M&A and private equity work across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He is also well placed to assist with the establishment of joint ventures and offers additional expertise in commercial mandates.

Mohammad Tbaishat heads Pinsent's Middle East corporate team. He holds extensive expertise in transactional matters, advising on cross-border M&A as well as group restructurings. He is also well versed in the establishment of joint ventures and can assist with private equity mandates.

Rupert Harper of Covington & Burling is a seasoned lawyer who advises on acquisitions and sales as well as corporate structuring matters, both within the UAE and across the region. He is also experienced in private equity and strategic investment mandates.

Thérèse Abou-Zeid is a well-regarded lawyer who regularly acts for major regional clients on high-profile acquisitions. She also demonstrates strength in sales and equity investments, with a strong track record in the pharma and healthcare space.

Adnan Doha is a well-regarded corporate lawyer based in Baker's Dubai office. He adeptly advises on the full range of transactional matters, including both private and public M&A, restructurings and joint ventures. His clients hail from a variety of sectors such as energy and food and beverages.

Richard Hughes has a growing reputation in the M&A arena. He operates an impressive transactional and commercial advisory practice, assisting clients across a range of sectors on both domestic and cross-border mandates. His clients typically hail from the fintech, construction and healthcare sectors.

Alexandra Aikman is a senior associate based in Pinsent's Dubai office. She is noted for her expertise in both corporate and commercial matters, including cross-border M&A, corporate restructuring and joint ventures.

Claire Neil is a managing associate who advises clients on a wide range of cross-border M&A and joint ventures. She is notable for her experience advising on private equity and sovereign wealth fund matters.

Saad Mian is an increasingly well-recognised lawyer in Freshfields' Dubai team. He advises sovereign wealth funds and investors on the full gamut of M&A matters, offering additional expertise on corporate reorganisations.