International & Cross-Border Capabilities | Global

The firm`s UAE team, with offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, is recognised as one of the foremost practices in the jurisdiction. From its UAE base, the law firm offers cross-border support to a broad range of clients including global financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds and private equity funds. The UAE team is able to draw on the outstanding resources of the firm's in-house global network, and also maintains close ties to leading firms within the Middle East to handle multi-jurisdictional matters within the region. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Al Tamimi is widely regarded as a leading presence in the UAE. The law firm offers unparalleled coverage of the Middle East and Gulf states, adeptly handling significant multi-jurisdictional mandates spanning the region. The firm's full-service team in the UAE is made up of offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, forming a crucial component of its international platform. The firm services the needs of a diverse client base, which incorporates homegrown clients with overseas interests, international clients with operations in the region and also international law firms without a presence in the Middle East.

The UAE team performs highly in an array of international mandates, both contentious and non-contentious. The M&A team is well equipped to coordinate cross-border deals and also advise on the regional elements of global projects. Clients from sectors such as real estate, energy, financial services and manufacturing are all well served by the team. The group also offers extensive support on contentious mandates, helping clients navigate the UAE and DIFC courts, as well as bringing expertise to international arbitration proceedings.

The UAE team enjoys a leading reputation in key areas. It adeptly represents sovereign wealth funds and blue-chip corporations in a spectrum of transactional matters that have international elements. The team boasts leading cross-border M&A expertise, a pre-eminent banking group and market-leading capital markets capabilities. Alongside its transactional strength, the team provides clients with excellent dispute resolution support, counselling leading financial institutions and construction and energy clients on complex cross-border litigation and arbitration.

Dentons has firmly rooted itself as a prominent player within the UAE and Middle East. A team made up of practitioners in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi forms a focal point for the law firm's activity in the region, which also includes teams strategically placed in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. Overseas and local clients are able to call on the full-service capabilities of the UAE team, leveraging the firm's expansive network to handle an array of cross-border projects.

Clients seeking cross-border advice involving the UAE will benefit from several strong practice groups which perform highly on the international stage. The team's corporate investigations specialists are viewed as among the strongest in the jurisdiction, while the firm's sector focus is demonstrated in the expert advice it provides to TMT, real estate and construction clients. The group's corporate and commercial practice is also highly attuned to the international needs of a diverse clientele.

Freshfields' Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices are key to the firm's presence in the Middle East. The team is well equipped to advise on a wealth of complex, cross-border mandates involving the UAE and wider region. The law firm's client base in the UAE and Gulf region comprises multinational corporations, regional champions and major financial institutions, which are expertly served on both inbound and outbound cross-border matters.

A homegrown law firm with a strong reputation for its international approach, Hadef & Partners capably advises on a broad range of multi-jurisdictional matters. The law firm is held in high regard for its ability to act on the UAE and regional elements of broader international projects. The team maintains strong links to leading independent firms throughout the Middle East and Gulf region, collaborating seamlessly with foreign practices to service the regional demands of its international client base.

King & Spalding's Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices collaborate closely with the law firm's Riyadh team to form a strong and integrated offering in the Middle East. The team skilfully advises Middle Eastern clients who are looking to expand their operations internationally, as well as multinationals with interests within the Gulf region. The UAE group forms a key part of the firm's broader international platform and is capable of providing comprehensive cross-border support on a range of issues.

The UAE team performs highly across a range of transactional areas of law. Its M&A specialists are highly attuned to the international requirements of clients, acting for both public and private entities across a range of industry sectors. The team is frequently sought out by some of the Middle East's major financial institutions for support on cross-border deals spanning financing, capital markets and restructuring mandates.

The UAE group offers clients outstanding transactional capabilities. Its M&A practice ranks among the strongest in the jurisdiction, while the team's banking and capital markets specialists are also regarded as leaders in complex international projects. Prominent financial institutions, multinational corporates and sovereign entities all routinely engage the team for its international prowess.

From the UAE, Norton Rose offers expertise in a wide range of fields including corporate investigations, dispute resolution, and banking and finance. The contentious team is well equipped to handle high-profile cases, with practitioners experienced in cross-border matters. On the transactional side, the firm has strong experience in financing matters, as well as insurance-related mandates.

White & Case's UAE platform, made up of Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices, plays a key role in the law firm's strategy throughout the Middle East. The team forms part of the firm's integrated and comprehensive global network, which gives it excellent resources on an international level. Clients with interests in the region, as well as local entities seeking advice overseas, are expertly served by specialists.