Our services | Examples of our experience | Key contacts

We have a formidable presence in the Middle East, the hub of which is based in Dubai. Our significant presence in Dubai is based in Emaar Square, Burj Dubai, one of the most renowned business districts in the region. Our multilingual, internationally trained and experienced lawyers have local know-how and are equipped to undertake the largest and most complex of legal matters.

With a comprehensive suite of on-the-ground, partner-led practice groups, we act for organisations across the full spectrum of businesses and across a wide range of sectors, including government and quasi-government entities. Our externally recognised teams have acted on some of the most prestigious projects in Dubai and the wider region.

Our Dubai based lawyers deliver responsive, cost effective and commercially focused advice across many practice areas, including:

• real estate development
• projects and finance
• restructuring
• litigation
• energy, utilities and resources (including oil and gas)
• hotels and leisure
• corporate and commercial (including M&A, private equity and capital markets)
• finance (including Islamic Finance)
• regulatory
• sports and entertainment
• media and broadcasting
• employment
• IT and IP
• telecoms

Our services

We provide legal services to our sophisticated base of local and international clients across the full spectrum of industry whether it involves transport, telecommunications, media, intellectual property, capital markets, construction, employment, life sciences, government, social infrastructure (including utilities, rail, roads, airports, power, water and gas) and natural resources mining.

Through our depth of resources in Dubai, the wider Middle East and our global practice, we can assist our clients with their strategic and operational business needs any time, anywhere.

Examples of our experience

• Advised Dnata World Travel, a member of the Emirates Group, on its multi-jurisdictional acquisition of a stake in MindPearl Group, a call centre operator.
• Advised Delta Partners on its investment into Vox Spectrum Limited, a BVI company with operations in the UAE, KSA and India.
• Acted for a leading Dubai-based private equity group in the proposed purchase of the shareholding in a company which owns and operates a Dubai based hospital.
• Advised on corporate establishments and restructuring in the UAE.
• Advised P&O Maritime Services on the negotiation and preparation of the transaction documentation associated with its takeover of the maritime services operation from DP World.
• Advising developers, purchasers, sellers, lessors/lessees and financiers on many of the real estate developments in Dubai. These include The Lagoons (Sama Dubai); Tiara Resorts and Residences, Ottoman Palace, Porto Dubai, Bawadi etc (Zabeel Properties); Jumeirah Golf Estates (Leisurecorp); Dubai Festival City.
• Advising on the drafting and negotiation of all sale and purchase agreements, including development obligations, for the development of twenty-six towers in the UAE.
• Advising a Dubai-based master developer on the roll-out of a low cost hotel chain in Dubai and the Middle East region. Advising in connection with a number of hotel developments, including hotel management contracts for a hotel on Palm Jumeirah, a hotel on Palm Jumeirah Crescent and a major resort hotel in Bawadi, including advising on the impact of the Dubai Joint Ownership Decree.
• Acting on five civil cases in the UAE Courts and two international arbitrations in relation to breach of construction contracts and misappropriation of property.
• Retained by a global power manufacturer/developer to effectively "trouble shoot" in relation to claims arising on its projects in the Middle East and globally.
• Acting for an international textile manufacturer in respect of warranty and misrepresentation claims, subject to the Laws of Bahrain, under a share sale agreement in relation to the purchase of a company and its assets, in Bahrain.
• Representing a Scandinavian corporation in arbitration proceedings and related litigation in the UAE, US and UK concerning the ownership of three oil rigs valued in excess of US$300m.
• Acting for the investment arm of the UAE's pre-eminent financial free zone in litigation and arbitration proceedings with a Middle Eastern bank over the sale and purchase of numerous assets whose aggregate value exceeded US$600m.
• Representing the joint venture vehicle established by a pre-eminent Middle Eastern airline and a UK based hotel chain in relation to three related arbitrations before the Dubai International Arbitration Centre.
• Advising one of the Middle East's pre-eminent hotel chains in relation to an IT dispute with a US Corporation.
• Acting for a Middle Eastern state government in relation to the establishment of a unique legal and judicial framework (including the creation of a bespoke court structure and arbitration forum).
• Advised a department of the Dubai government in relation to the packaging and exploitation (including sale) of exclusive broadcasting rights to a series of events taking place outside the Middle East region.

Key contacts

Jim Delkousis Office Managing Partner, Dubai T +971 4 438 6333 M +971 50 459 8670 E

Abdul Aziz Al - Yaqout Regional Office Managing Partner T +965 2247 2317 M +965 6557 0805 E