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Chrissy Vassiliou

Senior Associate
Dubai
About

Chrissy Vassiliou is a Senior Associate in the Finance team of DLA Piper's Dubai office.

With over ten years’ experience, Chrissy advises on a broad spectrum of conventional and Islamic, syndicated and bilateral cross-border financing transactions, as well as debt restructuring and legislative matters.

She advises financial institutions, multinational corporations, and government entities on complex finance projects across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Chrissy has significant experience acting for both sponsors and finance providers on a wide range of financings, including leveraged, PE/sponsor and acquisition finance, corporate finance, real estate finance, project finance, and Islamic finance. Her background includes working in-house at a bank on secondment and at leading international law firms in London, which has given her a practical and commercial approach to client matters.

Areas of FocusFinance
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

Chrissy continues to work on both conventional and Islamic financing transactions and debt restructuring matters. Her recent experience includes:

  • Advising HSBC Private Credit on a syndicated financing transaction in the technology sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Advising Pure Harvest Smart Farms, a UAE based agri tech company, on refinancing arrangements to support its expansion and operational development.
  • Advising Comfi, a UAE based fintech company, on venture debt financing matters relating to its growth stage capital requirements.
  • Advising on a USD 1.2 billion financing provided by Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. to support the buyout of a major Kazakh copper producer.
  • Advising Sharjah Environment Company LLC (Bee’ah) on a range of project financing matters.
  • Advising lenders on financing aspects of the Wynn Al Marjan Island integrated resort project in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
  • Advising EDGE Group on the structuring and execution of a cross‑border loan facility extended to a foreign government to support one of its national development programmes.
  • Advising GymNation on financing arrangements to support the acquisition of additional fitness centres.
  • Advising Mediclinic, a FTSE 100 healthcare company, in relation to various bilateral and syndicated facilities.
  • Acting for the creditors committee on the AHAB/Al Gosaibi financial restructuring plan and its implementation involving circa USD7bn in creditor claims.
  • Advising Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), on the creation of the Emirate’s virtual asset specific regulatory framework.
  • Assisting with various bilateral loans for corporate borrowers and with VC financing.
Languages
  • English
  • Greek

Pro Bono

Chrissy is deeply committed to pro bono and community‑impact work. She is actively involved in mentoring through the DLA Global Scholarships Programme and the Madrinha Trust, supporting university students with educational guidance, career development and ongoing mentorship. As a Trustee and committee member of the Madrinha Trust, Chrissy plays a central role in shaping its initiatives and previously spent a month in South Africa meeting partner charities and working directly with the students the Trust supports.

In addition to her mentoring work, Chrissy regularly undertakes pro bono legal matters and is an active member of the LAW ME network, helping to coordinate events and seminars across the region.

Education
  • BPP Law School, London Legal Practice Course – Distinction 2012
  • University of Warwick, Law & Business Studies (QD) 2011 - Class 1.1 BA (Hons)

Additional Information

  • Outside of work Chrissy plays an integral role in the charity Madrinha Trust, acting as a mentor and part of the EMC (Education Mentoring and Career team). Jan 2017 - present
  • Chrissy is part of the panel of the LAW ME network. She helps to organize various internal and external events and seminars. Jan 2024 - present
  • Chrissy is also a mentor for the DLA Global Scholarships Program. Aug 2024 - present
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Connect

Phone

+97 144386187
(Work, Dubai)
+97 1524399727
(Mobile, Dubai)