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Leigh Heron

Associate
Dubai
About

Leigh is an Associate in the Finance group of DLA Piper's Dubai office.

She has experience advising both borrowers and lenders on a broad range of syndicated and bilateral cross-border financing transactions, as well as supporting clients on complex debt restructuring matters across the Middle East and Scotland.

Areas of FocusFinance
Professional QualificationsAdmitted as a Solicitor with the Law Society of Scotland
Education
  • The University of Glasgow, Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, 2023
  • The University of Glasgow, Scots Law LLB, BA (Hons), 2022 – First Class Honours

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising a UAE-based multinational food and manufacturing group on contingency planning, emergency financing arrangements and the restructuring of its existing debt facilities as part of a broader cross-border balance sheet restructuring across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
  • Advising Abu Dhabi Terminals on the refinancing and subordination of its AED 1.43 billion term and revolving credit facilities.
  • Advising a bidder in the acquisition of a USD 800 million non-performing loan portfolio from First Abu Dhabi Bank, comprising borrower groups across the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.
  • Advising the joint trustees of Emirates Hospitals Group on the structuring of new money facilities and implementation of the restructuring plan associated with the first major court-approved restructuring under the UAE Bankruptcy Law.
  • Advising an India-incorporated borrower on the negotiation and execution of various bilateral and syndicated cross-border financing transactions.
  • Acting as UAE counsel on cross-border financing transactions involving the US, UK, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and other jurisdictions, including advising on UAE security arrangements, perfection and corporate authority requirements.
  • Advising lenders on the financing of a major Saudi Arabian wind power project, involving a complex multi-jurisdictional sponsor, contractor and project company structure across the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
  • Advising African Export-Import Bank in connection with a USD 500 million financing transaction to a UAE-based borrower involving UAE security arrangements and cross-border collateral structures.
Languages
  • English

Connect

Phone

+971 4 4386 132
(Work, Dubai)
+971588574890
(Mobile)
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