Capital Markets
We represent financial institutions, underwriters, issuers, financial advisers, dealers, arrangers and governments in all aspects of capital markets transactions. Our expertise includes initial public offerings (IPOs), rights offerings, private equity offerings and private placements, securities and financial regulatory issues, and fund transactions including sovereign wealth funds.
Construction
We advise on all aspects of construction projects and infrastructure development throughout the MENA region. Our clients range from government entities and private developers to EPC contractors, general contractors, specialty subcontractors and design professionals.
Corporate
We provide practical guidance and advice on corporate and commercial law throughout the MENA region:
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Corporate formation and maintenance – Throughout all of our MENA offices, we assist clients with company and branch formation, domestically and in free zones, and ongoing business needs, including corporate governance, compliance and employment needs.
- Joint ventures – Foreign ownership restrictions in many MENA jurisdictions often incline international clients toward a joint venture structure involving a local partner. We frequently assist in structuring and establishing collaborations involving traditional corporate joint ventures, partnerships, contractual joint ventures and other strategic alliances.
- Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) – We offer a full spectrum of M&A services from our professionals trained in global financial centers such as New York and London. We have extensive experience across MENA, advising on local and cross-border corporate transactions, for buyers and sellers of private and public companies, and for strategic and financial investors.
Global Regulations and Policy
For more than 50 years, sovereign nations and international companies confronting problems in world capitals have looked to us as a trusted adviser in achieving their strategic objectives when navigating various legislative systems and regulatory frameworks whether in Washington DC, Brussels or elsewhere. Owing to our skill and discretion, as well as our reputation for conducting public policy advocacy in compliance with applicable laws and ethics rules, we are recognized as one of the world’s most influential law firms.
Hospitality and Tourism
Our MENA hospitality team group combines the strengths of preeminent hospitality and leisure experts with experienced transactional lawyers. With a broad experience negotiating and managing the legal and business issues in project development plans, we support the full range of challenges and opportunities hotel owners and operators face. We are also heavily involved in the tourism sector and offer legal, regulatory and legislative advice to several prominent clients in MENA and around the world.
Islamic Finance
Our team can be your guide through transactions and financings that are compliant with Islamic law. This encompasses all forms of Islamic finance and investment structures, including murabaha, mudaraba, mu’ajjal, salaam, istis’na, ijara and ju’ala, and the issuance of sukuk. Our lawyers have served as counsel to a number of Shariah-compliant investment funds and capital providers for businesses controlled by such funds on a broad range of projects.
Real Estate
We provide the full range of real estate advice; including property acquisitions and dispositions, development and construction, litigation and dispute resolution, zoning and land use planning, financing, real estate investment trusts (REITs), commercial landlord/tenant matters, management and franchise agreements, restructuring, workouts, foreclosures, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights and transactional tax planning.
Sovereign and Other Institutional Investors
We offer astute advice for a myriad of investors, from family offices and high net worth individuals to sovereign wealth funds, pension funds and foundations. Our team represents institutional investors in investment types such as private fund investments and co-investments, real estate investments, global infrastructure investments, direct investments in debt and equity, global custodian and securities lending contracts, and investment management arrangements relating to equity securities, debt instruments, derivatives and commodities.
