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Leila Drissi
Of Counsel
Leila Drissi is of counsel in our Abu Dhabi office.
Her practice covers corporate and commercial work, including company formation, joint ventures, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, disposals, corporate reorganisations and commercial matters, in a diverse range of industries and sectors in the Middle East. Leila regularly advises clients on the regulatory framework of the Dubai International Financial Centre, the Abu Dhabi Global Market and mainland UAE.
Leila represents multinational, regional and local companies, as well as sovereign wealth funds and family offices and has been in the region for over ten years. Leila was ranked in 2024 by IFLR as a rising star in M&A and corporate matters.
- Advised Taaleem Education PJSC on the acquisition of Lycée Libanais Francophone Privé Meydan in the UAE.
- Advised Stella Investments on the sale of Al Ain English Speaking School in the UAE.
- Advised Axiom Telecom on the sale of its distribution business to Tradeling.
- Advised NOMD Holdings on the sale of MachinesTalk, the leading IoT provider in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to IoT Squared.
- Advised NOMD Holdings on the merger between its subsidiary Basserah and NYBL Holding.
- Advised e& on its joint venture with ADQ and acquisition of a majority stake in Starzplay Arabia.
- Advised e& on its acquisition of the DFS e-wallet platform from Dubai Islamic Bank.
- Advised the Enera Group on its logistics joint venture with Abu Dhabi Ports Group to establish a leading logistics and import/export hub in Uzbekistan.
- Advised two large investment companies on their joint venture with Ellington Properties to develop multiple real estate projects in the UAE.
- Advised X-Elio, a global leader in the renewable energy sector, on the establishment of its joint venture with Dutco Group.
- Advised a GCC sovereign on its multibillion-dollar joint venture with Wynn Resorts to establish the region’s first integrated hotel and gaming resort.
- Advised Airport Dimension on its acquisition of Onground Hospitality, a UAE-based business.
- Advised One Foods on the creation of a suite of commercial contracts, including customs clearance, transportation and warehousing.
- Advised EDGE on the creation of a suite of commercial contracts, including distribution, technical assistance, manufacturing and IP agreements.
- Advising HTMLon the establishment of an investment fund and related entities in the DIFC.
- Advising on the establishment of regulated and non-regulated entities in the DIFC and the ADGM.
Education
- Ecole de Formation professionnelle des Barreaux de la Cour d'Appel de Paris, CAPA, C.A.P.A., 2010
- Panthéon Sorbonne-Paris I, Maîtrise en Droit des affaires, B.A., Bachelor in Business Law, 2007
- ESCP Europe, Diplôme Grande Ecole (Masters in Management), 2007
Admissions
- Paris, 2011
Memberships & Affiliations
- Ordre des Avocats de Paris (Paris Bar Association)
Languages
- English
- French
- Arabic
- Ordre des Avocats de Paris (Paris Bar Association)
- French Business Council Dubai and Northern Emirates