Middle East
Freshfields in the Middle East
The Middle East presents a mix of opportunities and challenges for international businesses. With over 40 years’ experience in the region, we are well-placed to provide our clients with the most comprehensive strategic advice.
The firm is well established as one of the most significant global legal practices in the Middle East and North Africa, with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain. We work in Riyadh in association with The Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan LLC that has offices in Jeddah and Al Khobar.
We have over 50 lawyers operating in the region, many of them bilingual English/Arabic speakers. By partnering with local law firms across the Middle East, we can support our clients wherever and whenever they need us.
Client successes
Advising First Gulf Bank on its merger with National Bank of Abu Dhabi, creating the largest bank in the MENA region with $183bn of assets and a combined market capitalisation of approximately $30.9bn.
Advising Tunisie Telecom on its acquisition of, and acquisition financing relating to, a 65.4 per cent in GO, Malta’s first quadruple play operator and a leading provider of telecommunications services in the country.
Advising a leading global technology company in connection with a dispute under distribution agreements with a Middle Eastern distributor.
Representing Beijing Urban Construction Group in ICSID proceedings against the Government of Yemen in connection with a dispute arising out of a contract for the construction of a new terminal at Sana’a international airport.
Advising a consortium of oil and gas companies in connection with London Court of International Arbitration proceedings and related court proceedings against the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq arising out of an agreement for the development oil and gas fields in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
Advising Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic on their joint acquisition of, and the acquisition financing relating to, a 49 per cent stake in UAE-based Network International, the leading payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa.
Advising Boubyan Petrochemical Company, as a joint venture partner in EQUATE Petrochemical Company, on the c.$3bn acquisition of UAE-based MEGlobal.
Advising the Abraaj Group and TPG Capital on their investment in Kudu, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest restaurant groups.
Advising Ajinomoto, Japan’s largest food company, on its +$530m acquisition by way of auction of a 33.33 per cent interest in Promasidor, a major seasonings and processed foods manufacturer that conducts business in 36 countries across Africa.
Our team
Pervez Akhtar Partner
Dubai
Michael Hilton Partner
Abu Dhabi
Fares Al-Hejailan Partner
Riyadh
Sami Tannous Partner
Dubai
Kim Rosenberg Partner
Dubai, London
