Herbert Smith Freehills LLP > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP Offices

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE
GATE VILLAGE 7, LEVEL 4
DUBAI
United Arab Emirates
Visit website 971 4 428 6300 971 4 365 3171

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

United Arab Emirates > Construction Tier 2

A key port of call for contractors, governments, as well as developers, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP specialises in international construction arbitration, for which Nick Oury is a strong choice. The practice is also noted for its proficiency in energy, infrastructure, and urban regenerate scheme developments. Christopher Cross and Phil Hanson’s recent caseload encompasses activity in the energy, infrastructure, and power sectors. Sean Whitham specialises in infrastructure disputes, while Julian Grant is knowledgeable of residential and transport developments.

Practice head(s):

Nick Oury; Christopher Cross

Other key lawyers:

Phil Hanson; Sean Whitham; Julian Grant

Testimonials

‘HSF’s construction practice is highly skilled at finding practical solutions to problems that arise in negotiations and have a good base of local precedents to rely on.’

‘The team from HSF was a pleasure to work with. Calm under pressure and very measured in difficult circumstances.’

‘The team was able to understand the complex facts of the case and weave it into intricate legal arguments.’

‘A large firm with a prestigious brand and global footprint.’

‘A great team that understands that quality is the most important thing.’

‘Nick Oury is a go-to name for construction disputes. He is commercial in his approach and laser-sharp in his strategy.’

‘Nick Oury has an excellent command of the law and arbitration and combines this with a strong grasp of construction technical and commercial issues.’

Key clients

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Marubeni

Dussur

FCC Aqualia

Standard Chartered Bank

SMBC

EDF Renewables

Mitsubishi

Work highlights

United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: compliance and investigations Tier 2

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is frequently sought out by multinational corporates, regional and state-backed entities, and regulatory bodies for investigations and compliance advice and is particularly strong in financial crime matters. Team head Stuart Paterson covers the entire waterfront of investigatory mandates and is noted for his extensive cross-border practice, handling claims in Bahrain, Oman and Saudi Arabia as well as Asia and North Africa. Benjamin Hopps leverages his experience acting as head of employment for the firm to act on employee misconduct matters and also supports Paterson on the team’s most complex financial crime, asset tracing and money laundering claims. Janine Mallis is also noted.

Practice head(s):

Stuart Paterson

Other key lawyers:

Benjamin Hopps; Janine Mallis

Key clients

Al Ghurair Investment

Ernst & Young

United Arab Emirates > Oil, gas and natural resources Tier 2

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has a team of ‘real experts in upstream and downstream matters’, who are able to ‘understand all aspects of O&G projects’. Cross-border work is a key component of the firm’s portfolio, as it receives instructions involving regional states such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as countries in North Africa and Asia. Team lead Sarosh Mewawalla is the go-to for project finance expertise, frequently advising on Islamic finance structures. Co-head Nick Oury is ‘a real star of the market’ and is ‘known for his experience in oil and gas infrastructure disputes’. Fellow co-head Danila Logofet is equipped to act in joint venture and investment mandates.

Practice head(s):

Sarosh Mewawalla; Danila Logofet; Nick Oury

Testimonials

‘The O&G team at HSF are real experts in upstream and downstream matters. Their disputes team is particularly strong, with real market experts all around their network. They understand all aspects of O&G projects and are seen as extensions of the commercial team, with the ability to resolve claims and disputes quickly and efficiently.’

‘Nick Oury is well known for his experience in oil & gas infrastructure disputes. He is very easy to work with, and always goes the extra mile. A real star of the market.’

Key clients

PT Pertamina Rosneft Pengolahan dan Petrokimia

Chevron

Dragon Oil

Banque Saudi Fransi

Alinma Bank

China ZhenHua Oil Company

INPEX

Advanced Petrochemicals

CNPC Internationa

United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP acts for a host of large-cap sponsors, corporates and public sector bodies on complex, cross-border M&A and commercial mandates, increasingly engaging with a wealth of instructions originating from Saudi Arabia. Chris Walters is an experienced practitioner, who is particularly noted for his work in the energy, infrastructure and TMT sectors, often acting as investor-side counsel. Anna Szynlder is well positioned to advise private equity outfits and sovereign wealth groups on transactions across the region. Andrew El-Khoury is a key supporting presence on a number of practice mandates.

Practice head(s):

Chris Walters

Other key lawyers:

Anna Szyndler; Andrew El-Khoury

Testimonials

‘The team is substantially experienced in all areas of any M&A deal pertaining to all industries possible. They can easily handle legal, business and finance related topics with their various practice areas.’

‘The individuals we worked with have substantial knowledge and information in various practice areas. They are always available, around the clock, even on holidays and weekends. They showed high standards of professionalism, values and communication.’

Key clients

Emirates Telecommunications Corporation

Uber Technologies

Egis S.A.

Marubeni Global Pharma

Provis Real Estate Management

Khidmah

Saudi Railway Company

RWE Supply & Trading

Macnica

Marex Group

United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation Tier 3

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP advises on high-profile, complex, and precedent-setting disputes with the ‘underlying experience and ability to gain the competitive advantage and win cases’. The group’s construction, engineering and real estate expertise ensures it is sought out by numerous corporates and governmental bodies, but the team is also active in TMT, consumer, leisure and retail, and financial and professional services work. One of the ‘sharpest, smartest, and most innovative litigators around’, Stuart Paterson co-leads the practice alongside construction specialist Nick Oury, with both individuals wielding an impressive international reach. Of counsel Sean Whitham, senior associate Janine Mallis, and of counsel Benjamin Hopps are also key names to note.  

Practice head(s):

Stuart Paterson; Nick Oury

Other key lawyers:

Sean Whitham; Benjamin Hopps; Janine Mallis

Testimonials

‘Stuart Paterson is so down to earth and very approachable. He thinks outside the box.’

‘HSF is a leading law firm in the Middle East region and for good reason. They have built an international practice that understands local regional laws and nuances involved in litigating and investigating. Their team in Dubai is highly responsive, intelligent, diligent and fun to work with.’

‘Stuart Paterson is not only the managing partner for HSF in the Middle East but also one of the sharpest, smartest, and most innovative litigators around. He has built a strong team that addresses clients needs and guides them through troubled waters.’

‘Janine Mallis is a senior associate at HSF and one of the most diligent lawyers around. She understands local law as well as cross-border jurisdictional nuances. She is always available and her attention to detail is second to none.’

‘HSF’s global reputation as a disputes firm is very much apparent in their Middle East team. They have the underlying experience and ability to gain the competitive advantage and win cases, but always with effectiveness and resolving disputes efficiently.’

‘Nick Oury has become a prominent name in the market in recent years. He is very personable, responsive and reliable.’

‘Stuart Paterson is peerless in the skill with which he brings to both arbitration and DIFC litigation. He is ably assisted by Benjamin Hopps, who quietly gets on with whatever is required to achieve the best outcome for his client.’

Key clients

A Ghurair Investment

ENGIE

Emaar

Ernst & Young

Sumitomo Corporation

Tihama Power Generation Company Ltd

United Arab Emirates > Employment Tier 4

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has a strong record in contentious employment claims before the DIFC, as well as various other courts in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. On the non-contentious side, the practice excels in employee transfers and terminations, service gratuity and bonus schemes, as well as travel bans and visa cancellations. Stuart Paterson specialises in the energy and financial service sectors and is often engaged in corporate crime, investigations, and regulatory matters. Benjamin Hopps handles M&A transactions and senior employee exit strategies, while Janine Mallis is proficient in restrictive covenants and whistleblowing protections.

Practice head(s):

Stuart Paterson; Benjamin Hopps

Other key lawyers:

Janine Mallis

Key clients

Toll Global Forwarding

Fieldcore Services

Oliver Wyman

Mizuho Gulf Capital Partners

Jefferies

Mizuho Gulf Capital Partners

Work highlights

United Arab Emirates > Infrastructure and projects (including project finance)

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is well-positioned to act on both conventional and renewable energy and hard infrastructure projects, with strong activity in Saudi Arabia. Sarosh Mewawalla and Christopher Cross co-lead the practice.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP > Firm Profile

Herbert Smith Freehills is a leading global law firm with over 5,000 people, including 2,600 lawyers, in 24 offices across Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and the US.

As one of the world’s leading law firms, we advise many of the biggest and most ambitious organisations across all major regions of the globe. Our clients trust us with their most important transactions, disputes and projects because of our ability to cut through complexity and mitigate risk. We offer local insight and seamless cross-border service in all major regions. Positioned to support the major trade flows, we help the world’s top companies thrive in the global economy.

Seven of our 24 global offices are located in Europe including offices in Belfast, Brussels, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Madrid, Milan and Paris. A pre-eminent and recognised firm in litigation, arbitration, contentious regulatory work, public and private M&A, private equity, capital markets, infrastructure, dispute resolution, real estate, restructuring and insolvency, PPP, energy, ESG and banking and finance; we have advised on European transactions for over 50 years and today our multidisciplinary teams act for international clients conducting business across Europe and the rest of the world. Herbert Smith Freehills is now a top 20 firm in Continental Europe by lawyer headcount.

We work with domestic and international investors, governments, financial institutions and asset managers as well as IBEX 35 companies and a large number of CAC 40 and SBF 120 companies. With a major focus on cross-border work we operate seamlessly within our global network partnering with our clients to gain an in-depth understanding of their environment to provide our clients with the highest level of service.

Our EU law experts have handled a large number of cases in the EU courts and guide clients through the EU’s legislative and administrative processes. Our teams have an excellent understanding of the workings of the EU, drawing on the experience of former secondees, officials and judges at the European Commission and EU courts. Our Brussels office is also the hub of our global International Trade/WTO practice, acting on disputes under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and advising on market access strategies, sanctions, export controls and trade remedy matters.

Herbert Smith Freehills is the largest fully integrated law firm in Asia Pacific and is one of the world’s top ranked and most experienced energy & resources firms; a globally pre-eminent and recognised firm in litigation, arbitration and contentious regulatory work; and an international leader in M&A, private equity, capital markets, infrastructure and banking and finance.

Visit our website to read more about our vision, our determination to drive diversity, inclusion and responsible business, and our ambition to redefine legal services for the digital-first age.