Bird & Bird > Dubai, United Arab Emirates > Firm Profile
Bird & Bird Offices
LEVEL 14, BURJ DAMAN
DUBAI INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE
PO BOX 507110
United Arab Emirates
Bird & Bird > The Legal 500 Rankings
United Arab Emirates > Intellectual property Tier 2
Praised for its ‘practical and commercially insightful advice’, Bird & Bird maintains a strong IP offering, encompassing expertise in trade secrets, product design, data privacy and trademarks. The team is additionally well placed to assist with a range of strategic work connected to the management of IP portfolios. ‘Standout partner’ Melissa Murray spearheads the practice and is highlighted for her ‘real expertise, network and client management’. Sahar Tarhini regularly advises clients on brand protection mandates and global brand clearance strategies.Practice head(s):
Melissa Murray
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team is very responsive, forthcoming with information, and very adept at helping us through our decision making process.’
‘Responsive, sensitive to client needs, and able to quickly understand client needs and tailor advice and strategy to those needs.’
‘The firm gives practical and commercially insightful advice.’
‘Their standout attribute is the real depth of knowledge across the IP practice, where they can also leverage support from foreign offices to provide us with global brand coverage. I will regularly call on Birds’ other offices in order to get insights or advice without needing to go to another firm.’
‘Melissa Murray is a standout partner with real expertise, network, and client management.’
‘Sahar Tarhini is a rising junior within the team who should be one to watch in the future both for the practicality of her advice and her meticulous attention to detail and client management.’
‘Melissa Murray stands out from other attorneys that we work with. She thinks of things that we in the business haven’t even thought of. ’
Key clients
The Grooming Company
Circle K Procurement and Brands Limited
Papa John’s
TGI Friday’s
The Social Gaming Group
Butlers Chocolate Cafe
Work highlights
- Assisting The Grooming Company and its various brands on its continued expansion into Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Oman by advising on the licensing of its IP.
United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Financial services regulation Tier 3
Bird & Bird has notable strength in digital assets, cryptocurrency, and blockchain, where it is sought out by fintech clients. The team also advises sovereign and government-backed asset management funds on high-stakes financial matters and also assists clients with navigating regulations. Practice head Gregory Man has been active in instructions pertaining to e-wallet and mobile payments, cross-border token transfers, and the development of secondary trading platforms - among others work. Associate Jessica White is also noted.Practice head(s):
Gregory Man
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Florin Court Capital
Dubai Cultiv8
United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3
Bird & Bird is regularly entrusted by public and private bodies and government entities on some of the largest developments and projects in the region, utilising formidable commercial capabilities to act on a range of contractual, regulatory, compliance and technological instructions - among others. On the corporate side, the firm has a strong track record in M&A, corporate restructuring, and joint ventures. The practice is jointly led by Anders Nilsson, who handles the corporate side, and Melissa Murray, who oversees commercial matters. Both partners have considerable market experience and act for a range of premium domestic and international clients. Senior associate Surabhi Singhi is another figure of note, and supported on a range of departmental mandates.Practice head(s):
Anders Nilsson; Melissa Murray
Other key lawyers:
Surabhi Singhi; Johannes Eisser
Key clients
NEOM Company
Florin Court Capital
ATPI Limited
Dubai Cultiv8
The Grooming Company
Work highlights
- Assisted DeNa Co. (through Mori Hamada & Matsumoto) on its proposed acquisition of 50% of the voting shares of Allm Inc.
- Advised NEOM Company in relation to the development of the NEOM Media Village Studios and Bajdah Desert Studios.
United Arab Emirates > Dispute resolution: arbitration and international litigation Tier 3
Bird & Bird's wide-ranging practice covers the full gamut of litigation and arbitration work, with specific expertise in the energy, manufacturing and technology sectors, and strong engagement with complex fraud investigations. The group acts for a strong roster of clients including multinationals, government and public bodies - both domestic and foreign. Lucas Pitts is chiefly recognised for handling aviation, finance and fraud matters, and has a wealth of experience acting across the ADGM and DIFC courts as well as the DIAC. Senior associate Yannick Hefti provides support on international litigation, arbitration and investigations.Practice head(s):
Lucas Pitts
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Excellent team dedicated to the client’s interests.’
‘Very skilled professionals, always anticipating the client’s needs.’
Key clients
Stormharbour Securities LP
Sheikh Alesayi Will Establishment
Work highlights
- Advising Sheikh Alesayi’s Will Establishment on high-value matter in respect of attempts by a guardian of the Will Establishment to dissipate assets in breach of fiduciary duty
United Arab Emirates > TMT Tier 3
Bird & Bird continue to maintain its reputable contentious and non-contentious TMT offering in the UAE, with areas such as media, telecoms, data privacy, fintech and cybersecurity considered key areas of expertise. The team has a strong reputation for privacy and data protection work, regularly providing tailored advice concerning data retention, international data transfers, policy drafting and data protection compliance. Data privacy is also a specialism for associate Nootash Keyhani, as well as technology and digital transformation. David Bintliff left the firm at the end of 2023.Other key lawyers:
Key clients
DXC Technology Limited
NEOM Company – Media Village and Film Studios
International Cricket Council
Monster Energy
Tonomus
Work highlights
- Advised NEOM Company in relation to the development of the NEOM Media Village Studios and Bajdah Desert Studios, which together comprise the Middle East region’s largest sound stages and film production support facilities
- Advising Tonomus (NEOM’s Tech and Digital Company) on a wide range of cutting-edge technology procurement matters, including unmanned arial vehicles, artificial intelligence, data analytics, connectivity, and advanced healthcare systems.
United Arab Emirates > Employment Tier 4
Praised for its ‘specialised knowledge of labour law matters across several jurisdictions’, Bird & Bird handles employment contracts, investigations, exits and transfers. Johannes Eisser oversees the team, his recent caseload featuring a number of employee terminations, while Surabhi Singhi is knowledgeable of post-termination restrictions and obligations.Practice head(s):
Johannes Eisser
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Johannes Eisser stands out for his deep knowledge of the law and his communication skills.’
‘The Bird & Bird UAE Eemmployment team stands out through its specialized knowledge of labor law matters across several jurisdictions.’
‘The lawyers working with us have an excellent grasp of the issues and where and how to find the appropriate solutions for clients.’
‘B&B always make it easy for us to work with them as one team for the sole benefit of the mutual clients.’
‘Bird & Bird are a great firm.’
Key clients
Rackspace Limited
Florin Court Capital
ATPI Travel LLC
Jebel Ali School
Work highlights
United Arab Emirates > Banking and finance: Corporate finance (including Islamic lending) Tier 5
Widely praised for their ‘remarkable experience’, ‘dedication to excellence‘ and ‘client-centered approach’, Bird & Bird acts on complex financing deals that are often first-of-their-kind for the respective jurisdiction and client, including a wide range of Islamic financings. Financial regulatory expertise is fully integrated into the team, allowing the experienced practitioners to advise across all aspects of multi-layered transactions, routinely cross-border. Gregory Man has ‘profound knowledge of the field’ and provides ‘meticulous attention to detail’, active across project finance, asset finance, securitisation and structured projects – amongst others. Jessica White, who joined from A&O Shearman in October 2022, has been highly active on a range of matters, often working closely with a number of top domestic banks and financial services providers.Practice head(s):
Gregory Man
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The firm provides an exceptional quality to their work. Their profound understanding of the field and unwavering commitment to detail proved to be instrumental in the development of one of the most outstanding transaction documents I’ve ever encountered.’
‘What truly sets the firm apart from many other firms is their steadfast refusal to take shortcuts merely to adhere to budget constraints. Instead, they consistently prioritised our interests as their clients, which translated into an agreement meticulously tailored to our specific deal. No stone was left unturned, and no detail was left unresolved.’
In essence, working with the firm was a remarkable experience that showcased their dedication to excellence and their client-centered approach. Their willingness to go the extra mile and their relentless pursuit of perfection resulted in a transaction document that not only met but exceeded our expectations. In a world where cutting corners is all too common, they stand out as a beacon of integrity and commitment to delivering top-tier legal services.’
‘The success of our project owed much to the exceptional qualities of Gregory Man, whose profound knowledge of the field, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering dedication to both his work and his clients were truly outstanding. Greg’s presence was invaluable throughout our journey, and he consistently demonstrated a remarkable depth of expertise, ensuring no detail went unexamined.’
‘What sets Greg apart is his unique ability to balance our objectives and financial considerations. He navigated negotiations with a constructive and astute approach, always achieving our goals while safeguarding our positions. Greg’s negotiation style, which manages to satisfy both our interests and still keep the counterparty happy, is nothing short of a paradoxical feat.’
‘One particularly commendable aspect of working with Greg is his commitment to clarity and conciseness. He doesn’t engage in needless back-and-forths solely to increase billing hours. Instead, he navigates negotiations with a clear and concise communication style, effectively conveying our positions without getting bogged down in disputes with opposing counsel.’
‘Greg’s exceptional knowledge, attention to detail, dedication, and adept negotiation skills made our collaboration not only highly productive but also a pleasure. He consistently delivered results while maintaining a collaborative and client-focused approach. Working with Greg exemplifies the type of legal partnership that not only achieves its goals but also does so with transparency, efficiency, and a keen eye on the client’s best interests.’
Key clients
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector
Job and Talent
Florin Court Capital
Dubai Cultiv8
IRC Restructuring DMCC
Work highlights
- Assisting the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (the ICD) on the first ever sukuk transaction listed on the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange.
- Advising Job and Talent in relation to the further development of their securitisation programme.
Bird & Bird > Firm Profile
The firm: Bird & Bird is an international law firm, with a long-established reputation for having a rare and invaluable grasp of strategic commercial issues. The firm combines exceptional legal expertise with deep industry knowledge and refreshingly creative thinking, to help clients operating at the forefront of their industries to achieve their commercial goals.
The local team has an in-depth understanding of the laws, business practices and customs of the region, and its core industries. Through its offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, our full-service UAE practice provides innovative corporate and commercial advice to local, regional and international clients in all areas of business law, with a focus on sectors and industries that are important to the development of the region..
Areas of practice: In the UAE, the firm focuses on the following key sectors:
Aerospace, defence and security: providing advice on all elements of ADS including on systems integration, defence contracting and procurement, international co-operation and competition, corporate, partnering, alliances and strategic partnerships, PFI, equipment leasing and receivables financing, technology, export control and customs, IPR, risk allocation, employment and immigration.
Aviation: advising airlines, lessors, financiers, aircraft manufacturers, groundhandlers, airports, MROs, freight forwarders, insurers, tour operators and travel agents around the world. It provides advice on aircraft sale and purchase, aircraft finance and leasing, dispute resolution, aviation commercial agreements, and aviation competition and regulation.
Education: advising schools, examination boards, professional training bodies and universities on franchising, licences, joint ventures, strategic alliances, co-operation and management agreements.
Fashion and retail: advising clients on trade marks and intellectual property, franchising, licensing, distribution, agency, and multi-channel and hybrid structures.
Food and beverage: advising on a full range of areas, including branding, labelling, health claims, fair trade and patents on novel foods.
Life sciences and healthcare: its focus on e-health projects, strategic partnerships, outsourcing and large-scale IT is complemented by the e-commerce, data protection compliance and regulatory work that it undertakes for clients.
Hospitality and tourism: advising major stakeholders in the hotels and leisure industry, across a wide range of transactions including acquisitions and disposals, operating leases, management and franchise agreements, and brand management, among others.
Real estate: advising clients on REITs and infrastructure, real estate development and financing, hotel acquisitions, operations and franchising, strata ownership, retail leasing, mall development and management, joint ventures, and commercial agencies.
Media and entertainment: advising clients from across the media spectrum on a wide range of issues, including exploitation across all forms of digital media, such as user-generated content exploitation.
Sports: advising national and international sports governing bodies, event organisers and sponsors on issues including exploitation of commercial rights, brand management, regulatory and disciplinary issues.
Technology and communications: advising on matters ranging from smaller innovative projects to the largest and most complex transactions of recent years. It advises clients on agile development methodologies, big data, cloud services, cyber and IT security, M2M, smart metering, mobile payments and apps, next generation genomics, open source and open data, robotics and software patentability, spectrum auctions, sharing and trading, and 3D printing.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Managing partner | Anders Nilsson | ||
Head of Commercial, corporate and M&A | Anders Nilsson | ||
Restructuring and insolvency | Anders Nilsson | ||
Head of Intellectual Property | Melissa Murray | ||
Franchising, licensing and multi-channel strategies | Melissa Murray | ||
Commercial | Melissa Murray | ||
Regulatory and administrative (public) | Melissa Murray | ||
Public sector | Melissa Murray | ||
Technology and cybersecurity | Simon Shooter | ||
Privacy and data protection | Simon Shooter | ||
Head of Commercial | Simon Shooter | ||
Head of Employment | Johannes Eisser | ||
Commercial, corporate and M&A | Johannes Eisser | ||
Head of Dispute Resolution | Lucas Pitts | ||
Head of Banking and finance (including Islamic finance) | Gregory Man |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Kimia Kalantarian | Kimia is an Associate in the firm’s Litigation department and advises clients… | View Profile | |
Mr Gregory Man | Greg is the head of our Finance & Financial Regulation team in… | View Profile | |
Ms Melissa Murray | Melissa is the head of the Intellectual Property Group for the Middle… | View Profile | |
Ms Renée Nugent | Renee is a Legal Director in the Intellectual Property Group based in… | View Profile | |
Mr Lucas Pitts | Lucas heads the Dispute Resolution Group for the Middle East and is… | View Profile | |
Ms Surabhi Singhi | Surabhi is a senior associate in our Corporate Group (including Employment), based… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of lawyers : 1,600 at this office : 20Languages
Arabic English Finnish French Hindi Italian Malayalam Swedish German South AfricanOther
Other offices : Abu Dhabi Other offices : Amsterdam Other offices : Beijing Other offices : Bratislava Other offices : Brussels Other offices : Budapest Other offices : Copenhagen Other offices : Dusseldorf Other offices : Frankfurt Other offices : Hamburg Other offices : Helsinki Other offices : Hong Kong Other offices : London Other offices : Luxembourg Other offices : Lyon Other offices : Madrid Other offices : Milan Other offices : Munich Other offices : Paris Other offices : Prague Other offices : Rome Other offices : Shanghai Other offices : Singapore Other offices : Stockholm Other offices : Sydney Other offices : The Hague Other offices : WarsawComparative Guides
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United Kingdom: Employment and Labour Law
Published: March 2024
Authors: Alison DixonAnish PathakOlivia Baxendale
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Employment and Labour laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.
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Germany: Franchise & Licensing
Published: October 2023
Authors: Dr. Jiri Jaeger Jie Zhang Michael Brooks-Zavodsky
This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Franchise & Licensing laws and regulations applicable in Germany.
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United Kingdom: Pharmaceutical Advertising
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This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Pharmaceutical Advertising laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.
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United Kingdom: Venture Capital
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This country-specific Q&A provides an overview of Venture Capital laws and regulations applicable in United Kingdom.