Watson Farley & Williams

Alastair has over 20 years of experience advising clients throughout the Middle East on private and public M&A, equity capital markets, private equity and joint ventures. He advises on the acquisition, disposal and restructuring of assets in the UAE and Middle East region, as well as on day-to-day business matters, particularly commercial contracts and corporate governance. His clients, which include multinational corporations, high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses, also benefit from his sector expertise in energy and infrastructure, maritime, leisure, hospitality and retail, manufacturing, healthcare, education and financial services. Alastair has worked in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as Frankfurt and, during his long career working in international law firms, he has acted on a variety of landmark transactions including the acquisition of Stoll Moss Theatres by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group, Blackstone’s acquisition of Legoland and Merlin Entertainments, and Morrisons’ takeover of Safeway. Alastair is ranked by Chambers & Partners for his expertise in corporate and commercial contracts work. Work highlights Advising Abu Dhabi Ship Building on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters. Advising Edilizi Acrobatica on its acquisition of Enigma (specialised company responsible for cleaning the Burj Khalifa). Advising a Saudi conglomerate on its joint venture with an Aramco JV. Advising an Omani sovereign wealth fund on multiple investments in UAE schools. Advising Etihad Rail in relation to the operational phase of the Etihad Rail Project.

Charlotte Bijlani

Charlotte is an experienced dispute resolution lawyer with full rights of audience before both the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts and the higher courts of England and Wales. Charlotte’s practice extends to litigation, international arbitration, expert determination and mediation, as well as advisory work on litigation risk and avoidance. She regularly acts for employers, contractors and funders in construction and engineering disputes across the Middle East, as well as major corporates, developers, investors, financial institutions and high net worth individuals in all types of contentious matters both regionally and in the UK. Charlotte is recognised as a leading dispute resolution and international arbitration lawyer in the UAE by The Legal 500 EMEA describing her as a “superb litigator”, an “outstanding operator”, “strategically-minded” and says that she provides “an unrivalled combination of dedication and shrewdness”.

Emily Widdrington

Emily specialises in shipping finance with over 12 years�� experience advising and acting for banks and ship owners on loan and security documentation. Her experience ranges from advising on high-value ECA-backed financings to loan agreements involving sustainability-linked margin adjustments. She was named a ‘Key Lawyer’ in the Transport Finance and Leasing category by Legal 500. Emily joined Watson Farley & Williams in 2008 and qualified into the Asset Finance group in London in 2010. Since joining she has spent time in the firm’s Singapore, Paris and London offices and has been on two client secondments, the first with an international bank in Norway and the second with a ship owner in Geneva.

Khalid Hamed

Khalid has over 30 years’ experience advising multinational shipping, financial, insurance, manufacturing and trading companies throughout the Middle East. He specialises in marine and non-marine insurance coverage disputes before the UAE local courts, particularly for hull and machinery and mariner cargo insurers. His practice involves advising on disputes involving maritime, yacht, property, energy, trade credit and political risks and financial lines insurances. He also advises on non-marine insurance policy disputes, including construction and engineering matters, before all courts in the UAE and across the Middle East. More broadly, his expertise extends to assisting shipping and corporate clients on commercial, maritime, civil, corporate, investment, employment, criminal and intellectual property cases.

Natalie Jensen

Natalie specialises in contentious and non-contentious matters in the shipping, international trade and energy sectors. She advises a broad range of global clients who span the full range of actors across the maritime industry. This includes advising shipowners, charterers, their insurers and P&I Clubs in connection with charterparty, bill of lading and contractual disputes, as well as disputes arising out of collisions and allisions, to name just some of the areas of her diverse and busy practice. One of Natalie’s core specialisms is in relation to bunkers quality disputes, on which she regularly advises and represents clients in both UK and Singapore-based arbitrations. Her reputation in the market means that she regularly speaks at industry fora on issues affecting the bunkers industry. Natalie regularly provides sanctions advice to multiple clients in the fast-evolving global regulatory landscape. Natalie’s practice is enhanced by her early career experience in the Freight Defence & Demurrage department of an International Group P&I Association, which enables her to provide unique commercial insight to clients on maritime insurance and P&I matters. Natalie has extensive experience in English arbitrations and High Court proceedings, as well as DIFC and UAE onshore litigation. Natalie is ranked by Chambers & Partners and recognised by Legal 500 as a Key Lawyer in Shipping, Insurance and Dispute Resolution. She is one of only a few lawyers to be twice honoured as a ’20 Under 40 Leader of Tomorrow’ by SeaTrade Maritime Middle East, affirming her reputation as a talented lawyer who paves the way for industry change. She is described by Chambers and Legal 500 as “…an exceptional younger lawyer. She understands client requirements and comes highly recommended”; “…on the ball and is very knowledgeable about the industry and practices”; “…responsive, helpful and thorough in how she responds to requests, prompt in delivering feedback and gives high-level responses quickly”. The leading directories also describe her as having “…developed a speciality in bunker disputes in the UAE”; “…a growing reputation in the market [and] is increasingly to be seen leading…standout work”; and she “…understands her clients’ needs exceptionally well and has a drive to bring matters forward in a very efficient manner”.

Rita Al Semaani Jansen

Rita is a highly experienced corporate and commercial law specialist with experience in the UAE and wider MENA region. She advises clients on corporate and commercial law including in relation to national and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring and franchising.

Legal 500

Our Team

FAQs

Marketing Resources

Newsletters

Contact us