Dentons

Ahmed El-Bayouk

Ahmed El-Bayouk is a senior associate in Dentons' Middle East Construction practice. He has a wealth of experience working on a wide range of high-value construction, development and infrastructure projects in both contentious and non-contentious capacities. Ahmed's experience spans a range of different sectors including energy, transport and infrastructure, and he has assisted clients in obtaining successful outcomes in numerous international disputes and projects of strategic and national significance. Ahmed combines his international training and experience with a strong knowledge of Middle Eastern legal systems (including UAE and Saudi law) to develop compelling legal arguments and assist clients in identifying region-specific commercial solutions. He has a fast-growing reputation for his tactical approach and commitment to obtaining the best possible outcome for clients. Ahmed has spent time working in-house and places a particular emphasis on understanding client needs and delivering commercial and practical solutions. Ahmed is qualified in England and Wales and is a Registered Practitioner (Part 1) in the DIFC Courts. He is a native English speaker who also speaks conversational Arabic.

Alex Roussos

Alex Roussos is the managing partner of Dentons' Dubai office, and co-head of the Middle East banking and finance practice. He has eighteen years' experience advising on debt, hybrid and equity-linked capital markets transactions. Alex's broad experience has seen him advising governments and government-related entities, all major investment banking clients and large corporate entities across the Middle East on matters including Medium Term Note, convertible bond, hybrid capital and Sukuk issuances, ESG issuances, consent solicitations and structured finance deals, as well as listings on local and international stock exchanges. Alex is also a leading practitioner in the field of regulatory capital and has acted on some of the most high profile deals in this space in the GCC. Alex is ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global 2022 for Capital Markets: Debt – United Arab Emirates, and "Highly Regarded" by IFLR1000 2022 for Capital Markets: Debt.

Ali Al Assaad

Ali Al Assaad is a legal manager in Dentons’ Dubai office. He is a member of the Corporate, Employment and Dispute Resolution practice groups and has more than 12 years of legal experience. Ali’s primary focus is in relation to employment advisory but specialises in advising on employment disputes before the local courts, conducting negotiations and reaching amicable settlements. His practice includes advising corporates on employment contracts, policies and various employment disputes. He also advises on real estate disputes, debts default, breach of contracts and abuse of rights. Ali has participated in drafting the DIFC Presidential Directive No. 4 of 2020 in respect of COVID-19 emergency employment measures, and the DMCC Employment Guidelines during the COVID-19 Precautionary Measures Period. Ali is trilingual (English, Arabic and French) and is therefore able to provide advice to a wide range of clients, based on his first-hand litigation before the local courts. He is also experienced in drafting and negotiating in both English and Arabic.

Alwyn Mathew

Alwyn Mathew is a legal consultant in the Corporate and Commercial practice in Dentons' Abu Dhabi office. He has extensive and in-depth experience in private practice at leading law firms in the UAE and in advising clients on legal aspects in corporate structuring/restructuring, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, liquidations, winding up, deregistration and local corporate regulatory issues. Alwyn has more than 10 years' experience working as a corporate and commercial lawyer, eight of which were spent in the UAE. His experience covers a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, including advice on general corporate and commercial matters with a focus on mergers and acquisitions from both buy-side and sell-side. He has advised on sales and acquisitions in a wide range of sectors including medical, financial services, infrastructure, FMCG, insurance, and oil and gas. Alwyn has also advised underwriters on UAE law aspects in relation to the listing of a social media networking app that was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. He regularly advises on shareholder disputes and corporate governance matters. Alwyn has previous projects and banking and finance experience in the UAE which involved advising a number of IPPs and IWPPs in the infrastructure sector. He has advised them on a variety of aspects including lender-related advice, procurer-related concerns, shareholder disputes, board-related matters and potential conflicts with operators, as well as with day-to-day matters. Alwyn's previous banking experience included working on high-profile insolvency and restructuring cases in the UAE. He also regularly advised entities practicing or seeking to practice licensed financial activities (being regulated by the Securities and Commodities Authority) in the UAE. Alwyn advises on regulatory matters and banking documentation, and provides legal opinions on a variety of financing matters (including project finance transactions), as well as valuable transactional and advisory services to a number of IWPP and IPP project clients. Alwyn works with teams in both the Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices.

Anna Terrizzi

Anna Terrizzi is a senior associate in Dentons' Corporate practice and has been with the firm since September 2007. During her time with the firm in London she was seconded to Royal Dutch Shell Plc. Anna is based in the firm's Dubai office where she advises on mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures as well as company establishments, restructurings and directors duties.

Annabel Vincent

Annabel Vincent is a senior associate in the Banking and Finance practice in Dentons' Dubai office. She has over ten years' of experience working on a on a wide range of banking and finance matters including advising clients, both local and international financiers and borrowers, on export credit supported finance, acquisition finance, contractor finance, corporate finance, Islamic finance, project finance, real estate finance and general banking and finance matters. In 2017 she completed a nine month secondment with HSBC Bank Middle East Limited in Dubai, assisting and supporting the export credit agency and specialised finance team on a number of key export credit supported financings of projects in the UAE.

Catherine Beckett

Catherine is a senior legal consultant in the UAE Corporate & Commercial team. She has experience in general corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, takeovers and corporate finance. Catherine has previously been recognised by Chambers Global, noting that she is an "excellent lawyer - she approaches things in a practical and commercial fashion and understands where [clients] are coming from".

David Slim

David Slim is a senior associate in the Compliance and Investigations practice in Dentons' Dubai office. He has nine years of experience working on a wide range of regulatory matters and investigations in the US, EU and Middle East. He is also a member of Dentons' International Trade and Regulatory groups. David assists multinational corporations and financial institutions on various cross-border regulatory proceedings, internal investigations and crisis management issues. He has advised clients from various sectors and industries on US sanctions, export controls and financial crime issues, including money laundering, financing terrorism, bribery and corruption. In addition, David has assisted clients in designing and implementing robust compliance procedures, retail conduct practices, risk mitigation strategies and screening solutions in response to US, UAE, DFSA and ADGM financial policies and international sanctions regimes. In particular, David has represented clients in enforcement actions by the US Department of Commerce and Treasury, as well as by the DFSA and the Central Bank of the UAE, into alleged violations of sanctions, export controls, anti-boycott, AML and CTF regulations. Prior to joining Dentons, David worked for US international law firms in Washington, DC and Dubai. He is trilingual and experienced in drafting and negotiating in English, Arabic and French.

David McGrory

David McGrory is a corporate lawyer with over 20 years of experience. He was previously Head of Venture Technology and Emerging Growth Companies for Dentons in the UK and joined the Middle East practice in October 2021. David sits on the global leadership team for Venture Technology and Emerging Growth Companies and the firm's China Taskforce. To this end he counsels senior executives, boards and investment principals on a wide range of issues including corporate finance, business strategy and corporate governance. David has advised across a very broad range of sectors but has particular expertise in Fintech, Adtech, Spacetech, Renewables, Oil & Gas Services, Healthcare and Medical Devices, AI, Gaming, Informatics and Aerospace. David has advised a significant number of sports related clients internationally.

David Pang

David Pang is a senior legal consultant based in Dentons’ Dubai office and is a member of the Corporate and Commercial practice. In addition, David is an adjunct lecturer in company law at Middlesex University (Dubai), a compliance practitioner with the International Compliance Association, and author of various technical know-how and practice notes of a number of prominent legal publications. David has more than 15 years of experience advising clients on complex, high-value and cross-border M&A transactions, general commercial contracts, corporate structuring/restructuring, and corporate governance and compliance related issues. He regularly advises on private equity and venture capital investments, share and/or asset acquisitions/disposals, joint venture arrangements, legal due diligence, and commercial contracts throughout the Middle East, with a particular focus on advising clients from APAC. He has represented a range of clients, including private and listed companies, entrepreneurs and start-ups, ultra-high net worth individuals and family offices, sovereign wealth funds, private equity and venture capital funds, banking and financial institutions involving transactions across all industry sectors. Recognised by Legal 500 as a key lawyer for commercial, corporate and M&A work in the UAE, David brings a clear understanding of the synergies between commercial acumen, risk mitigation and practical solutions as demanded by in-house general counsel and legal teams having been seconded to a national oil company, a renewable energy private equity fund and an ultra-high net worth Hong Kong family office.

Dean Ryburn

Dean Ryburn is a Partner and co-head of the Middle East Construction and Dispute Resolution practice. He has more than 15 years' experience advising clients on risk management and dispute avoidance and resolution. He regularly acts for clients in all common forms of dispute resolution (including litigation, arbitration and mediation) to protect and enforce their legal rights in relation to their most important projects and transactions. He has an in-depth understanding of local laws, practices and dispute resolution frameworks having been based in the region full-time for more than 12 years. Dean brings a commercial background and understanding to disputes from previous roles as senior inhouse counsel for a leading regional power developer and a secondment to a Government-owned company to advise on negotiating the close-out and resolution of disputes for a US$ 4 billion project. Dean has been named as one of 10 consultants in the 2022 and 2023 Construction Week Power 100 ranking of the Middle East's most influential construction leaders in recognition of his particular expertise in complex and high-value construction arbitrations. Dean is also ranked in Chambers and as a leading individual in Legal 500. He regularly acts for clients in resolving disputes relating to variations, delay and disruption, early termination, defective works and related issues. He is noted for his ability to quickly grasp and distil complex technical and legal issues and provide and deliver on a clear strategy to achieve clients' commercial objectives in a cost-efficient manner. He acts for all project participants but has particular expertise advising Main Contractors on resolving complex interconnected disputes with Employers and Subcontractors.

Faris Shehabi

Faris Shehabi is a senior associate specialising in commercial dispute resolution in Dentons' Dubai office. He has over 15 years' experience working on a wide range of complex international trade and commercial disputes including experience before tribunals in ad hoc proceedings and under regional and international arbitration rules including ICC, UNCITRAL, LCIA, DIAC, SIAC, HKIAC, AIAC and LMAA, as well as before the courts of numerous jurisdictions (UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, DIFC and ADGM). His experience is across a range of different sectors including energy and infrastructure, shipping and commodities, banking and finance, and shareholder disputes. He was previously in charge of legal services at a leading international arbitral institution in Asia, is regularly invited to speak at regional and international events and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.

Haz Arshad

Haz Arshad is a senior associate based in Dentons’ Dubai office and is a member of the Corporate and Commercial practice. He has more than 15 years of commercial legal experience and has been advising on corporate transactional matters for more than eight years. He regularly works with listed companies, private companies, management teams, entrepreneurs and start-ups (advising on a range of transactions including complex mergers and acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, private equity and venture capital investments, corporate restructurings and general corporate governance matters) and is a former board member of the Northwest Regional Development Agency in the UK, an advisory and strategic body responsible for the development of BME businesses at a national and regional level. Haz is experienced in advising on a wide variety of sectors including technology, media and telecommunications, financial services, FMCG, real estate and hospitality, to name a few, and is regularly recognized by clients and colleagues for his proactive, pragmatic and constructive approach.

Hazel Shakur Quinn

Hazel Shakur Quinn is a senior legal consultant based in Dentons' Dubai office and is a member of the Real Estate practice. Hazel has 22 years' experience providing clients with strategic and practical solutions on complex real estate matters in the UK, UAE and the wider Middle East. Over the last decade, she has become the go-to-expert and trusted advisor on Middle East real estate matters to leading sovereign wealth funds, family offices, technology companies, major developers and investors on a wide range of real estate matters. Hazel has first-hand experience of running a real estate company which makes her a unique and commercially focused legal expert in the real estate market. She co-founded one of the largest chartered surveying consultancies in the Middle East. During her time in the Middle East, Hazel has led a number of "trophy asset" deals and "first-of-their- kind" transactions. She has been ranked as a leading real estate expert in Chambers Global, which states that "Hazel has impressed clients by being very knowledgeable, calm and incisive". She is known for her high-quality drafting and is recognized as a tough negotiator. Sources elaborate to say "she's very practical and commercial, delivers a good service and provides very good drafting in plain English". Businesses choose to work with Hazel for her superior industry knowledge and her strategic and commercial approach to getting deals done, with one business referring to her as the "real estate strategy whisperer". During her career, Hazel has held senior positions on global diversity and inclusion boards. She has won recognition from the legal industry for her empowerment of women initiatives in the Middle East. Hazel is regularly invited to speak at real estate industry conferences and events.

Henrietta Baker

Henrietta is a partner in and Head of Dentons' Technology Media and Telecoms (TMT) practice for the UK, Ireland and Middle East. Henrietta leads one of the strongest and largest specialist TMT practices with 70+ dedicated partners and fee earners based in England and Wales, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. The team provides strategic counsel to some of the largest global businesses, advising on high-value projects and matters, many of which are critical to ongoing business operations and future strategic growth. Henrietta specializes in advising on technology and telecoms transactions, strategic sourcing and commercial contracts, with particular strengths in the energy, technology, aviation, manufacturing and financial services sectors. Drawing on a strong background of cutting-edge deals, Henrietta brings a wealth of experience to advising clients on legal strategy, policy and negotiation, supporting companies at all levels of the technology ecosystem, as well as non-technology companies procuring solutions. In particular, she has extensive experience in advising on communications procurement, ERP implementation, system integration, software development, cloud services (including SaaS, PaaS and IaaS), cybersecurity, AI, IoT, e-commerce, application development and maintenance, and networks projects. In addition, she regularly advises on a large number of diverse commercial arrangements, including global distribution arrangements, transitional services arrangements, business process outsourcing, manufacturing contracts, arrangements for payment technologies and concession agreements. Henrietta has been recognized as a "Next Generation Partner" in Commercial Contracts and IT & Telecoms by Legal 500 2023.

Iain Black

Iain is a partner in the Dentons UAE Corporate & Commercial team, based in Dubai. He regularly advises on various corporate transactions including domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, restructurings, company establishments and equity capital markets. Iain has particular expertise in advising on cross-border transactions across the Middle East and Africa.

James Osun Sanmi

James Osun-Sanmi is a senior associate in the Debt Capital Markets and Islamic Finance practices in Dentons’ Dubai office. He has 9 years' experience working on a wide range of conventional and Islamic international debt capital markets transactions including advising governments, financial institutions and general corporate clients. He has extensive experience acting for issuers, dealers and managers on issuances inside and outside the GCC under both Regulation S and Rule 144A formats. He has worked on a wide range of different issuance formats, including standalone issuances, program updates and issuances, regulatory capital issuances, corporate hybrid issuances, ESG issuances, and tender offers and consent solicitations. James is ranked as a Rising Star by IFLR 1000 and The Legal 500, and was awarded the Rising Star Lawyer of the Year award at the IFLR Middle East Awards 2021.

Jane Flournoy

Jane is a counsel in the Banking and Finance practice in Dubai. Her works involves general banking, Islamic finance, contractor finance and real estate finance matters and she also advises clients in relation to restructuring and insolvency matters in the UAE. Before joining the firm, Jane worked in the UK where she specialised in corporate restructuring and insolvency. During this time Jane would routinely act on behalf of insolvency practitioners and secured creditors and would also provide insolvency advice to companies and directors. Jane also spent time on secondment with a well known accountancy practice working with its corporate restructuring team. Since coming to the UAE, Jane has represented numerous international and local entities on a number of corporate and commercial matters and has advised generally in relation to UAE company law. Jane was also well placed to capitalize on her restructuring experience when the global downturn started to impact the region and has since advised a number of banks and creditors on the rescheduling of debtor obligations both in relation to conventional and Islamic facilities. Jane has also given a number of external seminars to clients on various insolvency topics and has had an article commenting on the new insolvency regime created to deal with Dubai World and its subsidiaries published in Eurofenix.

Joe Carroll

Joe Carroll is a senior associate in the Real Estate practice in Dentons' Dubai office. Joe has over 16 years of experience (11 of which at Dentons) working on a wide variety of areas including sales and acquisitions, project development, finance transactions and landlord and tenant matters. He has an in-depth understanding of real estate law and practice in the UAE and the wider Middle East. Joe has an impressive range of experience in hotel, leisure and resort projects and leads much of Dentons' real estate work in the UAE. Joe has been ranked in Chambers Global as "Associate to Watch" for six consecutive years and in Legal 500 as "Rising Star" for three consecutive years. He also holds multiple "Next Generation Lawyer" rankings from Legal 500.

Jon Nash

Jon is Dentons Middle East Managing Partner and the Head of the Middle East Energy, Transport and Infrastructure team. He has over 20 years of experience advising sponsors and lenders on the development of energy, natural resources and other infrastructure projects in the MENA region. He has extensive experience with I(W)PP developments and has advised on a number of award-winning deals in the Middle East. Jon also advises on all manner of project documentation, including drafting and negotiation of the product supply, offtake and tolling agreements (including power purchase agreements and water treatment agreements). He has advised on many "first of a kind" transactions, many of which have been awarded "Deal of the Year" status by leading industry and professional journals.

Kanishka Singh

Kanishka Singh is a partner in the Energy, Infrastructure and Projects practice at Dentons' Abu Dhabi office. Kanishka has worked with international law firms in both the UK and the UAE and specializes in a broad array of energy, infrastructure and transport projects, including, but not limited to, renewables (power/water/solar), conventional energy, waste treatment, district cooling, rolling stock and civil engineering projects. In addition to his private practice experience, Kanishka understands the commercials behind a PPP/PFI transaction having previously worked as the Legal Director/Head of Legal at Veolia (Middle East), now the world’s largest water, sustainability and waste management company. Kanishka has been recognized as a "Rising Star" by Legal 500 in its 2020 (Band 1 – Construction) rankings. He has also been recognized in the Legal 500 (Band 1 – Project Finance) rankings for transactional advisory on a multi-billion-dollar I(W)PP in the GCC.

Kenny Paton

Kenny Paton is Head of Oil & Gas for the Middle East and Counsel in the Energy, Transport and Infrastructure practice in Dentons' Abu Dhabi office. He is a senior oil and gas lawyer with over 25 years' experience across the oil and gas value chain globally, particularly in the North Sea, Africa and the Middle East having worked both as in-house counsel as well as in private practice for international law firms in London, Aberdeen and Cape Town. Kenny acts for both the private sector, governments and NOCs in upstream, midstream and downstream projects with a particular focus on gas developments and associated domestic utilization and LNG and petroleum import/export projects.

Meghan Devine

Meghan Devine is an associate in the Middle East Construction and Dispute Resolution practice. She is a Scottish qualified solicitor and notary public and is a registered practitioner (Part 1) in the DIFC courts. Meghan has a broad practice which spans the Middle East. She advises clients on negotiating and drafting contracts, risk management, dispute avoidance and dispute resolution across a number of sectors, including transport infrastructure, hotels and banking. She has represented clients in ad hoc, ICC, DIAC and ADCCAC arbitrations, as well as litigation in the DIFC and QFC courts. Meghan has experience advising on complex, multi-billion US dollar international construction and engineering projects across the region. She acts for contractors, employers and engineers on both contentious and non-contentious matters, including in relation to airport, waste management, residential and multi-use infrastructure projects. Clients appreciate Meghan's attention to detail and her ability to manage large, multi-disciplinary teams. Meghan is a key contact for pro bono in the Middle East and coordinates pro bono and community projects across the Dentons offices in the region. She is regularly instructed on pro bono mandates, including working with European Lawyers in Lesvos where she spent time on secondment in 2021.

Nathaniel Armstrong

Nathaniel is the managing partner of Dentons' Abu Dhabi office as well as a partner in Dentons' Middle East Banking & Finance team. He has over 15 years’ experience advising on all types of debt finance transactions, both conventional and Islamic. He acts for a number of domestic and international financial and corporate institutions. Nathaniel is a specialist in general corporate, asset (shipping and aviation), real estate and Islamic finance under both English and UAE (including free zones such as the ADGM and DIFC) law. He has broad international experience having worked for international law firms in England, Australia and the UAE on a range of complex, high-value transactions. Nathaniel has published numerous articles on banking and finance related issues and is ranked in various international legal directories.

Neil Cuthbert

Neil is a Senior Legal Advisor specialising in project and infrastructure financings in Dentons' Dubai office. He has been based in Dubai since 2001. He has over 40 years' experience advising banks, governments, borrowers, sponsors and others in project financing transactions covering a wide of range industries, including oil and gas, electricity, water, mining, leisure, transportation and telecommunications. He also has a general banking practice that includes advising banks, borrowers and others on a wide range of banking products, including, lending, structured finance, derivatives, trade finance, development finance and restructurings. He has lectured extensively on a wide range of banking subjects including at the Euromoney Winter and Summer Schools of Project Finance. He is the author of the firm's Standard Introduction to Project Finance and is a past leader of its International Projects Group. Neil was head of the Dubai office from 2001 to 2010. He was Managing Partner of the firm's Middle East offices from 2005 to 2011 and was the Senior Partner of the firm's Middle East offices. He was also a member of the Policy and Planning Board of Dentons UKMEA LLP and sat on the General Advisory Committee of Dentons. He was a member of the Global Board of Dentons from 2011 to 2015.

Pardeep Jagpal

Pardeep is a senior associate in the Dubai Commercial and Technology, Media and Telecoms (TMT) team, advising clients on a wide range of commercial agreements and projects. She has experience providing commercial and strategic advice to a number of organizations across a range of sectors, including technology, retail, and oil and gas, as well as, most recently, the public sector. She has worked on a variety of multinational commercial matters providing IT and commercial contract support to leading organizations. This work builds on her in-house experience working as Legal and Compliance Counsel for a tier 1 automotive supplier prior to joining Dentons.

Paul Jarvis

Paul is Dentons' Chief Executive for the UK and Middle East (UKME) and has been based in Abu Dhabi since 2009. His experience includes a broad range of financings involving all types of assets, with a particular focus on ship and aircraft finance. He acts for financiers, operators, export credit agencies and equity investors involving a range of complex leasing structures, large syndicated debt transactions and structured tax-based financings. Paul also has significant experience in Islamic finance, trade finance and real estate finance. Paul advises on English law, UAE law and DIFC law transactions. "Abu Dhabi-based asset finance guru Paul Jarvis. First ranked in Chambers Global 2010. is "a real pleasure to work with, sensible and knowledgeable," say clients. He acts for a number of prestigious regional banks on ship financings in the region." (Chambers Global, Shipping, UAE, 2015)

Qasim Aslam

Qasim is a partner in the Banking and Finance practice. He has international Islamic finance, project finance and structured finance experience, including transactions throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. He acts for regional, international and Islamic financiers as well as multi-lateral agencies and corporates. Qasim is also the Head of Islamic Finance – Middle East. He is recognised in the international Expert Guides "Best of the Best" for Islamic Finance, international Expert Guides "Banking, Finance and Transactional Guide" as one of The World's Leading Islamic Finance Lawyers, and also as a Leading Individual with Tier 1 ranking in the Legal 500 directory.

Riaz Haq

Ross Barfoot

Ross is a corporate partner in the UAE with more than 21 years' experience – first in the UK and since 2008 in the UAE and wider Middle East region. In addition to advising both international corporations and local companies on a mix of M&A and private equity, joint ventures and corporate advisory work, he regularly advises his clients on business licensing, corporate reorganizations, commercial contracts and corporate governance mandates. He has advised on some of the largest M&A and joint venture transactions in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. Ross regularly advises investors and international operators on education investments, M&A, market entry, international expansion, corporate and regulatory matters. He is based in the UAE but operates on a global level, supporting clients on their international expansion. Ross is generally regarded as the "go-to" lawyer for the education sector and has been involved in a significant number of school and university projects in the Middle East region, as well as some of the largest education M&A deals globally. He is ranked as a "Leading Individual" in the UAE for Commercial, Corporate and M&A in the 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 editions of Legal 500.

Sana Siddiqui

Sana Siddiqui is a senior associate in the Debt Capital Markets and Islamic Finance practices in Dentons' Dubai office. She has 7 years' of experience working on a wide range of conventional and Islamic international debt capital markets transactions including advising governments, financial institutions and general corporate clients. She has extensive experience acting for issuers, dealers and managers on issuances inside and outside the GCC under both Regulation S and Rule 144A formats. She has worked on a wide range of different issuance formats, including standalone issuances, program updates and issuances, regulatory capital issuances, corporate hybrid issuances, ESG issuances, and tender offers and consent solicitations.

Shaakir Daud

Shaakir is a senior associate in the Banking and Finance team in Denton's Dubai office. He has over 6 years of experience advising clients (both local and international financiers and borrowers) on a wide range of banking matters, including acquisition financing, corporate financing, real estate financing and general banking and finance matters. Before joining the Firm, Shaakir worked for a silver circle firm in Dubai where he regularly advised local and international lenders on general banking and Islamic finance. Prior to this, Shaakir worked in London advising lenders and borrowers on general banking.

Shiraz Sethi

Shiraz Sethi is the regional head of employment based in Dentons’ Dubai office. He joined Dentons in 2020 and has more than 14 years of experience working on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. He has worked with multinational clients in a variety of sectors, including technology, media and telecommunications, professional services, financial services, insurance and energy. Shiraz provides advice on all aspects of employment law, including recruitment, termination, terms and conditions of employment (benefits, bonuses and remuneration), restrictive covenants, team moves and terminations, and is a specialist in complex workplace investigations. Shiraz’s practice also covers matters involving fraud, bribery and corruption as well as employee misconduct claims. Shiraz assists on jurisdictional projects (including covering restructures, sales of a business as a going concern and employee status issues) as well as issues arising out of employee mobilisation and international assignments. He regularly presents at seminars and workshops as part of Dentons’ regular client training programme and at external events organised by various business councils, HR consultancy firms and other freezone authorities, including DIFC, DMCC and JAFZA. He is acknowledged as a leading individual for employment law and is ranked in the UAE by both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500. His robust experience and achievement in the industry has also led him to win the Young Lawyer of the Year Award and Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year. More recently, he was recognised by Lexis Nexis Middle East as a leader in HR and Employment and was subsequently appointed to the Board of the Lexis Nexis HR Middle East Journal. He is also regularly quoted in publications such as The National, Gulf News and Arabian Business and has regularly appeared on Dubai Eye Radio as well as making several television appearances with Asharq Business News, Dubai One and CNBC. Shiraz has been involved in shaping the legislative landscape for the UAE. He was retained by the Chief Justice of the DIFC Courts to draft the first commentary on the DIFC Employment Law. He was subsequently mandated on an exclusive basis by the Chief Legal Officer of the DIFC Authority to draft the new DIFC Employment Law. Shiraz was also invited to participate in an exclusive committee to draft the DIFC Presidential Directive during COVID-19. In addition, Shiraz and his team were asked to draft similar COVID-19 provisions for the DMCC. Shiraz has also recently been retained by another GCC jurisdiction to assist with the legislative drafting and reform of their existing labour laws. More recently, he was asked to review the employment ecosystem for JAFZA which included a review of its entire suite of employment contracts, policies and procedures and was supplemented with training to key stakeholders within the senior leadership team. Shiraz is consistently recognised as a leading lawyer in his field. Some of his clients say: “Having worked with all of the top law firms and lawyers, Shiraz ranks far above his peers, and is clearly a leader in his field”, “Shiraz is an outstanding lawyer. He has encyclopaedic knowledge, coupled with a reasoned, practical approach. Overall simply the best in class”, “I believe he is the best employment lawyer in the market.”

Stephen Knight

Stephen Knight is a partner and co-head of the Middle East Banking and Finance practice in Dentons' Abu Dhabi office. He has 18 years' experience of working on a wide range of finance matters, including advising grantors, sponsors/borrowers and lenders on finance transactions and he regularly advises on both finance documents (conventional and Islamic) and commercial contracts. He has experience across a range of different sectors, including infrastructure/BOT/PPP transactions (especially in the healthcare, education and retail, leisure and hospitality sectors) and also power (renewable and thermal) and water financings. Stephen advises on English law and UAE law transactions. Stephen is ranked in Chambers and IFLR.

Stephen McKenna

Stephen McKenna has been working in the Middle East region since 2009, focusing mainly on the UAE. He specializes in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate structuring/restructuring and local corporate regulatory issues across various sectors, including aviation, healthcare and industry. His clients range from SMEs to blue chip companies, local and international, and government-related entities. As a former in-house group legal counsel, Stephen provides his clients with legal solutions to real commercial issues.

Suzannah Fairbairn

Suzannah Fairbairn is a partner in Dentons' Middle East Construction and Engineering practice. She has extensive experience working on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious construction matters, with particular focus on assisting clients in high-value and complex arbitrations relating to defective design and/or workmanship, delay and disruption, loss and expense, variations, payment disputes, service level performance obligations and contract interpretation. Her experience spans a range of different sectors including oil and gas, leisure and multi-use infrastructure projects that involve multiple contractors. Suzannah has experience in representing clients under all the major arbitration rules including ICC, LCIA, DIAC, ADCCAC, UNCITRAL and ad hoc arbitrations. She also has experience in assisting clients with negotiating and drafting contracts. Suzannah is ranked as ‘up and coming’ in Chambers & Partners 2024 directory. Clients particularly appreciate Suzannah's ability to cut through complex legal and technical issues to provide clear and practical advice. She is equally adept at acting for contractors, employers and consultants, and this experience and ability to view matters from all perspectives is highly valued in the market. Suzannah is a key advocate for women in construction, regularly arranging opportunities for women in the industry to meet and share skills and experiences. She is also a keen supporter of making arbitrations greener and promoting equal representation.

Tony Nicholson

Tony is a senior associate based in Dentons’ Dubai office and is a member of the Banking and Finance practice. He has more than 10 years of global experience representing borrowers, sponsors, commercial lenders, DFIs and ECAs on all aspects of the development and financing of large-scale projects. His experience spans a range of different sectors including renewables, water and LNG. He also has extensive experience advising on a broad range of corporate, real estate, asset and acquisition financing transactions, and some experience with cross-border M&A, fund investments, general banking and advisory work, restructuring and insolvency.

Udayan Mukherjee

Udayan is a banking and project finance lawyer with extensive experience of a wide variety of project finance, structured trade finance, restructuring, general banking and Islamic finance transactions in the Middle East and internationally. Since joining Dentons in February 2007, he has worked on a number of major project financings in the infrastructure and industrial sectors within the region, acting for banks, developers, borrowers, sponsors and governments. Udayan advises on both English law and UAE law transactions. Prior to joining Dentons, Udayan worked for a magic circle firm as an associate in the banking and project finance group in both the London and Tokyo offices, and also as in-house counsel supporting the Project Finance Department of a large investment bank in London. He has also undertaken a secondment at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation when he was working in Tokyo. Udayan Mukherjee provides ‘insightful, technically solid and commercially sound advice’ in project finance instructions - Legal 500. Udayan Mukherjee regularly assists with multimillion-dollar projects across the region. He focuses on banking and finance issues for a range of clients in areas including debt and refinancing. One source praised his energy expertise, saying: "He is very knowledgeable about IPP projects." - Projects & Energy Middle East Wide: Global Chambers.

Umera Ali

Partner / Head of Banking & Finance (Middle East) / Global Head of Islamic Finance

Zahra Rose Khawaja

Zahra Rose Khawaja is a senior associate specializing in commercial dispute resolution in Dentons' Dubai office. She has seven years' experience (five of which in the Middle East) working on a wide range of international arbitration and commercial dispute resolution matters. Zahra's international arbitration portfolio includes acting for both claimants and respondents in claims valued between US$1 million and US$500 million, conducted under the rules of many major arbitral institutions. She also conducts litigation in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) courts. Zahra has acted as advisor to a prominent financial institution in longstanding DIFC Court proceedings (presently in the Court of Appeal) seeking recovery of a US$30 million debt arising out of an alleged trade finance fraud. She also acts alongside local counsel to advise clients in respect of proceedings in the onshore UAE courts, and has significant experience in commercial agency disputes, contractual disputes, debt recovery and enforcement proceedings. Zahra is also experienced in handling mediation and negotiation processes. Zahra's experience spans a range of different sectors including telecommunications, manufacturing, financial services and technology, and she has a keen interest in the hotels and hospitality sector, having acted for a number of clients in recent high-value disputes between hotel owners and operators arising out of hotel management agreements in the Middle East region. Prior to joining Dentons, Zahra trained and practiced at an international law firm in London, where she focused on international arbitration and conducted litigation in the High Court and Court of Appeal. During her training contract, she spent six months on secondment to a client in Hong Kong. Zahra also served for two years as Assistant Editor for the MENA Region at Kluwer Arbitration Blog, which reports on the latest developments, awards and forthcoming events in international arbitration.

Ziad Saad

Ziad is a partner based in the Dentons’ Riyadh office, after postings in Paris, London and Dubai. He is the managing partner of Dentons' Saudi Arabia offices and a member of the Corporate practice. Ziad has broad-based international corporate experience, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia. He is the trusted adviser to corporate, private equity and financial institution clients on domestic and complex cross-border acquisitions (both buy-side and sell-side, including in auction), and joint ventures, in a wide range of industries, as well as on ongoing corporate and securities law matters. Ziad advises extensively in all areas of international capital markets, advising issuers and underwriters in connection with equity and debt offerings, including initial public offerings, rights issues and privatizations. His experience also includes the formation of Shariah-compliant funds in Saudi Arabia. In addition to his transactional experience, Ziad advises on PPP projects and project structuring in the aviation and infrastructure sectors in Saudi Arabia. Ziad is fluent in Arabic, English and French.

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