Possessing a full service offering with a considerable global reach, Afridi & Angell acts for a range of domestic and international banks, with strong expertise in Shariah-compliant transactions, debt and project financing, and cross-border lending. Recent work highlights include complex, multi-billion dollar revolving credit facilities, Ljarah and Murabaha facilities, as well as a host of restructuring and refinancing mandates. The multi-skilled team head Bashir Ahmed advises on a number of loans, syndications and regulatory matters. Co-head Rahat Dar is a prolific adviser who is very well-versed in both conventional and Islamic financing.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘This firm has been the premier leader for legal advice in the region for decades. They are reliable, consistent, competent, and cost-effective.’

  • 'We have worked with them on multiple occasions and the team are extremely responsive.'

  • ‘Mr Rahat Dar was the lead lawyer in all of the projects that we have done and he offered a personal service and interface to the law firm. Having qualified in the UK, he offers a good balance of European and GCC commercial legal knowledge and I would strongly recommend him for corporate work.’

  • ‘Over the past five years we have been working with Rahat Dar. Rahat is a great person and lawyer to work with. He is courteous, knowledgeable, accurate and always very professional. We are confident of his advice and opinion and we always rely on. It is really a pleasure to work with such a lawyer, which is also a reflection of the good genuine culture and service of the company and its management. ’

  • ‘Dedicated team who understands shipping finance in detail and provide all sorts of assistance in safeguarding the bank interest by proper documentation.’

  • ‘We appreciate the continuity in service, quality and people over the years. This counsel advises us in an area which has limited provisions and guidance in local law which is certainly a challenge.'

  • ‘We have been working since many years with Rahat Dar and value his quality of service and responsiveness.’

Key clients

  • Citigroup
  • UBS
  • International Capital Market Association
  • International Securities Lending Association
  • Internationales Bankhaus Bodensee AG
  • Ajman Bank
  • United Bank Limited
  • Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg
  • Commercial Bank of Dubai
  • National Bank of Fujairah

Work highlights

  • Advised a French corporate and investment bank in connection with a USD 723.8 million a Term, Capex, and Revolving Credit Facilities to the borrower.
  • Advised a Spanish bank on a EUR 100 million Revolving Credit Facility to an Irish company which was secured by an ADGM free zone company’s assets and other assets located onshore in the UAE.
  • Advised a syndicate of Indian government owned-banks on the restructuring of a project finance facility for the development of land in Dubai.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Bashir Ahmed, Rahat Dar