The 'cohesive, well managed, thoughtful, experienced and consistent' team at Norton Rose Fulbright attracts instructions from regional government entities, sovereign wealth funds, and established industry names. The group handles a considerable volume of big ticket M&A and cross-border investment deals, alongside excellent corporate restructuring and joint venture work. Practice head Adjou Ait Ben Idir has a core focus on M&A in the energy, infrastructure, aviation and fintech sectors. The 'excellent' Zubair Mir is lauded for his ability 'to find commercial solutions to the most complex issues' and is well regarded for his strength in private equity. Kayaan Unwalla's strong understanding of defence and technological developments is of great benefit to clients in a range of sectors and Jonathan Burton is particularly accomplished at strategic joint ventures and foreign direct investment mandates. Shahrzad Askarpour is noted for her involvement in commercial and corporate matters.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Zubair Mir is a pleasure to work with and has deep knowledge of the local and regional markets.'
‘Zubair has an ability to quickly understand a client’s needs, and often connects clients to relevant parties even when not asked to, this adds tremendous value beyond the legal element aspect. This is what distinguishes dealing with Zubair.’
‘Knowledgeable team with great personalities. Have good tech partners to recommend in region.’
‘The team is cohesive, well managed, thoughtful, experienced and consistent. Key relationship person at partner level is Zubair, who has infinite wisdom and experience in the regional acquisitions market. He genuinely cares about transactions and is always helpful in finding solutions. The team is very experienced and has a commercial focus. Shazi Askarpour stands out within the team for her astute mindset and superior client engagement. ’
‘Shazi is a hidden gem. It is rare to find legal counsels who are both commercial and experts in their field.'
- 'Zubair is simply excellent. He is thorough, knowledgeable and manages to find commercial solutions to the most complex issues.’
‘Adjou Ait Benidir has exceptional leadership skills, is very responsive and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘ Highly accessible, results-oriented, skilled lawyers who grasp their clients' needs.’
Key clients
- Royal Group
- International Holding Company (IHC)
- Total SA
- Tawazun
- Arise IIP
- Public Investment Fund
- Saudia Airlines
- Pure Health
- AIG
- AXA XL
- Injazat
- bp
- Howden
- IHC Digital
- Dubai Islamic Bank
- Africa Transformation & Industrialization Fund Limited Partnership
- Dar Global
- OKX
- bp
- KHK Partners
Work highlights
- Advised UAE’s largest healthcare platform and Alpha Dhabi subsidiary, Pure Health, on its US$500m investment in US healthcare provider, Ardent Health Partners LLC.
- Advised International Holding Company PJSC on its acquisition in the renewable energy sector through its subsidiary International Energy Holding -- the c. AED 1.8 billion acquisition of a 50% stake in Turkish clean energy market leader, Kalyon Enerji.
- Advised International Holding Company PJSC on its capital investment of AED 734 million (USD 200 million) in Lulo Colombia S.A, through its subsidiary IHC Digital.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
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.
Adjou Ait Ben Idir