Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP is well positioned to act on stellar cross-border deals in the Middle East and beyond, receiving instructions from longstanding clients as well as a growing list of new connections. Diwakar Agarwal is a private equity and venture capital-focused adviser with multi-jurisdictional expertise and Sandeep Dhama has expertise in capital markets and corporate restructuring. Melissa Forbes-Miranda is also noted. Managing associate Toufic Safie advises on M&A, joint ventures and large-scale projects, particularly in the tech sector.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Melissa Forbes‑Miranda. She shows genuine interest in the business model and the commercial aims of our deals. She worked hard to come up with a de-risked but commercial solution to our R&D agreements around joint ownership of IP.’
‘The team understood the corporate M&A aspects of the deal well, but added value with their understanding of the underlying asset.’
‘Melissa Forbes-Miranda was the corporate lead on the transaction and negotiated very well with the other side on the all parties' calls which took place on the documents.’
‘Toufic Safie has good knowledge of international law, local law, and the various free zones and how the different requirements interface. He is able to perform challenging mental gymnastics and find a solution for a multifaceted problem that will work within a patchwork of applicable laws and concerns.’
‘They have a diverse team with a mix of experienced and junior members. They are always approachable with short notice to attend to our urgent requirements.’
‘Diwakar Agarwal has a strong understanding of our structure and history, which makes it easy for us. He is always available with short notice whenever we have urgent requirements. He is very quick in understanding the subject matter and accordingly gives us the solutions. The agreements drafted by him are comprehensive and always protect our interests to the maximum.’
'Clear, concise and responsive team.'
‘Sandeep Dhama is excellent.’
Key clients
- Al Dahra Group
- EMAAR Properties
- Chart Industries
- Inspired Education
- FENIX Networks
- KIMSHEALTH
- GradeOne
- Ardonagh Specialty
- Madison Pacific Trust Limited
- S&P Global Platts
- Lexim Trading DMCC
- ComTech FZCO
- UltraTech Cement Middle East Investments
- Physicswallah Pvt Ltd
- Cotecna Inspection SA
- Badia Al Sahra Agricultural L.L.C (Badia Farms)
Work highlights
- Advising NYSE-listed Chart Industries Inc on its acquisition of UK-based industrial equipment maker Howden for US$4.4 billion from private equity firm KPS Capital Partners through a combination of cash and preferred stock.
- Advising UltraTech Cement Middle East Investments Ltd. ("UltraTech Cement") on its 70% equity share acquisition of Duqm Cement Project International ("Duqm Cement") from Seven Seas Group, Oman.
- Advising Physicswallah Pvt Ltd on its acquisition of Knowledge Planet Centre Group, Dubai.
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Diwakar Agarwal, Sandeep Dhama, Melissa Forbes-Miranda