Middle East - United Arab Emirates
2

Commercial, corporate and M&A

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Baker McKenzie LLP

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Baker McKenzie LLP leverages a deep bench of experienced advisers to deliver high-quality corporate and M&A counsel, praised for their understanding of ‘the complexities of doing business in the UAE.’ The firm acts for a diverse client base, including corporates, investors, start-ups, and family offices, across a wide array of sectors and jurisdictions. Osama Audi fronts the practice and handles an array of M&A, PE and venture capital transactions. James Burdett relocated from London in April 2024 and leads the firm’s Middle East and Africa funds group. Adnan Doha is a key figure behind the team’s strong work in the energy, infrastructure and industrial sectors, while Abeer Jarrar, who is widely praised for her ’quality, professionalism and  expertise in M&A transactions’, has recently led on marquee deals in the healthcare space. Hani Naja is active across M&A, joint ventures and restructurings. Grace Ong continues to be a key supporting presence.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Baker McKenzie LLP understands the complexities of doing business in the UAE. They provide alternatives and solutions that meet our business's needs.’

  • ‘Abeer Jarrar and her team’s comprehensive knowledge of corporate law and M&A principles ensured that every aspect of the transaction was handled with precision. Their ability to foresee potential challenges and proactively address them were particularly commendable.'

  • 'Clear and consistent communication was a hallmark of Abeer Jarrar and her team's approach. They ensured that all stakeholders were kept informed at every stage, fostering transparency and trust. This seamless communication significantly alleviated the complexities typically associated with such transactions.'

  • ‘Abeer Jarrar is exceptional in quality, professionalism and  expertise in M&A transactions. This experience is based on my multiple years of close interactions with Abeer Jarrar. During my time in the UAE I have had the opportunity to work with many band one corporate lawyers and tier one international law firms in the region in major transactions. However, Abeer Jarrar and the corporate M&A team of Baker McKenzie stood out amongst the rest.'

  • ‘I often work with Hani Naja for day to day corporate and regulatory matters. I love working with Hani and he is always reliable and responds quickly.'

  • 'Recognition has to go to Hani Naja - he has amazing business acumen and transparent communication.’

  • ‘I rate the firm for its quality of work, efficiency and ability to meet deadlines.’

  • 'Practical and up to date with recent developments, especially in the pharma and healthcare space. Always a quick turn around with queries and requests.'

Key clients

  • Al Khorayef Group
  • Aster DM Healthcare Limited
  • Atos
  • Core42
  • Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited
  • Georg Fischer AG
  • NetEase Inc.
  • PepsiCo
  • Sika AG
  • Tanmiah Food Company
  • Whirlpool
  • UltraTech Cement Ltd

Work highlights

  • Advised Affinity Holdings Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aster DM Healthcare Limited on the separation and the sale of its GCC healthcare business to Alpha GCC Holdings, which is a joint venture company between a consortium led by Fajr Capital, a sovereign-owned private equity firm headquartered in the UAE, and the Moopen family.
  • Advised Georg Fischer AG, a multinational industrial corporation headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland and listed on the Swiss stock exchange, on its acquisition of a majority stake in Corys Piping System SPV Ltd.
  • Advised Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited on its milestone acquisition of KIPCO's 46.32% shareholding in Gulf Insurance Group K.S.C.P for approximately USD 860 million.

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.
Abeer Jarrar
Baker McKenzie LLP

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Osama Audi

Other key lawyers

James Burdett, Adnan Doha, Abeer Jarrar, Hani Naja, Grace Ong