Noted for its ‘dedication, client engagement and sector knowledge’, King & Spalding LLP works with a broad client base that includes sovereign wealth funds, state-backed entities, family offices and multinational corporates on M&A, private equity, venture capital and joint venture transactions. Team co-lead Nabil Issa has a wide remit across the Gulf and works closely with the firm’s roster of government-related clients. Co-head Simon Fraser, who joined from Ashurst LLP in December 2023, is particularly active on M&A in the oil and gas sector, often working closely with Matt Hartsuyker who made the move with him. James Stull is chiefly recognised for his investment funds practice, while Macky O’Sullivan has a prolific track record on venture capital deals.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Dedication, client engagement and sector knowledge.’
‘The professional background support from their HQ offices is immediate and responsive. The key K&S partners travel often from the UAE to support the local staffs in the rest of ME Region and they build strong relationships with each of the firm's clients.’
‘The individual lawyers all have excellent professional experiences to draw on, along with extensive Middle East knowledge.'
‘The level of sheer expertise among the lawyers my company has dealt with far exceeds any other legal practice we have used over the past seven years.'
- 'There is always a specialist legal resource that can be called on and we have used K&S lawyers from the UAE through to Singapore and they have collectively added demonstrable fire power to our business and in turn helped us achieve bottom line results that had previously seemed elusive.’
- 'Simon Fraser's M&A expertise is outstanding and his years in the UAE has given him a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience that has had a material and positive impact on my company through our negotiations with counter parties in Dubai and elsewhere.'
Key clients
- Al Nahdi
- Merak Capital
- Loro Piana
- RIMOWA
- The Giving Movement
- Lucid Motors
- ADNOC Gas plc
- Abu Dhabi National Oil Company P.J.S.C.
- Access USA Shipping, LLC
- Al Dabbagh Group Holding Company
- Al Thiqa Al Shamlah For Real Estate Company
- Alsulaiman Group
- Baker Hughes
- Cerberus
- Elm Company
- Emirates Global Aluminium
- eWTP Capital Arabia
- E&
- Franklin Templeton
- GLD Partners
- Gleeds
- Global Ventures Ltd
- Gulf Islamic Investments
- Impact Capital Company
- Kaykroo
- Multiplex
- Korea Electric Power Company
- Christian Dior
- Nazer Group Company and Affidea
- Netizen Limited / Kooora.com
- Pfizer
- Riyad Capital
- Sadu VC Fund LLP
- Shawcor Limited
- Solb Steel
- Western Union
- Egis SA
- Venice Energy
Work highlights
- Advised Jadwa Investment on its 100% acquisition of a portfolio of restaurant chains currently in the UAE with structuring to bring such brands including the well-known Allo Beirut brand, to Saudi Arabia.
- Advised Gulf Islamic Investments on the acquisition of 100% of SaudiMed Investment Company from BankMed.
- Alpha Dhabi on its circa $60 million acquisition of a majority stake in global oil and gas services company NTS Amega Global from ADQ.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Nabil Issa, Simon Fraser