Manuela is a partner of Maples and Calder's Corporate and Finance teams in the Maples Group's Dubai office. Manuela's main areas of practice are international capital markets and finance (principally aircraft finance, Islamic finance, structured finance and banking). She has worked on a number of notable sukuk transactions and other Islamic compliant financings, conventional debt offerings and debt issuance programmes as well as bespoke securitisations for clients based in the Middle East, Europe and North America. Manuela regularly advises on aircraft finance transactions for aircraft carriers and leasing companies in the Middle East. Manuela also has broad experience in the establishment and maintenance of a variety of Cayman Islands investment structures and funds, and regularly advises on general corporate and commercial matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganisations and joint venture arrangements.
Middle East - United Arab Emirates
Maples Group
With ‘a wealth of experience in the private funds space’, Maples Group is a key contact for an assortment of private clients on British Virgin Island and Cayman Island law. Praised as ’accessible, knowledgeable, and pragmatic’ Manuela Belmontes and Gurminder Sanghera often handle finance transactions for aircraft carriers and have strength in capital markets and finance matters. Philip Ireland is well-versed in collective investment schemes, notably private equity funds and Oliver Simpson is well regarded for his capabilities in corporate transactions pertaining to major hotels and resorts.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Maples team has a wealth of experience in the private funds space. The team offers timely and commercial advice, and is very responsive. A pleasure to work with.'
‘Manuela Belmontes is accessible, knowledgeable, and pragmatic.'
‘Philip Ireland offers comprehensive advice.'
Key clients
- Aljazira Capital
- Dubai Islamic Bank
- Emirates REIT (CEIC) PLC
- Lakemore Partners
- Mubadala Capital
- Nana Direct
- NBK Capital
- Playco Holdings / Starzplay
- Riyad Bank
- Tamara
Lawyers
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Philip is joint managing partner of Maples and Calder, in the Maples Group's Dubai office where is also head of the Funds & Investment Management and Corporate teams. He has broad Cayman Islands corporate and investment funds experience. However, he specialises in collective investment schemes, in particular private equity funds, venture capital funds, real estate funds, and Shariah compliant (Islamic) funds. He also has experience of working with family offices, ultra high net worth individuals. Philip’s clients include asset managers in the Dubai International Financial Centre and the MENA region. He also practises British Virgin Islands law.
Rising stars
Gurminder is of counsel in Maples and Calder's Corporate and Finance teams in the Maples Group's Dubai office. Gurminder has experience in international capital markets and finance transactions (including aircraft finance, Islamic finance, structured finance and banking) and advises on all aspects of banking, fund financing and aircraft finance transactions. He also has broad Cayman Islands corporate and investment funds experience.
Oliver is of counsel in Maples and Calder's Corporate and Funds & Investment Management teams in the Maples Group's Dubai office. Oliver handles a broad range of Cayman Islands and British Virgin Islands corporate work, including investment funds, private equity, mergers and acquisitions and corporate reorganisations. Oliver has specific experience of working with emerging market investment managers, investors and entrepreneurs establishing investment structures for e-commerce, real estate sales portals and other online businesses. He also advises UAE and Middle East-based real estate investors on the establishment of regional and overseas property ownership structures. In Dubai, Oliver has worked on a number of corporate transactions involving major hotels and resorts.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Manuela Belmontes, Philip Ireland