Pinsent Masons in the UAE

Pinsent Masons | In the UAE

Introduction Our UAE office, based in the heart of Dubai’s financial district, combines local knowledge with an international experience to advise clients effectively across the Middle East, and globally. The Dubai office, like the firm, focuses on advising clients in a number of key global sectors, including: Energy, Infrastructure, Professional & financial services and Advanced manufacturing & technology.

A sectoral approach

Our lawyers have considerable experience in major construction and infrastructure projects, telecoms, media and technology work and projects. In addition, we advise on all aspects of regulatory, employment and finance law.

Working with our global teams, we, like the firm, focus on advising clients in a number of key sectors, including:

A distinct feature of our firm is our sector approach to the delivery of legal services. This is a particular strength of our offering.

• Advanced manufacturing & technology

– our clients are rich in intellectual capital: manufacturing specialised products, selling technology related services or having a high value service delivery proposition. They require complex legal solutions facilitating their strategic and operational needs.

• Infrastructure – as the world’s leading

infrastructure firm we have unparalleled experience working with major contractors, delivery partners, owners and operators in the sector’s diverse key markets including transport, energy, social infrastructure, education, municipal waste management, water and sport & leisure.

• Energy – as industry experts we have a track

record of providing strategic consultation and commercial advice on energy projects, working with clients on major oil and gas, power, utilities, renewable energy, clean development mechanism issues, nuclear and pipeline projects.

• Financial services – we support clients

across the financial services sector to achieve their strategic and commercial goals while managing legal and regulatory risk. We offer combined multi-disciplinary expertise from global teams including banking, insurance, pensions, private wealth, restructuring and tax teams.

Infrastructure and energy Our team is ranked No. 1 for construction law in Legal 500 MENA. We were named UAE Construction Law Firm of the Year by ACQ magazine, Middle East Construction Team of the Year by Legal Week and have been recognised as Global Construction Law Firm of the Year by Who’s Who Legal for five out of the last six years. This is in recognition of our experience structuring, documenting and delivering procurements for major projects in the Middle East and elsewhere around the world. As Energy industry experts, we have represented international clients for many years. We have an international practice which spans the whole spectrum of the energy industry, from oil supermajors and utilities to independent developers, equipment suppliers and financiers. We have a strong network of relationships with government and regulatory bodies, industry professionals and the wider energy community. Our services include:

• Dispute resolution – we have extensive experience of ADR in construction disputes around the world and from all points of view – as well as representing parties in disputes, many of our senior lawyers are qualified mediators.

• Engineering procurement & construction contracts –

advising in relation to all aspects of EPC contracting and its related EPIC and EPCC forms. Our lawyers have worked on a huge number of high value projects throughout the world and are used to developing innovative solutions to enhance project deliverability. As an award winning law firm, we have been trusted with EPC contracts for some of the largest and most ambitious projects in the world.

• Risk management – our clients have long recognised that we

have much more to offer than the traditional lawyers’ role in procuring projects or resolving disputes at the end of projects. What our clients value most is assistance in managing risk as it arises. We apply our legal expertise, sector knowledge and commercial understanding on live projects in a project counsel role i.e. during the post-procurement pre-completion stage.

• International sanctions – advising on corporate sanctions,

compliance programmes and individual transactions where the issue of sanctions compliance may be relevant. We understand the interaction between US, EU and UK sanctions and can advise on remedies where violations are alleged.

• Project disputes – significant experience resolving complex disputes that energy projects can be subject to, using conciliation, mediation, adjudication, expert determination, multi-jurisdictional litigation and international arbitration.

Real estate Our team advise on the full range of real estate and property requirements from both an international and local perspective. Our team is supported by a global team of over 240 lawyers. We have been involved in structuring a number of developments throughout the Middle East and have advised on the acquisition and resale of units from every master developer. We have been involved in over 20 major town and city centre developments in the UK and the Middle East. Our advice doesn’t just extend to clients in the real estate sector. We provide specialist advice to all organisations with real estate requirements, such as government bodies, universities, retailers, manufacturers, hotels and leisure businesses and other corporate occupiers. As well as advising foreigners on the UAE regulatory regime surrounding owning, mortgaging and leasing land and buildings for occupation, trading or as investments, our experience in cross-border property management means we also advise clients in the Middle East on investing in Europe and Asia Pacific. Our services include:

• Unit & bulk transactions – advice for homeowners

and investors on the acquisition, resale and registration processes for residential and commercial units on both a freehold and leasehold basis.

• Development transactions – due diligence on behalf of developers and advice on acquisition of plots; advice on compliance with Escrow Account Law and the recently enacted Strata Law to ensure minimal delay; advice on developer agreements and assistance with the title registration process with the authorities in the UAE and Qatar.

• Retail – advising landlords and tenants on the

negotiation and drafting of retail lease agreements.

• Landlord and tenant – advice on behalf of landlords and tenants, including litigation and disputes.

• Property investment funds – advice on and structuring of collective property investment funds for investors.

Corporate and commercial

Telecoms, media and technology (TMT)

Our corporate and commercial team includes lawyers fluent in Arabic who advise clients from all the key global financial markets including the Middle East, India, China, Europe and the US.

We have a specialist Telecoms, media and technology (TMT) practice group who advise on the full range of commercial and regulatory legal issues associated with TMT work and projects, providing advice to both private and public sector clients including operators, vendors, service providers, suppliers, property developers, governments and regulators, non-governmental organisations, users and customers.

Our local team is supported by our international corporate team of over 230 lawyers based in Europe and Asia Pacific and recognised as a leader in corporate finance, private equity and M&A. The team is actively engaged with companies looking to participate in the expanding economy of the Middle East including listing work, private placements, joint ventures and acquisitions and disposals in the region. Our work includes liaising with local regulators and government bodies such as free zone authorities and Central Banks. Our services include:

• M&A – advising all parties in relation to corporate

acquisitions and disposals, cross-border transactions with a Middle East element, auction sales, public to privates, mergers and group reorganisations.

• L istings and capital markets – advising on listings on international capital markets (including on the Nasdaq Dubai), public company takeovers, delistings, alternative investment vehicles and strategic investments, as well as secondary issues. • P rivate equity – advising on private equity transactions of all sizes, from large leveraged buy-outs to venture capital deals, for a mixture of private equity houses, private equity-backed companies and management teams. • Joint ventures – advising on joint venture agreements and disputes, shareholders agreements, share option and management incentive arrangements. • Commercial contracts – advising on distribution and agency agreements, contractual and strategic joint ventures, partnership arrangements and framework relationships, supply chain management, management, franchise and asset lease or licence arrangements.

Our local team is supported by a global team of over 140 lawyers. Our online service, Out-Law.com, is acclaimed as the leading website for legal information and news. Our experience of working with a broad range of TMT sector players means we have insight into the commercial drivers for all parties to a TMT project or agreement. We will provide you with advice based on best international practice and tailored to the unique requirements of the local market in which our clients operate. This experience has been gained through working across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa. Our services include:

• Telecoms – providing full service commercial and

regulatory legal support, including in respect of new market entries, infrastructure-related issues and telecoms services contracting.

• Technology & outsourcing – advising on technology

projects and procurement, outsourcing of IT, support and business functions and on all aspects of software licensing, development and distribution arrangements.

• Content & media – advising on all aspects of content and new media applications, as well as production, artist and sponsorship arrangements.

• Regulatory – providing regulatory support, be it in respect of licensing, compliance, consultation/lobbying strategies and regulatory support for everyday operational issues.

• E-commerce – providing full service support for all

e-commerce and m-commerce arrangements, including commercial contracting and compliance with relevant e-commerce and data protection laws and regulations.

• Intellectual property & franchising – advising on IP

registrations, enforcement and portfolio management, licensing of IP rights and franchising arrangements.

Pinsent Masons | Regional presence, international expertise

International reach In addition to our UAE and Qatar offices and network of high quality law firms across the Middle East, we serve the following jurisdictions. Asia Pacific

Americas

We work closely with colleagues based in Pinsent Masons’ offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and our association in Singapore. More than 70 lawyers based in these offices operate across the Asia Pacific region including in Macau, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Japan, Laos, Cambodia and Korea.

To ensure our clients get access to the highest quality advice, we co-operate with a network of well-established and specialist US law firms. This approach allows us access to the highest quality US law advice, tailored to our clients’ needs and co-ordinated through us to meet commercial objectives and timelines.

India

We have also been involved with numerous transactions in South America, in recent years working in ten countries across the continent, including Brazil, Chile, Guyana, Panama and Venezeula.

We provide an international counsel service on projects relating to India. For those clients with regular business operations in India, our associations with leading Indian law firms affords access to first class day to day Indian legal services. We are ranked as a leading foreign law firm by India Business Journal and Asialaw. Europe With over 1,400 Common and Civil Law qualified lawyers throughout our 12 European offices, we are well placed to handle multi-jurisdictional matters. In addition to our international headquarters in London we have offices in across the UK and in Paris, Munich and Istanbul. We are the only full-service law firm to have offices in all three UK jurisdictions with offices in Aberdeen, Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester. We also have an office in the Falkland Islands.

Our offices worldwide Doha PO Box 22758 Tornado Tower West Bay Doha State of Qatar T: +974 4426 9200 F: +974 4426 9201

Belfast The Soloist Building 1 Lanyon Place Belfast BT1 3LP UK T: +44 (0)28 9089 4800 F: +44 (0)28 9089 4801

Dubai Level 8 The H Hotel, Office Tower (formerly known as The Monarch Office Tower) One Sheikh Zayed Road PO Box 115580 Dubai United Arab Emirates T: +971 (0)4 373 9700 F: +971 (0)4 373 9701

Birmingham 3 Colmore Circus Birmingham B4 6BH UK T: +44 (0)121 200 1050 F: +44 (0)121 626 1040

London 30 Crown Place (Headquarters) Earl Street London EC2A 4ES UK T: +44 (0)20 7418 7000 F: +44 (0)20 7418 7050 Aberdeen 13 Queen’s Road Aberdeen AB15 4YL UK T: +44 (0)1224 377 900 F: +44 (0)1224 377 901 Beijing 10th Floor Beijing China Resources Building No 8 Jianguo Menbei Avenue Beijing 100005 PRC T: +86 10 8519 0011 F: +86 10 8519 0022

*Representative office Correct as of 1 July 2015.

Brussels* Office 15 4 rue de la Presse 1000 Brussels Belgium T: +44 20 7418 7000 F: +44 20 7418 7050

Glasgow 141 Bothwell Street Glasgow G2 7EQ UK T: +44 (0)141 567 8400 F: +44 (0)141 567 8401 123 St Vincent Street Glasgow G2 5EA UK T: +44 (0)141 248 4858 F: +44 (0)141 248 6655 Hong Kong 50th Floor Central Plaza 18 Harbour Road Wan Chai Hong Kong T: +852 2521 5621 F: +852 2845 2956

Edinburgh Princes Exchange 1 Earl Grey Street Edinburgh EH3 9AQ UK T: +44 (0)131 777 7000 F: +44 (0)131 777 7003

Istanbul Büyükdere Caddesi No 127, Astoria B Kule, Kat 5, No 13-14-15-16 Esentepe 34394 Şişli Istanbul Turkey T: +90 212 336 6050 F: +90 212 336 6051

Third Floor Quay 2 139 Fountainbridge Edinburgh EH3 9QG UK T: +44 (0)131 225 0000 F: +44 (0)131 225 0099

Leeds 1 Park Row Leeds LS1 5AB UK T: +44 (0)113 244 5000 F: +44 (0)113 244 8000

Falkland Islands 56 John Street PO Box 21 Stanley Falkland Islands T: +500 22690 F: +500 22689

Manchester 3 Hardman Street Manchester M3 3AU UK T: +44 (0)161 234 8234 F: +44 (0)161 234 8235

Melbourne Level 23 360 Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia T: +61 3 9909 2500 F: +61 3 9909 2501 Munich Ottostrasse 21 80333 Munich Germany T: +49 (0)89 203043 500 F: +49 (0)89 203043 501 Paris 21 – 23, rue Balzac 75008 Paris France T: +33 1 53 53 02 80 F: +33 1 53 53 02 81 Shanghai Room 4605 Park Place 1601 Nanjing West Road Shanghai 200040 PRC T: +8621 6321 1166 F: +8621 6329 2696 Singapore 16 Collyer Quay #22-00 Singapore 049318 T: +65 (0)63 050 929 F: +65 (0)65 343 412 Sydney Level 5 2 Bulletin Place Sydney NSW 2000 Australia T: +61 2 8024 2800 F: +61 2 8024 2801

Pinsent Masons LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales (registered number: OC333653) authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the appropriate regulatory body in the other jurisdictions in which it operates. The word ‘partner’, used in relation to the LLP, refers to a member of the LLP or an employee or consultant of the LLP or any affiliated firm of equivalent standing. A list of the members of the LLP, and of those non-members who are designated as partners, is displayed at the LLP’s registered office: 30 Crown Place, London EC2A 4ES, United Kingdom. We use ‘Pinsent Masons’ to refer to Pinsent Masons LLP, its subsidiaries and any affiliates which it or its partners operate as separate businesses for regulatory or other reasons. Reference to ‘Pinsent Masons’ is to Pinsent Masons LLP and/or one or more of those subsidiaries or affiliates as the context requires. © Pinsent Masons LLP 2015. For a full list of our locations around the globe please visit our websites:

www.pinsentmasons.com/middle-east

www.Out-Law.com