A firm praised for its ‘excellent knowledge of local markets, pragmatism, and an all-round very knowledgeable team’, Akin‘s UAE team acts as a core component of a wider international practice that adeptly advises domestic and global clients on sanctions, trade compliance and export controls. Group heads Mahmoud Fadlallah and Lauren Talerman are ‘outstanding’ and ‘demonstrate exceptional depth of knowledge’ across the full range of white collar investigations and compliance instructions, with the former particularly well-regarded for his understanding of US sanctions and export-control regulations and the latter for her work with various US public bodies and agencies. Zahra Mashhood widely supports practice mandates.

Baker McKenzie LLP delivers a comprehensive regulatory and investigations offering, covering financial crime, money laundering, sanctions and export controls. The team advises on local, GCC, EU and US regulations, and has a strong track record counselling clients on business-critical international, DFSA, FSRA, AML and ABAC investigations and requests. Helming the practice is Borys Dackiw, a highly experienced practitioner who acts for industry players, asset managers, financial institutions and family offices across the Middle East on the full range of compliance matters. Joanna Matthews-Taylor has recently been active on anti-corruption and anti-money laundering matters. Samir-Safar Aly left the firm in 2025.

Clyde & Co LLP's strength lies in its deep bench of experienced practitioners who offer support across regulation, compliance, investigations, and litigation. The team advises on health and safety, employment, and audit inquiries, financial crime matters, and data and cyber security incidents, leveraging extensive experience working with regulatory and government bodies across the Middle East, Europe, and the US. Rebecca Kelly leads the group, specialising in assisting multinational clients with navigating regulatory oversight across the various jurisdictions in which they operate. Mark Beswetherick handles commercial litigation and internal regulations, and Sara Khoja is a key name for employment matters. Olivia Darlington focuses on data and cyber breaches.

 

 

DLA Piper has a strong focus on economic sanctions and export controls, offering expert advice on complex, cross-border investigations and compliance issues. The team is also well-placed to handle a broad range of matters including fraud, bribery, money laundering, sanctions breaches, cyber-security issues, and supply chain and ESG concerns. Group lead Andrew Mackenzie is recognised for his skill in commercial litigation, while co-lead Adam Vause leverages over twenty years of investigative experience to comprehensively advise a strong roster of international and regional clients on regulatory and compliance issues and reporting obligations to regulators in a number of jurisdictions. Ramsey Jurdi is praised as a ‘highly knowledgeable partner with a practical, proactive approach’ and acts on regulatory and enforcement matters arising from economic sanctions. Laura Shingler also comes recommended.

Jones Day team offers extensive expertise in navigating complex cross-border investigations, combining US legal knowledge with in-depth local understanding of the UAE and wider MENA regulatory framework. The team specialises in defending clients in regulatory proceedings, particularly in relation to U.S. law enforcement agencies such as the DOJ, SEC, and OFAC, and is skilled in overseeing investigations, internal compliance, and risk management processes. Sheila Shadmand helms the practice and has longstanding experience leading investigations across the Middle East and is often sought out by multinational clients for compliance with US regulations. Heather Martin has a background in commercial litigation and focuses on white collar crime matters.

A 'very solid and dependable team with excellent technical knowledge', Norton Rose Fulbright excels in handling DFSA and FSRA enforcement matters for domestic clients engaged in Dubai’s financial markets. The firm is well-equipped to manage issues related to virtual assets, investigations into alleged systems and controls failures, and enforcement actions concerning funds. Matthew Shanahan helms the team and is praised as 'the best regulatory lawyer in the region', possessing a strong contentious and non-contentious practice and close connections to the key UAE regulators. Hasanali Pirbhai supports across a wide range of matters and is well-equipped to act on internal investigations.

Dentons leverages its global platform and strong team of practitioners to act on complex, multijurisdictional cases involving investigations and regulatory enforcement proceedings. Recently, the firm has been engaged with allegations of corruption, fraud and money laundering, compliance with sanctions, and providing assessments on internal processes. Team head Christopher Brennan is lauded as 'one of the best in the business' and represents major multinational and regional clients on high-stakes investigations, compliance matters, and appeal instructions. Co-head Shiraz Sethi handles employment-related issues. David Slim also comes recommended.

Eversheds Sutherland LLP’s team is well-placed to handle a wide array of client instructions, including compliance with regulatory bodies in the UAE and wider Gulf states, sanctions counsel, and investigations into both allegations and internal processes. Rebecca Copley leads the group and is the go-to for financial services matters, possessing an ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of local and offshore banking and regulatory law’. Lisa Bryson handles a wealth of corporate investigations recently involving whistleblowing, data breaches, and bullying and harassment claims. Shibani Kapur is strong in financial and white-collar crime issues. Gillian Flannighan also comes recommended.

 

Hadef & Partners LLC offers comprehensive support in financial crime and corporate investigations, drawing on its multidisciplinary expertise in employment, construction, and intellectual property to manage complex matters. The firm is regularly engaged in instructions relating to anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, and asset recovery matters, helping clients navigate proceedings and responding to requests from regulatory bodies. Team head Walid Azzam has established strength in banking and finance cases, with a robust rack record in asset tracing and recovery. Co-head Karim Mahmoud is a skilled litigator and represents international clients across the UAE courts. Taher Abdeen Ibrahim has recently been active on money laundering and fraud issues. Mohammed Abbas provides further disputes capabilities.

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP provides support to financial institutions and corporates on regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings across the UAE and wider Middle East. The group is active on allegations of fraud, bribery, corruption and money laundering, and also possesses a strong litigation offering, handling contentious investigations that progress to the UAE courts. The 'superb' Payam Beheshti leads the practice and is particularly well-regarded for his strength in regulatory investigations involving financial institutions. Co-head Muneer Khan is reputed for his financial services regulatory practice. David McDonald oversees the firm's employment offering and is active on investigations and disputes.

Squire Patton Boggs is trusted by a range of international and regional governments, corporates and financial institutions for support with potential breaches of sanctions, conducting internal investigations, liaising with stakeholders, and defending against claims. The firm also has a strong track record in anti-money laundering, anti-bribery, and corruption issues. Richard Gibbon helms the team and has a broad practice which covers sanctions, financial crime, and enforcement actions. Katy Fisher and Malak Abbas have a strong understanding of US and UN sanctions.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP‘s team specialises in handling complex investigations, offering strategic guidance on areas such as financial crime, anti-bribery, asset tracing, whistleblowing, and emerging issues like virtual assets and cybercrime. Sara Sheffield has a broad remit of work including cross-border commercial disputes, fraud, asset tracing and recovery, contentious insolvency, and regulatory investigations. Ghassan El Daye focuses on civil litigation. John Lewis left the firm in 2024.

Clifford Chance advises a range of corporates and financial institutions on an array of compliance and regulatory matters, working closely with bodies such as the DFSA, FSRA, UAE Central Bank, and Securities and Commodities Authority. Team co-head Paul Coates is active on domestic and cross-border investigations, while fellow co-head Jack Hardman is reputed for his financial services regulatory experience. Prachi Trivedi widely supports team mandates. James Abbott left the firm.

CMS made a significant impression on the UAE market with the hire of James Abbott from Clifford Chance in January 2024. Praised as a ‘star player in the Dubai disputes scene’, Abbott has a strong client roster and is well-versed in matters relating to corporate crime, sanctions, and regulatory enforcement. Stephanie Melone has expertise in banking and finance matters.

Reed Smith has a practice well-geared towards handling sensitive sanctions instructions, working for a strong roster of domestic and multinational clients on compliance, applications, and internal reviews. Spearheading the group is James Willn who has notable experience within the energy, financial services and maritime sectors; his practice covers litigation and contentious and non contentious sanctions work. Finlay Donaldson supports across the full range of team mandates.