A&O Shearman fields a skilled team advising sponsors, lenders, developers, and sovereign entities on major Gulf projects, particularly within the oil and gas, maritime, and power sectors. The firm remains at the forefront of the UAE’s PPP and procurement regulatory developments and is actively engaged in energy and infrastructure projects across Saudi Arabia. Team head Joe Clinton is a trusted adviser on financing, development, and bidding processes. Judith Kim is a go-to for oil and gas matters, while Elliott Sawford is noted for his ‘deep expertise in PPP and project finance’. Sachin Karia handles social infrastructure developments, Kyle Nevin is key for petrochemicals, and Omar Alkaffas leads mandates for marquee sovereign clients.

Demonstrating excellence across a variety of energy and infrastructure assets, Ashurst LLP maintains a leading position in the Middle East projects market, with a team of advisors well-placed to act on complex, cross-border financing, procurement, development and M&A instructions. Featuring a pre-eminent PFI/PPP offering, the team is also routinely sought out by government and corporates to act as key counsel on a number of critical big city infrastructure projects in the UAE. Team lead David Charlier’s broad skillset is frequently utilised by sponsors, lenders and governments engaged with energy, digital infrastructure and social infrastructure projects. Joss Dare is chiefly recognised for his proficiency handling transport projects. Grant Batten has experience acting for sovereign-backed entities. Natasha Kavanagh, who was promoted to partner in May 2024, is a financing specialist. Stuart James also comes recommended.

 

A ‘highly knowledgeable and exceptional team with deep understanding of the contracts on both project as well as financing side‘, Clifford Chance advises on landmark energy and infrastructure projects across the Middle East, with asset engagement that spans solar, hydrogen, oil and gas, and independent power and water projects. Mohamed Hamra-Krouha and Richard Parris co-lead the practice, with the former highly regarded for his understanding of both the UAE and Saudi Arabian markets, and the latter for his extensive energy offering that includes petrochemicals, renewables and utilities. Edmund Boyo has recently been active on the development and financing of oil and gas-related ventures. Graham Brewer is chiefly recognised for his borrower and lender side project finance practice, and Inaamul Laher for his engagement with social infrastructure and real estate ventures. Nicholas Wong is active on cross-border mandates involving the Middle East, APAC, Central and Eastern Europe, and North Africa. Chirag Sanghrajka, who joined from Latham & Watkins LLP in October 2023, and Jeremy Barker, promoted to partner in May 2024, provide further project finance capabilities. Noelle Alphonso-Loong also comes recommended.

Linklaters ‘ ‘fantastic, experienced team’ continues to be active on market-leading projects across the Middle East, including major oil and gas developments and expansions, marquee green hydrogen projects, and large-scale renewable builds. The firm acts as trusted counsel to a number of the region’s most prominent public bodies and sovereign-backed entities, as well as multinational sponsors, developers and lenders. Matthew Keats spearheads the practice and is reputed for the breadth of his asset engagement, regularly overseeing project finance and development instructions. Co-head David Miles financing practice covers conventional and Islamic structures. Jack Allen-Fitt leverages his construction and engineering background to comprehensively advise clients on key project issues, particularly in the energy transition. Jonathan Vick‘s offering includes financing, development and M&A counsel. Leila Amos also comes recommended.

Praised for its ‘outstanding‘ legal acumen and commercial understanding, White & Case LLP is frequently engaged by corporates and sovereign-backed entities on complex mandates across the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where it advises prominent clients such as NEOM, Saudi Aramco, and the Public Investment Fund on greenfield projects in energy transition and social infrastructure. Adam Pierson leads the team, serving as a principal advisor to Saudi Aramco, with projects and PPP specialist Antoine Cousin also providing extensive support across project portfolios. Co-head Yasser Riad is recognised for his work with EWEC on both new ventures and existing assets. Mark Andrews and Claire Patrick joined from the London office in 2024, adding further expertise. Jennifer Riddle left the firm in March 2025.

Transport infrastructure mandates form a substantial component of the work the team at CMS routinely engages with, including advising on new transport schemes, procurement and logistic issues, and project development and operational issues. Outside of this, the team is also highly active on power and utilities work, with expanded capabilities in this space through the arrival of Keith Bullen from EY in April 2024. David Moore is widely praised for his skill in project development skill and is a specialist in the rail sector. Iona Hunter and Sam Ridge are a key supporting presence across the full spread of practice mandates.

 

Dentons handles high-end project finance and development work, demonstrating activity on large scale renewable developments, district cooling projects, waste-to-energy ventures, and social, transport and tourism infrastructure builds. Team head Jon Nash is praised as an ‘excellent advisor with deep knowledge of the sector’, advising a range of sponsors, developers and lenders on complex projects across the Gulf region. Udayan Mukherjee and Stephen Knight are both recognised for their project finance expertise, having acted for both borrowers and lenders across a number of project types. Kanishka Singh leverages previous in-house experience to comprehensively advise clients on energy transition, social infrastructure, and transport projects.

DLA Piper has strengthened its Middle Eastern projects team with the addition of Nacim Bounouara who relocated from the firm’s London office to lead the practice. Bounouara brings additional project development and finance expertise to a team actively involved in complex energy and infrastructure projects throughout the Gulf. Robert Harker offers recognised Independent Water and Power experience, while Adam Haque is well-positioned to advise on utilities and energy transition matters. Mona Hammadi, who was promoted to partner in April 2024, continues to provide key procurement, development and financing counsel to sponsors, lenders and government-backed entities.

A firm praised for its ‘depth of experience and knowledge in the market‘, King & Spalding LLP‘s ascendant projects team has been strengthened further through the arrival of ex-Ashurst duo Simon Fraser and Matt Hartsuyker in December 2023, who are well-placed to advise on M&A, joint ventures and investments within the energy, natural resources and infrastructure spaces. Named as Global Head of Energy in February 2024, Dan Feldman is active on marquee projects across the region, particularly cutting-edge hydrogen ventures. Co-head Tim Burbury is a key figure for gigaprojects and a go-to for many industry players and state-owned entities, while Brendan Hundt is highlighted for his extensive work on decarbonisation and energy transition mandates.

With a presence in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Norton Rose Fulbright regularly advises on civil infrastructure and utility projects, including Independent Water Projects covering sewage treatment, desalination, and reverse osmosis, as well as transport systems. The firm also handles district cooling ventures, renewable project bidding, financing and development, and commercial agreements in digital infrastructure. Team lead Angela Croker, a project finance specialist, is frequently sought after by sponsors, lenders, and government-backed entities across the Gulf. Projects and construction lawyer Nicholas Kramer co-leads the practice and offers investment, development, and commercial insight, while Paul Mansouri is noted for his project finance and PPP expertise. Lindsay Crawford is active in project finance transactions, and Prakruthi Gowda joined the team from Clifford Chance  in March 2024.

Bracewell LLP handles a steady stream of complex, first-of-its-kind renewable and energy transition projects across the Gulf, with notable activity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The firm has a strong roster of lenders that includes prominent export agencies, regional and international financial institutions, and investment banks, as well as an extensive list of sponsors and developers that include state-backed entities. Andrej Kormuth helms the group and is active for sponsors and lenders across project bidding, finance, development, procurement and M&A. Tom Swarbrick is a non-contentious construction lawyer with a strong track record in digital infrastructure, energy transition and renewable builds. The supporting team of associates includes Amelia Bowring, Shayan Najib, Nick Meyer and Tess Luijc. Kasia Lebiecki left the practice in February 2024.

Known for its strong procurement and PPP expertise, Eversheds Sutherland LLP advises on energy and infrastructure projects across sub-sectors including solar, water treatment, and transport, with a primary focus on the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Praised as one of the market’s ‘most outstanding lawyers‘, practice lead Ashley Halewood provides comprehensive project support, overseeing acquisition, financing, development, and commercial and financial closures. Adite Aloke supports the full range of practice mandates.

Working across the full spectrum of project counsel from a lenders, sponsors and borrowers focus, Latham & Watkins LLP advises on energy and infrastructure builds across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and wider Gulf region. The group’s far-reaching expertise includes M&A and investments, financing, procurement, and capital markets work. Team lead Villiers Terblanche is a key contact to marquee clients in Saudi Arabia and has deep experience in the oil and gas sector.

Pinsent Masons LLP is able to competently advise across a range of sectors in multiple jurisdictions, with a balanced portfolio of mandates from government entities, developers, procurers, and lenders. The firm has notable strength in water infrastructure projects, including large-scale desalination, wastewater treatment, and reverse osmosis plants. Catherine Workman, known for her expertise in social infrastructure, co-leads the practice with Tim Armsby, who oversees mandates from the firm's Saudi Arabian offices. Gurmeet Kaur serves as the primary advisor on numerous projects, drawing on in-depth knowledge of PPP frameworks. David Platt brings valuable finance and development insights, while Matthew Escritt is recognised for his financing expertise. Albert Kromm and Chris Hall are also key contacts.

Al Tamimi & Company‘s client roster features large-cap private sponsors, multinational lenders, and state-backed entities who seek out the firm for project finance and project development capabilities, typically instructed in a local counsel role on projects in the UAE and elsewhere in the region. Team lead Mark Brown is highly active on banking and finance instructions, not only handling greenfield transactions but also the debt finance for energy and infrastructure M&A. Jody Waugh provides further finance expertise, and Thomas Calvert is reputed for his oil and gas capabilities.

 

Baker Botts L.L.P. is well-placed to advise on project bidding, frequently representing lenders within bidding consortia. The firm also has specialist expertise in a number of project types, including utilities, district cooling and waste-to-energy developments. Shane Wilson, who joined the firm in June 2023 from Squire Patton Boggs, spearheads the practice and has a broad practice that includes sponsors, lenders and government entities. Global head of construction Stuart Jordan relocated to Dubai from London in August 2024 and brings further projects capabilities to the fore. Chad Passlow leverages previous in-house experience at ADNOC to adeptly advise on oil and gas and energy transition projects.

Highly regarded for its oil and gas expertise, Gibson Dunn is highly active overseeing projects-related M&A, working for a prolific list of global asset managers, state-backed entities, and marquee sponsors across the region. The firm also leverages its international network to advise lenders and borrowers on project finance and refinancings. Renad Younes helms the group and is active on both greenfield and brownfield transactions, particularly in the oil and gas sector. Samuel Ogunlaja has a cross-border practice that covers the Middle East and North Africa and routinely sees him advise on conventional and renewable energy projects. Andrea Calla continues to be a supporting presence across a wide range of mandates.

 

Gowling WLG‘s established Middle East projects offering covers PPP, conventional, renewable, utilities and social infrastructure builds, with strong expertise in conventional and Islamic project finance. Group head Jonathan Brufal compliments his skilled project finance and development capabilities with the ability to oversee key commercial agreements, including PPAs and EPCs. Co-lead Imran Mufti is chiefly recognised for his proficiency in project finance and acts for international banks on Islamic-compliant structures in the Middle Eastern and African markets. Halima Ansari also comes recommended.

Hadef & Partners is engaged across a broad spectrum of projects, including conventional and renewable energy developments, critical civil infrastructure, and water treatment facilities. The firm is well-regarded for its project finance expertise, including Islamic financing, and offers robust regulatory support. Team lead Catriona McDevitt is a key advisor to sponsors, contractors, and financial institutions, handling a diverse range of assets. Alan Rodgers provides commercial counsel covering contracts, corporate governance, and financial regulation. Ajai Ramakrishnan and Aziz Yasin lend further support across multiple projects.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP is active on projects across the Gulf, Africa and Asia, demonstrating extensive asset understanding and a strong focus on brownfield transactions. Patricia Tiller leads the group and has a practice that largely concentrates on commercial agreements for multinational sponsors. James Comyn splits his time between London and Dubai and is sought out by oil and gas players of M&A, joint venture and investment counsel. Martin A. Skehill provides project finance and development capabilities.

Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP leverages the full scale of its Middle East practice to competently advise clients on energy and infrastructure projects, covering M&A, finance, project development, and disputes. The practice is co-led by Rustum Shah and Ron Nobbs, with the former focused on project finance for financial institutions and the latter highly regarded for his track record in construction and engineering disputes. In addition, Diwakar Agarwal regularly acts on M&A in the technology, healthcare and energy sectors. Toufic Safie continues to be active on social infrastructure mandates, while Murtaza Hussain is instrumental to the firm’s cross-border project financings. Iwan Walters joined the firm in March 2025.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP advises on major energy projects across the GCC, with particular strength in power and water developments, as well as key infrastructure initiatives including ports and transport ventures. Thomas Wigley heads the team from Oman and is a sought after advisor to a variety of multinationals and public bodies. Co-head Hasan Rahman has extensive experience handling project development and commercial instructions. Brad Sandford joined from Ashurst in June 2024 and provides further project finance expertise.

Watson Farley & Williams' Middle East projects team advises on energy, infrastructure, and natural resources across the Middle East and North Africa. The firm supports clients with power, oil and gas, mining, and transport projects, covering development, financing, M&A, and disputes for regional and international companies. Mhairi Main Garcia leads the practice and leverages over twenty years of market experience to comprehensively advise clients across conventional, energy transition, and infrastructure projects. Co-head Alhassane Barry is noted for his skill in project finance. Amoetsoe Mkwena also comes recommended.