A&O Shearman‘s team advises on the establishment of various asset management products, including private equity, credit, infrastructure, and real estate funds. With expertise in Shari’ah-compliant structures and regional regulations, the team supports sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and family offices throughout the fund cycle. Kamar Jaffer has a broad practice that includes both fund establishment and fund investment matters; she jointly heads the team with Jodi Norman, who provides crucial regulatory advice to fund managers and is noted for her knowledge of novel financial products. Rory Page, who joined from Travers Smith LLP‘s London office in January 2024, is highly active on fund establishment instructions.

Lauded as one of the ‘best funds teams in the GCC’, King & Spalding LLP‘s full-service practice is highly regarded for its fund formation expertise, advising marquee sponsors and asset managers on diverse structures, including real estate funds, REITs, and venture capital funds. James Stull is active across the full range of the firm’s sponsor-side fund formation matters and is noted for his knowledge of regional securities laws. Nabil Issa is chiefly recognised for his work in Saudi Arabia, with his in-depth understanding of the Capital Market Authority’s regulatory framework making him a sought-after advisor for both domestically domiciled funds and foreign funds. Macky O’Sullivan is valued by clients for his complementary venture capital funds and venture capital transactional practice. Dounia Mansour, who covers a broad range of funds work, has a strong track record in Shari’ah compliant structures. Sayf Shuqair‘s experience in the Kingdom allows him to comprehensively advise on Saudi Arabian fund structures.

 

 

Highly regarded for its strength handling LP-side instructions, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP acts for some of the region’s pre-eminent sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, and family offices on investments into a variety of funds, including private credit, venture capital, real estate and infrastructure. The firm also has an extensive fund formation offering that is complemented by the team’s understanding of Shari’ah structures. Team co-head Ayman Khaleq is a trusted advisor on cross-border transactions and UAE regulatory developments, while co-head William Nash has a strong track record in infrastructure fund formation. Alishia Sullivan is sought after by sovereign and pension funds for comprehensive funds counsel. Carolyn Abram is valued for her fund formation expertise. Andrea Dougall also comes recommended.

 

Norton Rose Fulbright is lauded as a ‘leading funds practice that is always ahead of the curve in terms of legislative developments and commercial mindset’, advising a diverse mix of regional and global clients on Islamic and conventional funds. The team has recently seen increasing instructions on sustainability, digital asset, and infrastructure-focused funds, providing establishment advice both locally and internationally. Zubair Mir ‘possesses a fantastic balance of experience and market awareness’, maintaining strong ties with leading Abu Dhabi-based investors and asset managers. Geoffroy Hermanns offers extensive expertise in fund formation, investment, and regulatory matters. Shakir Mogalia provides support across the full spectrum of mandates.

Addleshaw Goddard  manages a diverse portfolio of GP and LP-side instructions, including fund establishment in the ADGM, DIFC, and international jurisdictions. The firm’s broad capabilities span private equity, venture capital, real estate, and Shari’ah-compliant funds, as well as novel tokenised funds. Group lead Philip Dowsett advises on the full fund life cycle, from fund formation and structuring through to exits and disposals. Anna Zeitlin‘s arrival from PwC Legal in May 2024 further strengthens the firm’s regulatory offering.

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP is well positioned to advise on the formation and structuring of Islamic and conventional open and closed-ended funds for regional and global asset managers, with notable expertise in public fund launches. Muneer Khan is highly regarded for his dual focus on funds and financial services regulation. James Coleman handles fund investment and capital deployment matters, while Sami Ben Dechiche supports on fund establishment, closings, and regulatory compliance.

 

 

White & Case LLP significantly bolstered its UAE offering with the hire of ex-Dechert LLP duo Phillip Sacks and Yannick Whorms in December 2023, with the former now leading the practice. Sacks is widely regarded for his ‘breadth and depth of knowledge that is near-unparalleled in the region’, advising an extensive roster of financial institutions, fund managers and sovereign wealth funds on onshore and offshore conventional and Shari’ah-compliant investment funds. Whorms acts on the formation of funds across a variety of asset classes, while Julien Bensaid primarily focuses on LP-side instructions. Marie-Sophie Bandeira Vieira and Jack Meegan also come recommended.