Banking & Finance

Banking & Finance

Hadef & Partners has acknowledged expertise in banking and finance. Our clients include financial institutions, corporations, governmental authorities, issuers, arrangers, underwriters, project sponsors and private equity participants in a range of sectors.

We routinely advise on acquisition finance, project and other structured finance transactions, privatisation, rescheduling and corporate restructuring, asset finance, and debt capital market transactions.

Our firm regularly acts on a variety of Islamic finance structures and transactions, working closely with specialist boards and scholars. We have also been involved in groundbreaking public private partnerships (PPPs) and a range of fund structures.

We have been involved in all of the UAE’s water, power and sewage infrastructure projects and advise lenders, sponsors and government entities in this respect in addition to having advised major real estate developers and banks in financing a range of real estate and hospitality projects.

We maintain excellent working relationships with global law firms in the US, UK, Europe, and the Far East, and as a result we participate in many cross-border transactions that have an impact in the UAE. We are often the first choice UAE law firm for issuance of UAE legal opinions to foreign lenders and as a result we are regularly involved in the most high-profile financings in the region.

We work with a range of international banks with regional headquarters or branches in the UAE. Our work with international banks is varied and can relate to strategic advisory, operational or project-related transactions.

Hadef & Partners is on the panel of lawyers for many international and regional banks.

In addition, we remain at the forefront of financial services regulation and the drafting of new laws, including preparation of the laws. We have drafted numerous Federal and Emirate-specific laws and treaties, as well as a range of project-specific decrees for establishing corporate entities or for implementing projects.

A substantial component of our expertise lies in our knowledge of the UAE market, its practices, procedures and the workings of UAE regulatory bodies such as the Central Bank, Federal Ministries, DFSA, DIFC, ESCA, local governmental authorities and other agencies.

Clients engage us on the following:

  • financial services regulatory work
  • DIFC incorporation of funds work
  • UAE debt capital market bonds and Sukuks
  • banking litigation and arbitration
  • project finance
  • corporate finance
  • construction and real estate finance
  • Islamic finance - Murabaha, Istisna’a, Mudaraba, Musharaka and Ijara financing instruments and Wakala
  • acquisition finance
  • corporate restructuring for stressed and distressed entities
  • PPPs and privatisation
  • all types of credit facilities, club and syndicated loans
  • ship, aircraft and asset finance
  • security arrangements and documentation
  • derivatives and other financial products and investments
  • forms of guarantees and available shareholder and government support mechanisms.

Working together with our Financial Services, Corporate, Dispute Resolution, Real Estate and Mergers & Acquisitions teams, we offer clients a seamless experience.

  • “They provide timely follow-up on all matters.”

    Chambers Global, 2023

  • “Great bench depth across the banking team.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “An excellent firm and I have had great experience working with them.”

    Chambers Global, 2022

  • Clients praise Hadef & Partners' “extremely wide-ranging and extensive knowledge in the international field,” pointing to the firm as a “stellar leader in the legal field in the UAE.”

    Chambers Global, 2022

  • Recognised Lawyer in Project Finance

    Whos Who Legal, 2021

  • ‘Excellent banking team who provide commercial and high quality technical advice. ’

    Legal 500, 2021

  • Technically very good, very thorough. Easy to work with’

    Legal 500, 2021

  • One source endorses the firm for its "strength and depth in understanding the complex and untested areas of UAE law when taking projects into a space where, if it is the first of its kind, issues arise." The same interviewee adds: "They have access to people that most firms don't necessarily have."

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • One source stated: "I think they give very strong expertise. They weigh up all the arguments and strategy, which is very helpful. They have a depth of experience."

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • Another client said: "They're proactive problem solvers, always trying to seek a solution in the best interests of all parties, in order to get the deal done."

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • Ranked as Eminent Practioner

    Chambers Global, 2020

  • Clients laud the firm for its “deep knowledge of the local regulations.”

    Chambers Global, 2020

  • “They have in-depth local knowledge as well as using their international practice as best as possible given the local context - they get that balance right.”

    Chambers Global, 2019

  • “Hadef & Partners LLC provides ‘among the best service of any Emirati law firm, with thoughtful and commercial advice’.”

    Legal 500, 2018

  • “They're excellent in terms of efficiency and technical ability.”

    Chambers Global, 2018

  • “I was very satisfied with the quality and delivery of work.”

    Client, 2017

  • “Hadef & Partners LLC exhibits strong ‘knowledge of the local market’.”

    Legal 500, 2017

  • “The firm has international-calibre lawyers with local UAE knowledge.”

    Chambers Global, 2016

  • “Alan Rodgers, and the Banking & Finance team at Hadef & Partners know how to get complex cross-border transactions done. Their understanding of multiple governing law agreements helped us to complete our transaction.”

    Steve Khayat, Senior Vice President – Corporate Finance, Arab Investment Company

  • "Hadef & Partners is ‘excellent in all respects: timely, thorough, effective, solution-oriented and knowledgeable’."

    Legal 500, 2015

  • "A bastion of local law expertise, frequently engaged as local counsel on large-scale banking and finance deals or to handle regulatory matters. Notably experienced in the financing of real estate developments and energy projects."

    Chambers Global 2015

  • "They are proactive, able to think ahead and find solutions, and pay a lot of attention to detail."

    Chambers Global 2015

  • A trusted choice as local counsel, thanks to its in-depth understanding of the UAE market and deep bench of finance lawyers. Frequently advises corporate issuers on a range of bond, sukuk and share capital offerings.

    Chambers Global 2015

  • Often a first port of call when clients or international firms require in depth advice on local banking and finance matters. Well versed in Islamic finance, infrastructure and projects and regulatory services.

    Chambers Global 2014

  • The breadth of their large-scale financing knowledge is great. It's among the handful of go-to firms in the UAE.

    Chambers Global 2013

  • This local favourite is often a first point of contact for international firms and clients seeking UAE law advice on project financing transactions.

    Chambers Global 2013

  • Among the top UAE law firms for finance-related matters’, Hadef & Partners ‘scores highly in terms of quality, promptness of response and market knowledge’.

    Legal 500 2013

  • Finalist for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2022

    Finalist for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2022

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • Winner for Managing Partner of the Year

    Winner - Managing Partner of the Year 2020

    By : IFLR Middle East Awards

    Lawyer : Dr. Faraj Ahnish

  • Honourable mention for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2019

    Honourable mention for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2019

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Highly regarded for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2019

    Highly regarded for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2019

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2019

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2019

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2018

    Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2018

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year – Large Practice 2018

    Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year – Large Practice 2018

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2018

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2018

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • Projects and Project Financing Firm of the Year 2017

    Projects and Project Financing Firm of the Year 2017

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-House Survey

  • Most Responsive Domestic Firm of the Year 2017

    Most Responsive Domestic Firm of the Year 2017

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-House Survey

  • Honourable Mention for Banking & Finance Firm of the Year 2017

    Honourable Mention for Banking & Finance Firm of the Year 2017

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-House Survey

  • Domestic Deal of the Year 2017 (International Petroleum Investment Company / Mubadala Development Company merger)

    By : IFLR Middle East Awards

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2017

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2017

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • Shortlisted for Banking & Finance Team of the Year 2016

    Shortlisted for Banking & Finance Team of the Year 2016

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2016

    Shortlisted for Regional Law Firm of the Year 2016

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 2016

    Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 2016

    By : Asian-MENA Counsel – In-House Community Survey

  • Islamic Finance Firm of the Year 2016

    Islamic Finance Firm of the Year 2016

    By : Asian-MENA Counsel – In-House Community Survey

  • Banking & Finance Firm of the Year 2016

    Banking & Finance Firm of the Year 2016

    By : Asian-MENA Counsel – In-House Community Survey

  • Middle East Law Firm of the Year 2016

    Middle East Law Firm of the Year 2016

    By : Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards

  • Shortlisted as Regional Law Firm of the Year 2015

    Shortlisted as Regional Law Firm of the Year 2015

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Banking & Finance Team of the Year 2015

    Shortlisted for Banking & Finance Team of the Year 2015

    By : The Oath Middle East Legal Awards

  • Shortlisted for Project Finance Deal of the Year 2015

    By : IFLR MIDDLE EAST AWARDS

    Lawyer :

  • Banking and Finance Firm of the Year 2015

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 2015

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Highly Commended for Middle East Law firm of the Year 2015

    By : Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards

  • Restructuring Deal of the Year 2013

    By : IFLR Middle East

  • Banking & Finance Firm of the Year 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Islamic Finance Firm of the Year 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Best Banking & Finance Firm, UAE, 2013

    By : World Finance

  • Banking & Finance Law Firm of the Year 2012

    By : ACQ Finance Magazine Global Awards

  • Best Banking & Finance Firm UAE 2012

    By : World Finance