Private Equity

Our practice is recognised as a leader for both transactions executed for private equity institutions and fund formation. We advise on the establishment, structuring and operation of domestic and international funds, targeted at investment opportunities and attracting limited partners in the GCC or MENA region.

We have acted on groundbreaking assignments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the DIFC, including the UAE's first infrastructure fund. Hadef & Partners' transactional and financial services teams have considerable experience advising on applicable laws, regulations and practices of the UAE and the DIFC. We combine the role of global and local counsel by applying the international skills of our lawyers in a focused local context.

An all-inclusive range of services from fund formation to management strategies and exit buyouts are performed by our specialist Private Equity team. We collaborate with our Banking & Finance and Financial Services teams and with other specialist lawyers to ensure our clients’ transactions are built on solid regulatory and compliance frameworks and are handled efficiently.

Our lawyers’ experience in other jurisdictions such as Oman, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Lebanon and Egypt enables us to apply a considered logic to both local and Middle East-facing transactions.

We achieve reliable and competitively focused outcomes due to our thorough understanding of regional legal issues and practical know-how. Our team maintains excellent working relationships with most of the leading global law firms from the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia Pacific, and as a result participate in many cross border transactions that involve the UAE.

We specialise in:

  • fund formation and partnership arrangements
  • leveraged management buy outs and buy ins
  • exit strategies involving trade sales and IPOs
  • debt provision on private equity
  • expansion and venture capital.

  • “Hadef & Partners is a professional firm to deal with on the other side of transactions, and practical and commercial in negotiations.”

    Legal 500, 2023

  • “Hadef & Partners is a business partner to clients rather than a service provider. They understand clients’ businesses very well and they appreciate the business relationship.”

    Legal 500, 2023

  • “The team is knowledgeable about local laws and delivered thoughtful advice in the context of our broader global transaction.”

    Chambers Global, 2023

  • “They're professional lawyers with deep knowledge of the law and local sensitivities.”

    Chambers Global, 2023

  • “Hadef & Partners is a one stop shop firm with deep knowledge of the local market.” “The team has good connections and expertise with a business mentality which help clients to achieve good results.”

    Legal 500, 2022

  • “Superior service and responsiveness as well as its business-oriented, practical advice.”

    Chambers Global, 2022

  • “very commercially aware of what's happening in the marketplace and plugged in on legislative changes.”

    Chambers Global, 2022

  • “Top-class lawyers with deep knowledge in local laws, regulations and culture.”

    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

  • ‘The Hadef team handling our company profile are professionals, have the needed business mentality, prompt and always bring great results on time.’

    Legal 500, 2021

  • Hadef & Partners continues to be a leading UAE independent firm with particular expertise in thorny questions of 'onshore' UAE law.

    Legal 500, 2021

  • Hadef & Partners continues to be a leading UAE independent firm with particular expertise in thorny questions of 'onshore' UAE law.

    Legal 500, 2021

  • Leading domestic firm with considerable longevity and depth of experience throughout the UAE.

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • Interviewees describe Hadef as "one of the go-to offices for international law firms who don't have a presence in the region," with clients adding that working with the firm is "a very positive experience."

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • One client enthused: “They take great pains to understand our requirements. They're always accessible and explain their opinion well.” Another client stated of the firm: “They're good-quality people, from the managing partner down.”

    Chambers Global, 2020

  • “They cover absolutely everything in a very timely manner. You cannot get a more dedicated, brilliant firm.” Another source commented: “They are our good friends, we trust them and they're always there for us.”

    Chambers Global, 2019

  • “A ‘top-class law firm’ for UAE corporate matters, Hadef & Partners LLC ‘knows the market, the law and the regulations, and is well-connected with the authorities’.”

    Legal 500, 2018

  • “Sources praise the team's local expertise, commenting: ‘They have local knowledge of the region, combined with very strong legal skills and provide sound advice’.”

    Chambers Global, 2018

  • “Peers commend Hadef & Partners as ‘one of the premier local law firms’.”

    Chambers Global, 2017

  • “Clients describe the team's members as ‘first class - very proactive, with superb areas of expertise’.”

    Chambers Global, 2017

  • “The lawyers have good time and cost management.”

    Chambers Global, 2016

  • 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

  • Clients say "They are pragmatic, can-do lawyers."

    Chambers Global 2015

  • Clients say "they are definitely major players - one of the first names to spring to mind in the UAE."

    Chambers Global 2015

  • This well-established local firm represents a large stable of domestic as well as international clients, across a range of transactional and advisory instructions.

    Chambers Global 2013

  • Hadef & Partners’ corporate head Sameer Huda has extensive experience in private equity fund formation. Additionally, the team has been instrumental in advising government bodies on the development of the regulatory regime governing investment funds in the UAE.

    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

  • Shortlisted for Corporate/Commercial & Commercial Contracts Law Firm of the Year 2022

    Shortlisted for Corporate/Commercial & Commercial Contracts Law Firm of the Year 2022

    By : Chambers Middle East 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 – 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

  • Corporate Team of the Year 2017, The Middle East Legal Awards

    Corporate Team of the Year 2017

    By : The 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

  • Corporate Team of the Year 2016

    Corporate Team 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

  • Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year 2016

    Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year 2016

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

  • Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 2015

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Alternative Investment Funds (including private equity) Firm of the Year 2014

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

Key Contacts