Restructuring & Insolvency

We provide the full range of services which may be required to effect a successful restructuring or turnaround. This often involves advising on duties and liabilities of directors and officers, and continues through standstill and support arrangements, creditor mediation, debt rescheduling, security workouts and priorities, disposals and consolidation, and conversion of debt to equity or quasi-equity by use of available instruments and structures. We also advise on protective composition from creditors and bankruptcy and insolvency legal issues.

Our team has acted with governmental and leading institutions on transactions of national importance, and in complex and challenging situations. We exercise our commercial judgement to ensure legal and regulatory requirements are complied with, whilst controlling credit risk, preserving value in stressed assets, and managing exposure to insolvency.

We aim to meet challenges effectively and with a focus on the optimum realistic outcome. Our work involves close collaboration with accountants, investment banks, management consultants, valuation experts and other service providers to ensure assignments are executed efficiently. We also advise on protective composition from creditors, together with legal considerations in bankruptcy and insolvency.

Drawing on our experience in complex transactions, we help manage the credit risks faced by our clients, preserve value in their distressed assets and assist manage their exposure to insolvency administration.

Commercially aware, we address legal requirements whilst ensuring client considerations are dealt with effectively, efficiently and for an optimum outcome. In formulating solutions, we aim for early and proactive diagnosis of legal considerations which may impact solvency.

Our team consists of experienced corporate, banking and regulatory lawyers in addition to litigators who have full rights of audience in all UAE courts and tribunals.

Our services include:

  • administrations, receiverships and liquidations
  • protective compositions
  • work outs
  • moratoria and debt restructuring
  • debt trading
  • security review and enforcement
  • dispute resolution.

  • “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

  • "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

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

    Chambers Global 2015

  • Enjoys a prominent position in the local market with a large volume of acquisitions and restructurings for both UAE clients and inbound investors.

    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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 2016

    Most Responsive Domestic Firm in the UAE 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 Project Finance Deal of the Year 2015

    By : IFLR MIDDLE EAST AWARDS

    Lawyer :

  • 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

  • Middle East Water Deal of the Year 2014

    for Mirfa IWPP

    By : IJ Global Awards

  • Recognised as leading lawyer 2015

    By : IFLR 1000 2015

    Lawyer :Alan Rodgers

  • Recognised as leading lawyer 2015

    By : IFLR 1000

  • Young Lawyer of the Year 2014

    Young Lawyer of the Year

    By : DIFC Court Users Committee Awards 2014

    Lawyer :Omar Al Heloo

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

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Restructuring and Insolvency Firm of the Year 2014

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Restructuring Deal of the Year 2013

    By : IFLR Middle East

  • Honourable mention for Restructuring & Insolvency 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • IFLR Restructuring Deal of the Year; Global Investment House Restructuring 2010

    By : IFLR

Key Contacts