Corporate

Corporate

All aspects of corporate, financial, banking, regulatory and general transactional work are covered by our team including inward investment, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital, corporate structuring and restructuring, joint ventures, corporate reorganizations and initial public offerings. We strive to maintain our focus on our clients’ overall commercial objectives in structuring and negotiating transactions. We operate at the highest standards of quality and responsiveness at all times, which underpins the value which we seek to add.

We are regarded as having a deep understanding of our region's business and legal environment. Our international and regional clients gain the benefit of our long-standing presence in the UAE, which corresponds to a wealth of knowledge and contacts in relation to the structuring and conduct of business.

A large part of our corporate offering consists of the provision of legal advice in relation to the formation of companies, establishment of branch and representative offices, and related agency and sponsorship arrangements, both inside and outside the UAE's free zones and special economic areas. The firm has acted in the establishment of the majority of premier public and private joint stock companies in the UAE.

Managing for successful outcomes is our strength. Whether completing a groundbreaking public equities offering or setting up a business in a free zone, our 35 years of experience in the UAE ensures our clients receive a well-rounded and considered service.

We have led the industry on numerous matters such as playing an instrumental role in establishing the legal framework governing private placements and IPO prospectus preparation in the UAE. Indeed, our lawyers pioneered Western-style IPOs in the UAE, and have advised on more IPOs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai than any other law firm. On many occasions, we have assisted in the creation of procedures and standards used by governmental authorities.

We offer a comprehensive, entry-to-exit service which includes advising on:

  • mergers, acquisitions and disposals
  • corporate structuring and restructuring
  • inward investment projects including licensing and incorporation in the UAE
  • shareholder and joint venture agreements
  • changes to ownership and management structures
  • initial public offerings and securities underwritings
  • capital markets regulation
  • corporate governance and duties of directors
  • listing of debt and equity instruments
  • UAE corporate laws and regulations
  • regulatory strategies and compliance
  • establishment of branch and representative offices of foreign companies
  • commercial agencies, sponsorship and related arrangements

We work closely with Hadef & Partners’ Commercial, Employment, Dispute Resolution, Banking & Finance, Financial Services and Real Estate teams to offer clients a truly seamless service.

  • “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

  • 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

  • UAE powerhouse with extensive expertise in, and depth of resources committed to, corporate and commercial mandates.

    Chambers Global, 2021

  • One client found their interaction with Hadef to be an "excellent experience," remarking also that "Hadef's team is very knowledgeable and results-oriented."

    Chambers Global, 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

  • Ranked as Eminent Practioner

    Chambers Global, 2020

  • Ranked as a Notable Practitioner in the High Net Worth Rankings for Private Wealth Law.

    Chambers Global, 2020

  • 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

  • “In the area of M&A, Hadef & Partners provide extremely diligent and commercial advice”

    Asian-Mena Counsel Firms of the Year 2017

  • “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

  • "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

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

    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

  • 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

  • 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

  • Winner for the Equity Deal of the Year 2022

    Winner for the Equity Deal of the Year 2022

    By : IFLR Middle East Awards

  • Finalist for UAE Corporate Team of the Year (M&A) 2022

    Finalist for UAE Corporate Team of the Year (M&A) 2022

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • 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

  • Shortlisted for UAE Corporate Team of the Year 2021

    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

  • Shortlisted for Corporate Team of the Year 2018

    Shortlisted for Corporate Team of the Year 2018

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2018

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2018

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • Honourable Mention for Alternative Investment Funds (including private equity) Firm of the Year 2017

    Honourable Mention for Alternative Investment Funds (including private equity) Firm of the Year 2017

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-House Survey

  • Corporate & M&A Firm of the Year 2017

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-House Survey

  • Restructuring & Insolvency Firm of the Year 2017

    Restructuring & Insolvency 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

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

    By : IFLR Middle East Awards

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

    Corporate Team of the Year 2017

    By : The Middle East Legal Awards

  • GAR100 Selected Firm 2017

    GAR100 Selected Firm 2017

    By : Global Arbitration Review – GAR

  • 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

  • Domestic Deal of the Year 2016

    Domestic Deal of the Year 2016

    By : IFLR (International Financial Law Review) Middle East awards

  • 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 :

  • Corporate and M&A 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

  • 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

  • Compliance & Regulatory Firm of the Year 2014

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Corporate and M&A 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

  • Alternative Investment Funds (including private equity) Firm of the Year 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Honourable mention for Capital Markets 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Honourable mention for Compliance / Regulatory 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Honourable mention for Restructuring & Insolvency 2013

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Corporate and M&A Firm of the Year 2012

    By : Asian MENA Counsel In-house Survey

  • Best UAE Firm for Corporate Law 2012

    By : Lawyers World Global Awards

  • Public Procurement Law Firm of the Year 2012

    By : ACQ Finance Magazine Global Awards

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

    By : IFLR