Al Tamimi & Company advises on the full range of corporate and commercial arrangements, with particular expertise in distribution, franchising, and agency structures. The team is noted for its strong grasp of UAE regulatory frameworks and agency laws, assisting clients in structuring, negotiating and implementing commercial agreements that align with local legislation. Andrew Tarbuck leads the group. Willem Steenkamp ‘has an outstanding experience in dealing with complex commercial contracts and agency related matters in the region’ and is the chief lead on the team’s matters.

Praised as a ‘great law firm with very experienced colleagues who are responsive and client oriented’, Baker McKenzie LLP advises on a broad range of commercial and regulatory matters, including FDI, structuring, governance, distribution, competition, and compliance, showcasing experience across sectors such as energy, technology, and retail. Hani Naja heads the practice and focuses on general commercial contracts, corporate restructurings and market entry work. Co-head Laya Aoun is the chief lead on commercial and trade matters, handling distribution and agency arrangements, competition law, trade compliance, export controls, and trade sanctions and customs issues. Rony Eid provides further market entry and corporate structuring expertise.

Active in sectors such as real estate, hospitality, logistics and financial services, Afridi & Angell advises clients on the full range of domestic and cross-border agreements, including joint ventures, franchising, outsourcing, technology licensing, and supply arrangements. Bashir Ahmed and Charles Laubach co-head the practice, with the former taking the lead on joint ventures and services agreements and the latter on cross-border commercial negotiations and government procurement issues. Abdus Samad is praised for his ‘extensive knowledge of the legal field’ and is particularly active in the tech and fintech spaces.

Baker Botts L.L.P. advises on high-value mandates across the energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors. The practice regularly drafts and negotiates complex commercial agreements, joint ventures, and supply arrangements, leveraging its deep industry knowledge and cross-border experience to support multinational clients and regional corporates operating throughout the Middle East. Team head Mark Bisch is widely praised by clients for his knowledge of the region and client-centric approach, focusing on joint ventures, contracting and corporate governance matters. Haitham Hawashin often acts on group restructurings, and Alexander Hendry is highlighted for his technology specialism. Hassan Elsayed supports across the full range of practice matters.

Bird & Bird advises multinational clients on a broad range of matters, including franchising, licensing, distribution, joint ventures, and technology agreements. With particular strength in food and beverage, hospitality and digital sectors, the team regularly handles cross-border mandates involving multi-jurisdictional structuring and complex regulatory considerations across the Middle East. Team head Melissa Murray specialises in franchising, distribution and supply agreements and has a strong client roster that features global household names across a variety of industries. Co-head Anders Nilsson is active on market entry and corporate restructuring work, and co-head Simon Shooter advises clients from Saudi Arabia. Johannes Eisser and Surabhi Singhi often handle joint ventures and strategic partnerships.

Clyde & Co LLP advises on the full range of commercial contracts and corporate advisory matters, including joint ventures, reorganisations, and FDI mandates. The group acts for multinational companies, regional conglomerates, and government entities, offering cross-sector expertise across technology, infrastructure, retail, and energy. Spearheading the practice is Naji Hawayek who handles joint ventures, licensing arrangements and shareholder arrangements. Ben Smith is praised by clients for his skill acting on foreign direct investment and corporate structuring mandates, while Philip O’Riordan has recently been active on real estate-related deals.

Praised for its ‘precision, strategic insight, and deep understanding of complex contractual frameworks‘, DLA Piper advises on complex, cross-border commercial transactions, covering licensing, distribution, joint ventures, and corporate restructuring. Team head Rami Zayat works with a strong roster of multinationals, family offices and sovereign-backed entities and handles commercial agreements, market entry instructions and business expansion mandates. Will Seivewright chiefly focuses on joint ventures and restructurings. Sam O’Neill and Andrew Morrison support on IT and data-related issues.

Eversheds Sutherland LLP provides advice across a broad spectrum of commercial and regulatory matters, acting on high-value strategic agreements for clients in sectors such as technology, pharmaceuticals, oil and gas, and financial services. Geraldine Ahern helms the practice and drafts, negotiates and reviews a wide range of commercial contracts, with a growing body of work pertaining to tech, data and IP. Andrew Garbett is another key name in the group for tech and data-related mandates. Lucrezia Berto is skilled in agency and distribution arrangements.

Gowling WLG advises major technology, telecoms, retail, financial services, and aviation clients on commercial, technology and IP mandates, including AI development, digital transformation, virtual assets and cross-border expansion. The team handles commercial contracts, licensing, technology procurement, and IP protection across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, acting for global tech companies and leading regional operators. Team head Alexandre Brazeau acts on digital transformational projects and market entry work. Co-heads Jon Parker and Tim Casben handle a range of contracts including franchise, distribution and agency agreements, as well as joint ventures. Charlotte Wright routinely supports on retail, aviation and tech-related mandates.

Pinsent Masons advises on joint ventures, reorganisations, distribution and franchising arrangements, and broader advisory mandates spanning consumer protection and agency matters. The firm remains a trusted advisor to a variety of industry players, including those active in healthcare, tech and financial services. Group lead Mohammad Tbaishat remains a key advisor to private equity firms, financial institutions and corporates for their commercial needs. Christopher Neal provides regulatory, corporate structuring and market entry expertise, while Alexandra Aikman often handles logistics, distribution, agency and franchising agreements.

Regarded as a ‘strong team who are knowledgeable and accessible‘, Addleshaw Goddard advises regional and international clients across sectors such as private equity, retail, education, transport and technology, supporting on strategic transactions and operational contracting instructions. Team head Lowri Llwyd‘s practice spans corporate and commercial matters and acts as a trusted advisor to established corporates in the region drafting and negotiating commercial agreements and undergoing business expansion. Luke Aylett handles business establishment, licensing and corporate governance mandates, and Owen Richards frequently advises clients on distribution and franchise arrangements.

Akin is active across multiple sectors including energy, technology, infrastructure, healthcare and defence, advising sovereign investors, government entities, institutional clients and leading corporates on joint ventures, restructurings, cross-border transactions and technology-driven mandates. Team head Wael Jabsheh is the chief lead on the firm’s commercial mandates and handles a range of commercial agreements such as distribution agreements, sponsorship agreements and data sharing agreements. Mazen Baddar, Syed Rizvi and  Baz Banai widely support.

AMERELLER advises international corporates and investors on commercial contracts and market entry strategies across the MENA region. The team regularly assists with agency, distribution, and licensing agreements, as well as joint ventures and PPPs, often acting for European, North American, and Asian clients navigating the regional regulatory landscape. Team head Jochen Murach is instructed on commercial contracts, joint ventures and restructurings across industries such as construction, automotive, logistics and chemicals. Co-heads Christopher Gunson and Jonathan Noble are experienced advising on cross-border agency and distribution agreements, and co-head Babak Namazi remains a key advisor to numerous multinational automotive corporations.

 

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner ‘demonstrate strong professionalism and extensive knowledge’, advising on high-value transactions and complex contractual arrangements across the Middle East. The team regularly handles governance, restructuring, franchising, IP and regulatory mandates for leading investors, government entities and state-owned companies across energy, infrastructure, real estate, and financial services. Team head Oliver Hallsworth has strong expertise in sponsorship, media and licensing arrangements and also is a go-to for regulatory issues. Flora Haidar acts on business structuring mandates alongside a wide array of commercial agreements.

Hadef & Partners advises local and international clients on a broad range of business arrangements, including distribution, agency, franchising, licensing and supply agreements. The team also handles regulatory compliance, commercial structuring and operational contracts, regularly supporting corporates, government entities and family-owned businesses on UAE law and cross-border matters. Team head Victoria Woods handles a range of contracts including collaboration agreements, distribution and manufacturing arrangements, and franchising work. Julie Beeton has experience across a variety of sectors such as education, retail, tech and professional services. Diana Froyland is highly skilled acting on tech-related transactions.

Norton Rose Fulbright has recently strengthened its commercial offering in the UAE, highlighted by Jonathan Burton’s promotion to partner in January 2024 and the addition of technology and sourcing counsel Kerri Gevers in January 2025. The duo provide advice on restructurings, joint ventures and market entries across strategic sectors including energy, infrastructure, financial institutions, sovereign wealth, technology, and insurance. Burton is also frequently called upon by public and private sector clients for foreign direct investment and commercial contract counsel.

Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP advises on a broad spectrum of commercial contracts, including joint ventures, franchising, licensing and supply agreements. The practice combines corporate, regulatory and governance expertise to support clients across sectors through all stages of their commercial lifecycle, including market entry and restructuring. Team lead Melissa Forbes-Miranda works with major Gulf players on cross-border commercial transactions, including distribution agreements, R&D agreements, and operational and management agreements. Co-head Sandeep Dhama‘s client base includes financial institutions, family offices, sovereign-backed entities and high-net-worth individuals, and co-head Diwakar Agarwal often acts on tech-related mandates. Co-head Toufic Safie has growing body of work relating to operational contracts in emerging industries.

Praised for its ‘combination of deep expertise, a client-focused approach, and genuine collaboration across the team‘, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP advises regional and international clients on a broad range of commercial arrangements, including agency, supply, outsourcing, technology and data protection contracts. Helming the practice is Alexander Reid who acts for clients across the energy and natural resources, tech, financial services, and transport sectors. Mo Nawash chiefly focuses on technology-related contacts and is highly active in the fintech space.

Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants  advises local and international clients across a range of sectors on corporate structuring and market entry work. The team handles cross-border transactions, joint ventures, and regulatory compliance, while also assisting government entities with legal drafting. Abdulla Ziad Galadari and Charbel Fadel co-lead the team, with the latter particularly active on supporting clients set up operations in mainland UAE and the various freezones. Furthermore names of note include Bassem Daher and Manish Narayan.

Greenberg Traurig Limited advises regional and international corporates on commercial contracts, joint ventures, market entry and regulatory compliance across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The firm handles supply and distribution agreements, franchising and licensing mandates, outsourcing and technology transfers, and supports multinationals on foreign investment structuring and cross-border commercial arrangements. Chadi Salloum oversees a team bolstered by the arrival of Greta Habib from Al Tamimi & Company and Pawel Szaja from A&O Shearman in 2025.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP is noted for its ‘upmost and unwavering commitment’ to client commercial needs, advising regional and international corporates on commercial contracts, technology and data matters across the UAE and wider GCC. Team head Saleem Adam acts for major Gulf entities on technology, data protection, and IT contracts, while Alex Ford-Cox brings a similar technological focus, regularly advising retail groups, tech companies, private investors, and sovereign-related bodies.

Alsuwaidi & Company advises international clients on complex commercial contracts in regulated UAE sectors, structuring joint ventures, post-FDI ownership models, BOT infrastructure agreements, exclusive distribution arrangements, and government-facing service contracts. Team head Suneer Kumar is highly active on commercial mandates in the freezones, onshore and offshore and is also frequently called upon to handle company restructurings and liquidations. Co-head Vida Serrano is active on cross-border matters in sectors such as real estate, oil and gas, financial services and healthcare.

HAS Law Firm advises UAE-based and international clients on commercial contracts spanning government procurement, real estate development, technology licensing, logistics, and distribution structures, with a solid track record in the infrastructure and technology sectors. Behram Nasir, Hamdan Alshamsi and Ziad Chebli co-lead the team, with Chebli helming a significant volume of the firm’s commercial mandates. Shivani Shah regularly acts in a supporting role.

 

SCHLÜTER GRAF Legal Consultants has an extensive practice that covers commercial contracts, corporate restructurings, and compliance instructions. The team is active for clients in the UAE free zones, as well as domestic and multinational companies across the Middle East and Africa. The group is co-led by Andrés Ring, who is based in Dubai and advises on distribution, agency, EPC and joint venture agreements, in addition to licensing and compliance matters, and Christoph Keimer, who provides employment law expertise from Germany.

Taylor Wessing (Middle East) LLP advises multinational corporates, high-growth companies and government-related entities on commercial contracts across the UAE and wider Middle East. Its work covers joint ventures, market entry, corporate structuring, licensing and sector-specific agreements in healthcare, technology, fintech, media and education. Team head Abdullah Mutawi is particularly active on fintech and tech matters, while co-heads Mohammed Tartir and Ronald Graham are skilled in market entry, business structurings and joint ventures. Alex Vromans and Laura Sperling also come recommended.