Managing partner Jody Waugh leads the investment funds group at Al Tamimi & Company, and is ably supported by Ali Awad; the group is well-versed in handling the local and international elements of establishing and launching a range of funds.

Dechert LLP strengthened its funds practice through the hire of Phillip Sacks in March 2026, who returns to the firm after over two years at White & Case LLP.

London-based Michael Young, co-chair of the firm’s global corporate group, and Adela Mues are the key contacts regarding investment funds work at Reed Smith, which is notable for its capabilities in global mandates.

Praised for its ‘clear analysis, attention to detail, and practical recommendations’, A&O Shearman advises on the structuring and establishment of a wide spectrum of asset management products, spanning private equity, credit, infrastructure, and real estate funds. The team is well-versed in Shari’ah-compliant structures and regional regulatory frameworks, guiding sovereign wealth funds, institutional investors, and family offices through all stages of the fund lifecycle. Steering the practice is Kamar Jaffer, who is lauded for his ability to combine ‘deep technical expertise with a highly pragmatic, solutions-driven approach’. Jodi Norman is noted for her regulatory expertise and understanding of emerging and innovative financial products.

The investment funds team at Gibson Dunn handles the entire gamut of funds work, including advising funds and sponsors on fund formation and fundraising, tax matters, regulatory issues, and transactions. Practice head Carolyn Abram is notably skilled in advising on fund launches for emerging and spin-out managers, as well as established regional and global asset managers. Abram joined the firm from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in June 2025.

Well-regarded for its ‘very commercial and client-focused’ approach, King & Spalding LLP fields one of the region’s most active funds practices, advising sponsors and asset managers on the formation of onshore and offshore vehicles across the private equity, venture capital, real estate, REITs, and credit industries. The team is also one of the few international groups with on-the-ground fund formation capabilities in Saudi Arabia, regularly advising on CMA-regulated structures and Shari’ah-compliant products. James Stull advises on the full range of sponsor-side fund formation mandates and is noted for his excellent grasp of regional securities frameworks. He leads the team alongside Nabil Issa, who regularly guides both domestic and foreign managers on CMA requirements and local fund establishment. Macky O’Sullivan brings additional strength in venture capital fund formation and related transactional work, while Sayf Shuqair continues to advise clients on Saudi Arabian fund structures, drawing on deep experience in local regulations. Dounia Mansour left the firm in 2026.

Lauded for its ability to combine ‘deep technical expertise with a strategic, forward-thinking approach’, Norton Rose Fulbright advises a broad mix of regional and international clients on both Islamic and conventional fund structures. The team is increasingly instructed on sustainability-linked, digital asset, and infrastructure-focused funds, and regularly supports managers with fund establishment across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and global jurisdictions.  Zubair Mir is highly regarded for his blend of experience and market insight, particularly in matters involving Abu Dhabi-based managers and sovereign entities. He oversees the team alongside Geoffroy Hermanns, who continues to advise on first-of-a-kind formation mandates and complex investment structures. Shakir Mogalia provides further support across the full lifecycle of fund formation and investment mandates, while Matthew Shanahan contributes key regulatory expertise.

Addleshaw Goddard advises on a broad mix of GP and LP-side mandates across the ADGM, DIFC, and other key fund jurisdictions, handling structures ranging from private equity and venture capital to real estate, Shari’ah-compliant funds, and emerging tokenised vehicles. Philip Dowsett leads the practice and supports clients through the full fund life cycle, from establishment and structuring to downstream portfolio matters and exits.

Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP advises across the full spectrum of Islamic and conventional fund structures, regularly assisting both regional and international asset managers with open and closed-ended fund launches, including public and regulated vehicles. The practice benefits from its integration with the firm’s financial services regulatory team, enabling it to guide clients from initial licensing through to ongoing compliance and fund lifecycle matters. Muneer Khan, a key contact for both fund formation and financial regulatory advice, leads the team alongside James Coleman, who is active in fund investments and capital deployment strategies. Sami Ben Dechiche supports clients with structuring, fund establishment, and regulatory filings.

Fielding a ‘very efficient and knowledgeable’ team, White & Case LLP advises financial institutions, fund managers, and sovereign wealth funds on the structuring, formation, and launch of both onshore and offshore fund vehicles. The team is active across the DIFC, ADGM, KSA, Qatar, and the wider international funds landscape, with strong experience in conventional and Shari’ah-compliant structures. Phillip Sacks left the firm in March 2026.