Anne-Marie Wicks, Paulo Rage, and Priya Shah (who joined the firm in 2025 from Ashurst LLP) co-lead the energy group at Mayer Brown, which advises clients on cross-border M&A transactions, financing, project development, and sales arrangements.

Well-regarded for its ‘deep understanding of the local market’, A&O Shearman continues to act in many of the region’s most significant oil and gas mandates, advising across the full value chain, from upstream concessions, to midstream infrastructure and downstream petrochemicals. The team is frequently involved in first-in-the-country and first-of-its-kind projects, including major ammonia and methanol developments, gas pipeline work, and large-scale liquids and polymers facilities. Joe Clinton, who leads the practice, has deep project finance experience and regularly advises on high-value transactions in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Kyle Nevin handles a wide spectrum of project development and finance work, while Omar Alkaffas is widely relied upon for complex, high-profile instructions, particularly those requiring a strong understanding of regulatory expectations in the energy sector.

Praised for its ‘expertise and a strong sense of commitment’, Ashurst LLP continues to play a central role in many of the region’s most significant oil and gas and energy transition mandates, advising across the full value chain, including upstream and LNG through refining, petrochemicals, and trading. The firm is a long-standing adviser to ADNOC and its wider group, acting in major corporate transactions, as well as strategic project development work. Co-head David Charlier advises on a broad mix of conventional and transition-focused matters, including complex acquisitions, disposals, and project structuring. Fellow co-head Simon Rahimzada is regularly instructed on M&A and private equity deals across the sector. Elsewhere in the team, Luke Robottom has been active in emerging areas, such as CCUS, water treatment, and logistics infrastructure, while Raquel Tarancon Plata is noted for her expertise in project finance and development matters.

Gibson Dunn is a go-to advisor for many of the region’s major oil and gas operators and producers, frequently acting in high-value domestic mandates and outbound transactions into the US, Europe, and North Africa. The practice also handles disputes in both litigation and arbitration proceedings, alongside project finance, development, and commercial advisory work. Renad Younes heads the Middle East oil and gas and projects practice and is recognised for her role in complex corporate and project mandates for government entities and industry leaders, including the ADNOC Group. Marwan Elaraby co-leads on the corporate side, bringing deep expertise in M&A, private equity, and capital markets. Samuel Ogunlaja advises on a broad mix of greenfield and brownfield matters, while Jade Chu and Andrew Steele play key roles in cross-border transactional work. Andrea Calla also supports clients with acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures.

King & Spalding LLP maintains a highly active UAE energy and natural resources practice, advising on many of the region’s largest and most strategically significant oil, gas, and low-carbon energy transactions. The team is deeply involved in multibillion-dollar mandates, including hydrogen and ammonia megaprojects, complex joint ventures, and cross-border acquisitions tied to major players in the sector. Global head of energy Dan Feldman and co-heads Tim Burbury and Simon Fraser steer the practice across both conventional and energy-transition matters, from upstream and petrochemicals work to cutting-edge hydrogen developments. Matt Hartsuyker's practice centres on high-value transactional work, while Brendan Hundt remains closely involved in the team’s growing pipeline of hydrogen-related deals.

Clifford Chance advises a wide range of state-owned oil companies, chemical producers, and major contractors across the region, offering support on cross-border M&A, project development, financing, and contentious matters. The team is often involved in large, strategically important mandates, including work on low-carbon ammonia plants, offshore sour gas developments, and next-generation LNG facilities. The practice is led by Mohamed Hamra-Krouha, who is noted for his work on complex project financings. Inaamul Laher boasts a background in real estate and commercial matters, bringing additional breadth to the group’s offering. Finance specialists Edmund Boyo and Chirag Sanghrajka advise on significant lending and investment mandates, while Paul Coates is a key contact for disputes. Nicholas Wong is also active across project development and financing instructions.

The energy and infrastructure group at CMS is highly skilled in the oil and gas industry and often handles cross-border mandates alongside the firm’s wider UK and Singapore-based teams. John Geddes spearheads the group and has focused exclusively on oil and gas-related mandates for over 17 years, with expertise in M&A transactions and projects in this arena, especially those originating from Iraq. He is ably supported by Blair Jones and Sam White; the latter joined the practice at the beginning of 2025.

Devine & Severova is a boutique oil and gas practice with a strong focus on upstream mandates across the Middle East and Central Asia. The firm is well-known for advising on the full spectrum of transactional and commercial matters in the sector, including sale and purchase agreements, joint ventures, production sharing arrangements, concessions, transportation and gas supply agreements, and oilfield services contracts. Practice head Richard Devine is regularly instructed by international, national, and independent oil companies seeking comprehensive support across their operations. Ana Severova, who co-leads the practice, draws on significant in-house experience to advise on M&A, project development and complex commercial agreements.

White & Case LLP remains a go-to firm for major oil and gas companies across the Middle East, regularly advising on asset sales and acquisitions, upstream and downstream project development, and complex multi-sourced financings. Drawing on the firm’s deep regional bench, the team supports clients across the full value chain, from licensing and field development to construction, regulatory, environmental, banking, and capital markets work. Adam Pierson leads on both transactional and project development mandates, while Michael Watson, head of the firm’s EMEA project development and finance group, is closely involved in large-scale energy transition work. Antoine Cousin continues to advise on significant project finance and development matters across the region, Claire Patrick plays a central role in the firm’s petrochemicals and hydrogen mandates, and Mark Andrews remains highly active in major projects in Saudi Arabia.

Clyde & Co LLP maintains a leading position in the Middle East oil and gas sector, acting for an extensive roster of both national and international oil companies, service contractors, and operators. The firm’s longstanding panel appointments with major industry players underscore the breadth of its regional engagement, and the team handles a wide range of contentious and non-contentious mandates. David Leckie leads the team and is noted for his disputes practice, which spans the energy, renewables, marine, and construction sectors. Leonard Soudagar advises on disputes arising from construction, exploration, trade, and distribution arrangements. Benjamin Smith focuses on foreign direct investment and reorganisation projects across regional and cross-border energy markets, while Sara Khoja leads the firm’s employment offering within the sector. The arrival of Josh McFadzen has also bolstered the team.

HFW advises a broad range of clients across the energy supply chain, acting for both national and international oil companies, service providers, EPC contractors, and equipment suppliers. The team handles oil and gas mandates, as well as wider natural resources projects, throughout the UAE, the Middle East, and a number of other jurisdictions, and continues to act in matters involving battery energy storage systems and both offshore and onshore gas developments. Its dispute capabilities remain active, with experience in arbitration and investigations arising out of major projects. Slava Kiryushin leads the practice, drawing on a wide international footprint to support clients with high-value, cross-border mandates.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP’s energy practice centres on transactional and finance work, with notable strength in commodities offtake, trade finance, and the structuring and financing of energy projects. The team advises clients across the oil and gas, metals and mining, commodities, petrochemicals, and energy sectors, acting for major traders, financial institutions, and regional corporates. Practice head Alexey Chertov focuses on international oil and gas and commodities transactions across the GCC and Africa, including complex project financings. Alexandra Rotar advises on M&A and joint venture matters.

Pinsent Masons routinely acts in a broad spectrum of oil and gas matters across the Gulf, spanning M&A, financing, commercial contracts, and regulatory work. The team is equally active in contentious mandates, representing clients in both litigation and international arbitration proceedings arising from major energy and construction projects. Mark Raymont leads on contractual and commercial issues, drawing on extensive experience in project-related disputes. Tim Armsby advises national and international oil companies on operational and regulatory matters, including tenders and sector-specific agreements. Jed Savager is widely regarded for handling complex construction disputes, while Gurmeet Kaur regularly advises on procurement, bidding, and project development. Nesreen Osman is a key contact for contentious instructions, and David Platt advises on project finance across the region.