Mergers & acquisitions in the Middle East
Our experienced M&A legal team at Gateley Middle East delivers exceptional, results-driven legal advice with unmatched expertise. Comprised of internationally and regionally qualified lawyers, our team brings over two decades of experience navigating complex transactions across the UAE and beyond. Whether advising entrepreneurs, founders, investors, or multinational corporations, we offer tailored, pragmatic solutions that drive success.
We’ve earned a reputation for our deep understanding of the UAE market and our commitment to protecting the interests of our clients – whatever their size or profile. We pride ourselves on offering more than just legal advice; we aim to become trusted partners who help clients craft, shape and execute their deal strategies.
Driving our dealmaking
Led by Darren Harris, a seasoned partner with over 20 years of hands-on experience in M&A, our team has a proven track record in navigating high-stakes M&A deals with precision and decisiveness. We go beyond the traditional role of legal advisors by actively participating in deal structure optimisation and ensuring clients’ negotiation positions and tactics are well thought-out, effective and commercially viable.
We don’t shy away from taking positions and providing decisive guidance in high-stakes negotiations. In 2024 alone, we successfully signed 12 deals, making us one of the most active and connected deal teams in the UAE. With a diverse bench of senior and junior lawyers, we bring depth, capability, and continuity to every transaction – driven by a collective focus on delivering practical, high-quality outcomes for our clients in an approachable and collaborative way.
Crafting agreements that deliver
Our corporate team advises stakeholders and businesses on all aspects of acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, shareholder matters and debt and equity structures. We manage transactions end-to end, from pre-deal assessments and deal/ equity/ debt structuring to drafting key preliminary documents, delivering thorough or checklist style legal due diligence and carefully preparing and negotiating critical sale, equity and debt transaction documents.
The transaction agreements we prepare for our M&A deals cut through complexity to secure your deal and fuel your next chapter. We also recognise that strong equity/ debt agreements are vital to protecting interests and ensuring smooth governance and so we design and build the legal foundations for resilient, future-proof partnerships.
Flexible and transparent fee structures tailored to your needs
We believe in offering innovative and transparent fee structures that align with our clients’ needs and objectives.
We are happy to explore what option suits your model and your budget, whether it be capped fees, fixed fees, success fees, retainer fees, hourly rates, milestone payments or hybrid fee structures, we provide clarity and flexibility in how we charge for our services and keep our clients regularly updated.
We can assist clients with all types of structuring and contractual frameworks:
- Pre-deal assessments
- Equity/ debt structuring and restructuring
- Joint venture/ project structuring advice
- Preliminary documents
- Legal due diligence
- Transaction documentation:
- Sale and purchase agreements
- Disclosure letters
- Investment agreements
- Subscription agreements
- Equity agreements
- Shareholder agreements
- Joint venture agreements (incorporated or unincorporated)
- Bespoke articles of association
- Option agreements
- Collaboration agreements
- Contribution agreements
- Debt to equity conversion agreements
- Equity swap agreements
- Master agreements
- Framework agreements
- Transaction management
- Signing and closing coordination
- Post-deal integration
- Post-deal support
Recent key deals
- Advising the founders of Create Group on the sale of its digital market business to Stagwell Inc.
- Advising the shareholders of Virtuzone on the sale of its business to Ascentium.
- Advising the shareholders of illumin8 Group on the majority sale of its business to the Mizuri Group.
- Advising the shareholders of the Talent Enterprise Group, a global talent assessment technology company to Mercer.
- Advising Cenomi Retail, a Saudi listed company and pioneering retail brand partner, on the SAR120m sale of its franchise rights (and related assets) for 18 brands to Abdullah Al-Othaim Fashion Company.
- Advising the shareholders of Sanipex on the sale of 25% of the business to Aliph Capital and all associated equity arrangements.
- Advising Arqaam Capital and Shuaa Capital on their debt investment into the Quiqup Group.
- Advising sellers and ongoing minority shareholders of Hug Digital, a leading digital media agency based in the UAE, Lebanon, Egypt and India on the majority sale to the WPP Group.
- Advising Turmeric Capital and Knuru Capital on their debt and equity investment into a multinational retail group.
- Advising the founder shareholder of Socialize on the sale of the business to We Are Social agency.
- Advising FourQuest Energy Group, a pipeline equipment, process and maintenance business, on the acquisition of Caley Energy, its first acquisition in the UAE.
- Advising on the management buyout of Gymnation, the largest chain of fitness centres in the UAE, to a listed UK company.
- Advising RAK Properties on its joint venture and development agreements with Ellington Properties in respect of the development of the Porto Playa residential development in Ras Al Khaimah.
- Advising Al Futtaim on an asset sale of their sports and retail division, Royal Sporting House, operating in East Asia, the GCC, and Egypt to Gulf Marketing Group.
- Advising the shareholders of Al Shirawi US Chillers on a 100% sale of their regional and US chillers business to Dalkia (EDF Group).
- Advising the shareholders of the UAE’s Organic Foods and Café on a majority share sale to Gulf Japan Food Fund.
- Advising the sellers of UAE-headquartered Dear Systems, a leader in inventory management, to a US private equity buyer.
- Advising the owners of Emirates India International Exchange on the sale of its money exchange business to a UAE money exchange leader in the UAE.
- Advising Kirby Building Systems on its acquisition of the business and assets of Alghanim Industries in KSA.
Sell-side workshop for founders
Thinking about selling your business? Let’s talk.
If you are considering a full or partial sale – now or in the future – our experienced M&A Legal team at Gateley Middle East are running complimentary private 1:1 sell-side workshops for entrepreneurs, founders and C-suite leadership who want to understand the deal process from a seller’s perspective.
Sell-Smart Series
Selling a business is one of the most significant decisions a founder, entrepreneur or business owner will ever make.
Whether you’re planning your exit, responding to an offer or exploring growth opportunities through strategic investment, the process is complex, emotional and full of potential pitfalls – and possibilities.