Optimising your structures: restructuring in the Middle East
Gateley Middle East’s restructuring legal team provides over two decades of regional experience having navigated the complex regulatory environment in the UAE and beyond. The team assists multinationals and regional conglomerates on the structuring and restructuring of their businesses from a legal and regulatory perspective to achieve their objectives. Our extensive experience in complex domestic and cross-border corporate restructurings allows us to offer a tailored approach that is commercially-driven and allows clients comfort that matters will be managed with minimal disruption to the business.
With our deep understanding of the UAE market and regulatory landscape, we provide implementable structuring options that take into consideration the laws and regulations that are applicable and enforceable in the UAE. We also work with ‘best friend firms’ to ensure a seamless experience offering end-to-end support for multi-jurisdictional restructurings.
Our team advises on pre-sale restructurings, restructurings ahead of a future initial public offering and intra-group restructurings to optimise corporate governance or implement new ownership structures. We work closely with clients, with a breadth of knowledge having advised a wide range of industry sectors from hospitality, logistics, distribution to luxury goods and aim to be advisers who help provide clients with practical solutions to problems.
Our team
Led by Nora Al Muhamad, a seasoned partner with almost two decades of hands-on experience in corporate restructuring, our team has a proven track record in navigating complex multi-jurisdictional restructurings.
We go beyond the traditional role of legal advisers by managing multiple jurisdictions, acting as a single point of contact and guiding clients through lengthy restructurings with practical advice.
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.
Our extensive experience includes:
- Advising a multinational UAE investment holding company, with an annual turnover of over USD1bn, on the restructuring analysis of its multi-jurisdictional corporate structure in over 20 countries. The holding company’s portfolio includes over 30 companies across sectors including distribution, retail, hospitality and food and the analysis was completed in consideration of a future initial public offering.
- Advising a leading global logistics provider on a USD91m cross-border restructuring of its records and information management business, spanning multiple jurisdictions across the Middle East and Africa. This involved designing and implementing a new corporate structure and successfully executing asset and share transfers in coordination with regulatory authorities in each relevant jurisdiction.
- Advising on a complex international restructuring for a UAE-based business in preparation for a sale, including the incorporation of a holding company in the Abu Dhabi Global Markets, the migration of subsidiaries from multiple jurisdictions and the coordination of cross-border legal and corporate compliance matters as part of the restructuring.
- Advising a leading UAE exchange house on optimising its corporate structure to ensure full compliance with the UAE Central Bank laws and regulations.
- Advising a luxury Italian fashion house on establishing its direct-to-customer e-commerce business model across the GCC.
- Providing strategic legal advice to a multinational construction group on the cross-border restructuring of its corporate entities in several jurisdictions across the MENA region.
- Advising a French luxury goods conglomerate on the cross-border restructuring of its UAE and Saudi Arabian subsidiaries. This included advising on the legal and regulatory design of distribution, e-commerce, and flow of goods.
- Advising a large property development and asset management group with over 70 entities in the UAE on the restructuring and consolidation of its UAE business.