May 2025 | 3 law-middleeast.com EDITOR’S LETTER Hello readers, Dubai does not just do luxury—it defi nes it. From diamond-dusted desserts to seven- star service, the city has positioned itself as the epicentre of extravagance. But behind the gilded facades and roaring Lamborghinis lies a legal framework as intricate and essential as the haute couture it helps protect. In this edition, we delve into the UAE’s luxury business sector. BonelliErede is a premier Italian law fi rm with a roster of big fashion clients and we speak to Marco De Leo, the fi rm’s Dubai managing partner, who was involved in the recent Prada- Versace deal. He discusses leading an Italian law fi rm in the Middle East, growing the team more than fi vefold, and his two-decade tenure at the fi rm. Given the UAE’s near-trillion-dollar private wealth and the increasing number of high and ultra-high net worth individuals relocating there, we also speak to Taylor Wessing’s Dubai managing partner and head of the fi rm’s UK private wealth practice, Ronald Graham, who draws on over two decades of experience guiding the Gulf’s elite, highlighting the priorities, challenges, and opportunities shaping their wealth management strategies. Finally, BSA Law partner Lara Barbary analyses the legal and regulatory reforms which have transformed the nation from a luxury retail destination into a regional command centre for global brands. Until next month, Aishah Hussain Editor, Law Middle East @lawmiddleeast linkedin.com/company/law-middle-east Here are a few things which have been on our radar: Partner promotions Global law fi rms have announced partner promotions within their Middle East offi ces, as part of larger fi rm-wide promotion rounds taking eff ect in May 2025. We round-up the recently appointed partners in the region, who specialise in areas ranging from real estate to energy to intellectual property across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. Head to page 13 for more. Dubai partner insights As Dubai’s increasingly competitive legal market continues to draw lawyers from around the world, we speak to three partners who explain what it takes to excel in this city. They share their stand-out deals and cases, and the sacrifi ces they made along the way. Read more on pages 34-39. 10k strong! We hit 10,000+ followers on LinkedIn. This milestone refl ects the incredible engagement we have received in the year since we launched, and we are so grateful for each and every follower who has joined our community. Building this community from the ground up has not been easy, but the journey continues, and we are excited to share what is next. LME_May2025_3_Editor Letter_13582469.indd 3LME_May2025_3_Editor Letter_13582469.indd 302/05/2025 16:2202/05/2025 16:22law-middleeast.com 4 | May 2025 20 13 26 32 A MANAGING PARTNER’S TAKE ON GUIDING THE GULF’S ELITE Drawing on over two decades of experience, Taylor Wessing’s Ronald Graham shares insights into the evolving world of private wealth in the Middle East GLOBAL LAW FIRMS ANNOUNCE PARTNER PROMOTIONS ACROSS REGION Partner promotion season continues apace, and we round-up the recently appointed partners at global law fi rms across the region MARCO DE LEO ON COMPOSING BONELLIEREDE’S BOLD GULF EXPANSION The Dubai managing partner discusses leading an Italian law fi rm in the Middle East, growing the team more than fi vefold, and his two-decade tenure at the fi rm UAE’S LEGAL SHIFT FUELS LUXURY BRAND EXPANSION Legal reforms have transformed the nation into a regional command centre for global brands, according to BSA Law partner Lara Barbary 13 32 20 26 LME_May2025_4-5_Contents_13582470.indd 4LME_May2025_4-5_Contents_13582470.indd 405/05/2025 16:1005/05/2025 16:10May 2025 | 5 law-middleeast.com 42 34 48 50 EY LAW’S NEW LEGAL OPS LEADER OUTLINES REGIONAL PLANS Clifton Harrison has relocated from the UK to the UAE for the role, while continuing his responsibilities as global law markets leader DUBAI PARTNERS DISCUSS MEMORABLE DEALS AND PERSONAL SACRIFICES We go beyond legal rankings and directories to profi le lawyers and share their interesting stories, from stand-out deals and cases to the sacrifi ces they made along the way HOW TRUMP’S TARIFFS IMPACT THE MIDDLE EAST Lawyers consider the short and long-term impact of the US’ trade strategy on the MENA region, plus how businesses can mitigate the potential adverse eff ects UAE DEAL FLOW DRIVEN BY INBOUND AND OUTBOUND M&A The nation’s deal market experienced a strong fi rst quarter, but questions abound whether it can maintain this momentum amid global uncertainties 34 48 50 42 LME_May2025_4-5_Contents_13582470.indd 5LME_May2025_4-5_Contents_13582470.indd 505/05/2025 16:1005/05/2025 16:10law-middleeast.com 6 | May 2025 PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Riyadh & Geneva ITP MEDIA GROUP CEO:Ali Akawi Managing Director: Martin Chambers Head of Business and Technology:Thomas Shambler EDITORIAL Editor:Aishah Hussain Tel: +971 4 444 3132 email: aishah.hussain@itp.com Commercial Editor:Angitha Pradeep Tel: +971 4 444 3278 email: angitha.pradeep@itp.com Project Editor:Heather Cichowski Tel: +971 4 444 3271 email: heather.cichowski@itp.com Associate Project Editor:Beatriz Valero Tel: +971 4 444 3413 email: beatriz.valero@itp.com ART Art Director:Amjad Ayche Art Editor:Tofi q Memon ADVERTISING Group Publishing Director: Natasha Pendleton Tel: +971 4 444 3248 email: natasha.pendleton@itp.com Senior Commercial Manager: David Bentley Tel: +971 4 444 3552 email: david.bentley@itp.com PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Video Editor:Liju Cheruvathur MARKETING Head of Events: Eleanor Ashton email: eleanor.ashton@itp.com Events & Marketing Manager: Kate Galaktionova Events Manager: Beverly Stanforth Associate Events Manager: Vrinali Nazareth Associate Events Manager: Maria Trishina Events Executive: Ella Johnson Events Sales Executive: Jan Mokoala Events Sales Assistant: Joyce Salonga Events Administrative Assistant: Bobbie Rosario PRODUCTION Production Manager:Balasubramanian P Production Manager:Anand Sundaram DISTRIBUTION Distribution Coordinator:Avinash Pereira Circulation Executive:Rajesh Pillai ITP GROUP CEO:Ali Akawi CFO:Toby Jay Spencer-Davies The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. 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PUBLISHED BY AND © 2025 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC. 6 | May 2025 To read previous editions of the Law Middle East magazine, visit law-middleeast.com/magazine 6 | May 2025 LME_May2025_6_Flannel_13582472.indd 6LME_May2025_6_Flannel_13582472.indd 605/05/2025 16:1505/05/2025 16:15Stay ahead with ITP Media’s flagship technology hub, featuring five powerhouse brands: ARABIAN COMPUTER NEWS, EDGE, COMMSMEA, CHANNEL and CHARGED. From breaking tech news to deep-dive insights, we bring you the latest innovations shaping the region. QUANTUM REVOLUTION AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION How Google’s Willow chip will redefine computing forever ROCKET INTO THE FUTURE How satellite internet is powering a new age of digital transformation AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION January 2025 / Vol. 3 issue 1 / an ITP Media Group Publication Tim Cook, Apple and the dawn of a new age of creativity ART MEETS ALGORITHM AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION BEST TECH OF 2024 The ultimate guide to the year’s must-have gadgets8 May 2025law-middleeast.com ONLINE Over the past three years, Ahmed Ibrahim, founder and managing partner of Ibrahim & Partners, a regional law fi rm, has led 18 IPOs in the UAE, averaging one every two months. He discusses the fi rm’s origins, role in major IPOs from Talabat to Dubai Taxi, and strategic expansion into Saudi Arabia. Hadef & Partners has an established pedigree in the UAE, this year marking 45 years since its launch. In an interview, managing partner Sadiq Jafar reveals the fi rm’s biggest milestones, evolving priorities, and what is next in the nation’s legal landscape. Representing a diverse range of legal specialities, this inaugural list shines a spotlight on 12 up-and-coming associates at the nation’s top law fi rms. These rising stars have worked on the most complex matters in the Kingdom, and are poised to become the next generation of legal leaders. As Saudi Arabia pushes ahead with diversifi cation plans, global investors have a real opportunity to tap into the region’s largest market, in exchange for well-defi ned commitments to sustainability, localisation, and innovation. WHAT IS TRENDING ONLINE la w - middleeas t .com The deal maker behind the UAE’s biggest IPOs Inside one of the UAE’s oldest law firms Saudi Arabia’s Rising Stars 2025 Saudi Arabia’s big push to attract investment WHAT OUR READERS THINK... Paul Hastings to open fi rst Middle East offi ce in Abu Dhabi Saudi Arabia’s new female partners share how they made it "No surprise. With SWFs fl exing and deals fl ying, the UAE capital’s the new heavyweight playground. Blink and you will miss the next move." "This is such an inspiring and empowering initiative! Highlighting their achievements is a celebration of hard work, resilience, and success in the legal fi eld." LME_May2025_8-9_Online DPS_13599862.indd 8LME_May2025_8-9_Online DPS_13599862.indd 802/05/2025 06:3902/05/2025 06:39May 2025 9law-middleeast.com ONLINE Kirkland & Ellis was the fi rst international law fi rm to establish its Riyadh offi ce as its regional headquarters in October 2023. Under founding partner and Middle East practice head Kamran Bajwa’s leadership, the offi ce has grown to over 20 legal professionals, with core specialisms including corporate, capital markets, projects, and restructuring. Right now his focus is on making the Riyadh offi ce as successful as possible, he tells Law Middle East in an exclusive interview. KIRKLAND & ELLIS MIDDLE EAST HEAD: We aim to build the best culture and brand in KSA ONLINE May 2025 9law-middleeast.com LME_May2025_8-9_Online DPS_13599862.indd 9LME_May2025_8-9_Online DPS_13599862.indd 902/05/2025 06:4002/05/2025 06:40Next >