< Previous20 September 2025law-middleeast.com DEALS A round-up of recent transactions in the region—and the law fi rms that led them BIG DEALS IMPACT46 ACQUIRES KAMMELNA Latham & Watkins advised Kammelna on its acquisition by Impact46. Kammelna, a gaming studio best known for digitising the card game Baloot, was acquired for an undisclosed sum by Impact46, a venture capital fi rm and one of Saudi Arabia’s most active technology investors. It is Impact46’s largest investment in Saudi Arabia’s entertainment industry to date, and will accelerate Kammelna’s expansion and launch into new games. The Latham & Watkins team was led by Dubai partner Omar Maayeh. GATHERN’S $72 MILLION SERIES B FINANCING ROUND Latham & Watkins partner Omar Maayeh also led a team representing Gathern, a vacation rental platform, on its $72 million series B fi nancing round, alongside Eyad Latif, the fi rm’s Middle East co-deputy managing partner. The fundraising round values Gathern at over $266 million. It was led by Sanabil Investments, with participation from Endeavor Catalyst, Nuwa Capital, Pinnacle Capital, and STV. Latham & Watkins said in a statement the new capital will help the company prepare for an IPO on Tadawul, while accelerating expansion across Saudi Arabia and the wider region. $1.1 BILLION AL SADAWI SOLAR PROJECT Al Tamimi & Company, Bracewell, and Cliff ord Chance advised parties on the successful close of a $1.1 billion solar IPP project in Saudi Arabia by a consortium led by Masdar. The Al Sadawi project is a 2 GW solar PV plant located in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. It is set to be one of the world’s largest solar plants when operations commence in 2027, and a major step towards Saudi Arabia’s goal of generating 50% renewable energy by 2030. Masdar led the consortium, alongside partners GD Power and KEPCO. Bracewell represented the consortium, with a team led by Dubai partners Oliver Irwin and Tom Swarbrick. Al Tamimi & Company provided advice to the consortium in relation to local matters. Project fi nance was secured with eight regional and international lenders, covering a substantial part of the total costs. Cliff ord Chance advised the lenders, with a team that was led by Dubai partners Jeremy Barker and Richard Parris, and Abu Dhabi partner Inaamul Laher. QATAR ISLAMIC BANK $1 BILLION FINANCING DEAL White & Case and Norton Rose Fulbright advised parties on the successful closure of Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB)’s $1 billion three-year dual-tranche murabaha fi nancing deal. White & Case advised QIB, while Norton Rose Fulbright provided counsel to a syndicate of banks—HSBC, SMBC, and Standard Chartered—as lead arrangers, bookrunners, and global coordinators. The transaction attracted interest from regional and international banks, with a total of 15 institutions participating in the syndication. This led to the deal being upsized from $600 million to $1 billion.September 2025 21law-middleeast.com DEALS The White & Case team included Cairo partner Sherief Rashed and Doha local partner Kate Chapman. The Norton Rose Fulbright team was led by Dubai partner Aditi Sanyal. NEONC EXPANDS TO UAE; ESTABLISHES NUROMENA Norton Rose Fulbright’s team has been active in the region, having recently advised on the UAE expansion of US biotech company NeOnc as well as the establishment of NuroMENA in the ADGM following a $50 million strategic partnership with Quazar Investment. The team was led by Dubai partner Jonathan Burton, with support from Houston partner Brian Fenske. SAUDI ARAMCO $11 BILLION JAFURAH DEAL White & Case is advising Saudi Aramco on an $11 billion lease and leaseback deal for its Jafurah gas processing facilities, with a consortium of investors led by Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, represented by Slaughter and May. Jafurah is the largest non-associated gas development in Saudi Arabia, and a key component in Saudi Aramco’s plans to increase its gas output by 60% by 2030. As part of the transaction, a new joint venture—51% owned by Saudi Aramco and 49% by a GIP-led global investment group—will lease the Jafurah Gas Plant and the Riyas Facility, and lease them back to Saudi Aramco for 20 years. The transaction is expected to close soon. The White & Case team was led by London partners Michael Watson, Carina Radford, and Ivan Paskal, and Dubai partner Sonia Abdul-Rahman, and included a further 12 partners across the fi rm’s offi ces and practices. Slaughter and May’s London- based team is being led by corporate partner Robin Ogle, and includes energy & infrastructure partner Oliver Moir, fi nance partner David Hay, and tax partner Gareth Miles. TITAN BUYS STAKE IN DUBAI JEWELLER DAMAS Al Tamimi & Company, Cliff ord Chance, and Cleary Gottlieb are playing key roles in Titan Company’s acquisition of a majority stake in Dubai jeweller Damas. Titan, an Indian company owned by Tata Group, has agreed to buy a 67% stake in Damas from Mannai Corporation, a Qatari investment company. The proposed sale is being facilitated by Titan’s subsidiary in the UAE, Titan Holdings. The enterprise value of the transaction is AED 1.04 billion, underscoring the deep investment ties between India and the GCC. Under the terms of the transaction, Titan has the right to acquire all of the remaining shareholding in Damas following the completion of a four-year period. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, antitrust and regulatory approvals. Al Tamimi’s Dubai team advised Titan Holdings. M&A partner Suhail Mirza led on the transaction, which included corporate structuring partner Sherif Rahman, real estate partner Andrew Thomson, and competition partner Mariam Sabet. Cliff ord Chance’s team advising Mannai Corporation was led jointly by the fi rm’s Dubai and Paris offi ces. It included corporate partners Mathieu Remy and Deniz Tas, antitrust partner David Tayar, and real estate partner Tariq Imam. London partner Edward Page provided tax advice, New York partner Benjamin Sibbett provided corporate advice, and AS&H Cliff ord Chance Riyadh partner Daniel Royle provided regulatory advice. The proposed sale has necessitated a renegotiation of Damas’ long-term joint venture agreement with Roberto Coin, an Italian jewellery brand within its portfolio, and its new parent company. Cleary Gottlieb is providing counsel to Roberto Coin on new retailer and franchise agreements with Damas. The team is led by Abu Dhabi corporate partner Mike Taylor. SPORT CLUBS COMPANY IPO Kirkland & Ellis and K&A advised parties in relation to Sport Clubs Company’s IPO on the main market of the Saudi Exchange. Kirkland & Ellis advised Sport Clubs, while K&A represented BSF Capital as the sole fi nancial advisor, underwriter, bookrunner, and lead manager. The off ering comprised 34.32 million shares representing 30% of the company’s share capital. The Kirkland & Ellis team was led by partner Manal Al-Musharaf, while the K&A team was led by managing partner Zeyad Khoshaim. SAUDI LUXURY MALL SALE A&O Shearman advised Al Marqab Investment Company on the sale of Solitaire, a luxury shopping mall in Riyadh, to a real estate investment fund managed by Alrajhi Capital and regulated by the Capital Market Authority. Solitaire launched earlier this year and houses a number of prestigious brands across three fl oors. The deal team was led by Riyadh partners Sultan Almasoud and Mohsin Suleman, covering real estate, fund structuring, and operational matters. 22 September 2025law-middleeast.com CALENDAR Upcoming events and key dates for your diary LEGAL CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 23 | DUBAI Law Middle East M&A Summit 2025 Law Middle East’s next event will bring together market leaders and M&A lawyers behind the region’s biggest deals. During panel discussions and fi reside chats, the speakers will delve into the latest trends, opportunities, and challenges driving corporate activity across the region. This event is aimed at lawyers both in private practice and in-house, as well as fi nance professionals. OCTOBER 9 | DUBAI The Dubai Fixed Income Alternatives Conference Hosted by the DIFC in partnership with DealCatalyst, this event aims to explore opportunities in fi xed income alternatives across the region. The full-day event, held at the Ritz-Carlton in DIFC, will feature discussions and workshops led by industry experts. NOVEMBER | DUBAI Law Middle East Awards 2025 The inaugural Law Middle East Awards is launching in November 2025. This premier gathering for the region’s legal elite is set to be the most prestigious event on the Middle East legal calendar, honouring the best and brightest minds. Nominations are open until September 19 across 24 categories, celebrating industry-defi ning accomplishments by private practice and in-house teams over the past year. NOVEMBER 10-14 | DUBAI Dubai Arbitration Week The sixth annual Dubai Arbitration Week will return in November 2025, bringing together the UAE and global arbitration communities. Over 140 events are scheduled for the week, and the details will be announced in the fi rst week of September 2025. NOVEMBER 18-19 | RIYADH Arab Lawyers Forum The seventh edition of the annual Arab Lawyers Forum aims to bring together legal professionals from both in-house and private practice to share knowledge, tackle key legal, economic, and social challenges in the region, and strengthen ties within the Arab legal community. Law Middle East is the exclusive media partner for this two-day event. EARLY 2026 | DUBAI Construction Conference: Smart cities, giga-projects and the role of lawyers Hosted by Law Middle East, this engaging half-day event provides an opportunity to unpack some of the hottest topics in construction law in both contentious and non- contentious sides of legal practice. The speakers will also explore the future of construction in the region. This event is aimed at lawyers both in private practice and in-house, as well as construction professionals in related industries. 22 September 2025law-middleeast.com CALENDARMarch 2025 23law-middleeast.com INTERVIEW The Middle East is experiencing a resurgence in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity, marked by strong deal volume and value, particularly in the region’s key economic centres. Join us for an event with the market leaders and M&A lawyers behind the region’s biggest deals. During panel discussions, hosted by Law Middle East editor Aishah Hussain, the speakers will delve into the latest trends, opportunities, and challenges driving corporate activity across the region. The UAE, as the region's busiest market, will feature prominently in discussions. This event will off er plentiful discussion and opportunities for networking. It is aimed at lawyers both in private practice and in-house, as well as fi nance professionals. SPONSORSHIP David Bentley david.bentley@itp.com EDITORIAL Aishah Hussain aishah.hussain@itp.com CONTACT SEPTEMBER 23 | ST. REGIS DOWNTOWN DUBAI ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED SCAN TO SECURE YOUR PLACE PARTNERS TECHNOLOGY PARTNEREDUCATION PARTNER24 September 2025law-middleeast.com EVENTS In the world of corporate law where success is often measured by billing targets, Dipali Maldonado’s career journey off ers a powerful lesson in fi nding balance and fulfi lment. In a recent fi reside chat at the inaugural Women in Law Forum 2025, hosted by Law Middle East, the Al Tamimi & Company partner shared candid insights from her career, which saw her shift from corporate law in London to private client services in Dubai. A DEFINING MOMENT Maldonado’s early career was defi ned by what she described as a “boys’ club”. For years she immersed herself in corporate law, handling initial public off erings (IPOs), mergers & acquisitions (M&A), and private equity deals. “I always had the impression and the attitude that it does not matter that I am a woman, this is a ‘boys’ club’, and I am going to act in the same way,” she recalled. If my energy level is not good, I will take a step back and focus Al Tamimi & Company partner Dipali Maldonado shares candid insights from her career, which saw her shift from corporate law in London to private client services in Dubai, at Law Middle East’s inaugural event A LAWYER’S JOURNEY FROM CORPORATE ‘BOYS’ CLUB’ TO FULFILLING CAREER By Aishah Hussain LME_Sep2025_24-26_Events_13694775.indd 24LME_Sep2025_24-26_Events_13694775.indd 2410/09/2025 11:2110/09/2025 11:21September 2025 25law-middleeast.com EVENTS and launched the private client practice at the fi rm known primarily for corporate law at the time. That was in 2012 and more than a decade on she said the fi rm’s entrepreneurial spirit continues to hold true. “As long as you have a business case, you are free to try anything and everything,” she said. The fi rm is also supportive of women lawyers, even having a female managing partner some years ago. “A lot of my mentors were female partners, heads of departments, and that still stays true today,” she said. CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES The shift from corporate to private client matters was profound. Corporate law, she explained, is very “transactional” and “results-driven”. “There is a start and an end to a transaction,” she continued. “You might have some moments to establish rapport with clients during the transaction, which can typically last from a few days to say, three months, but it is very surface.” In contrast, the private client world is all about building long-term relationships. "I fi nd it so rewarding that clients are opening their life up to you, their family, their homes, their wealth, their structures," she said. This work requires a deep level of trust and discretion, as a single mistake can sever the relationship—particularly within the Middle East context. Maldonado also noted how there are more opportunities for her in the Middle East than in London, where she felt there was a "glass ceiling". She recalled how after returning from It was not until she fell pregnant with her fi rst child that her mindset shifted. At seven months pregnant on her last day before maternity leave, she began having contractions whilst on a late Friday conference call. She recalled the partner with whom she was on the call with showing disregard for her situation, so she persisted until she started to bleed and an ambulance had to be called. “That was a defi ning moment in terms of the way I was approaching my life and career,” she told the audience of over 150 delegates. “You do not have to go through such lengths to prove that you are part of this ‘club’.” This experience was not about blaming the corporate world, the fi rm, or the culture, she emphasised. It was about reassessing her priorities and fi nding work that was more fulfi lling. After a year of maternity leave, she returned to work but found she was rarely spending time with her son. One morning, she went into the offi ce and handed in her resignation. A NEW PATH After her resignation, Maldonado embarked on a “magical” six-month trip around the world. “It was a world away from my last”, she enthused, adding the experience led her to fi gure out her priorities and fi nd balance. This quest ultimately led her to the Middle East and Al Tamimi & Company, the region’s largest law fi rm. There, she met with the founder and chair, Essam Al Tamimi, one of the UAE’s most respected legal fi gures, I always had the impression and the attitude that it does not matter that I am a woman, this is a ‘boys’ club’, and I am going to act in the same way Al Tamimi & Company partner Dipali Maldonado LME_Sep2025_24-26_Events_13694775.indd 25LME_Sep2025_24-26_Events_13694775.indd 2510/09/2025 11:2110/09/2025 11:2126 September 2025law-middleeast.com EVENTS maternity leave, her offi ce was moved to an undesirable location, which she took as a clear signal that she had to prove her worth again. While challenges exist in the private client world, particularly with some family-led businesses and patriarchs preferring male advisors, the growing number of high-net- worth female clients presents opportunities for women lawyers in the Middle East. She also highlighted an emerging trend for private client lawyers in the region: the need for a cross-border practice to serve high-net- worth individuals with global footprints who are increasingly relocating to the Middle East and growing their asset portfolios. “It helps to have strong cross-border alliances with law fi rms and advisors across the globe, and this is what Al Tamimi & Company is very good at, so that when a client comes to you, you can show an understanding for their global structuring and portfolio,” she said. I fi nd it so rewarding that clients are opening their life up to you, their family, their homes, their wealth, their structures FINDING BALANCE As a mother of two sons, a yogi, and a reiki master, Maldonado champions "energy management" over time management. "If my energy level is not good, I will take a step back and focus," she explained. This allows her to stay calm and centred with a clear and focused mindset, especially in emotionally charged meetings, where she consciously separates her clients' emotions from the practical legal matters to fi nd solutions. Now having practised in the region for over a decade, her advice to aspiring female lawyers is to fi nd mentors and fi gure out what exactly they want from a future career to make it as fulfi lling possible. LME_Sep2025_24-26_Events_13694775.indd 26LME_Sep2025_24-26_Events_13694775.indd 2610/09/2025 11:2110/09/2025 11:2128 September 2025law-middleeast.com COVER STORY From multi-billion-dollar deals to developing the next generation of Emirati lawyers, Marwan Nijmeh is redefi ning what it means to lead a major in-house function at scale ADNOC LEGAL CHIEF'S GLOBAL STRATEGY By Aishah Hussain Photography by Ajith NarendraSeptember 2025 29law-middleeast.com COVER STORYNext >