ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners
ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners is a Middle Eastern law firm founded in 1977 in Kuwait. Its operations in Bahrain trace back to 2006.
Focusses / specialisms
The banking practice covers secured and unsecured financing work, both conventional and Islamic.
In M&A the firm advises on public and private transactions, including assistance on multiple voluntary and mandatory tender offers convening Bahrain listed entities. The firm also assists with spin-offs considering the legislative gap for de-merger under Bahraini law and provides full local M&A support.
The firm is also well adept to providing insolvency and administration advice to clients in Bahrain.
Hassan Radhi & Associates
The Bahraini law firm
Hassan Radhi & Associates was formed in 1974. Besides its office in Manama the firm has an office in Muscat, Oman.
The firm is one of the leaders in Bahrain for domestic transactional law advice, and is experienced in lending and project finance, capital markets, and M&A.
Banking, energy, financial services, and oil and gas are sectors in which the firm has expertise.
Key clients include GFH Financial Group, Barclays Bank, Arab Banking Corporation, Citigroup Global Markets Limited, Gulf International Bank, HSBC Bank, National Bank of Bahrain, Standard Chartered Bank and JP Morgan Securities.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
Within the research period, the firm was active in banking, capital markets and M&A.
In banking the firm was active in financing work on the lender side.
It was also visible in the Bahraini capital markets space where it advised on large,
predominantly multinational, equity and debt transactions for a mix of banks and issuer side clients.
In M&A the team notably advised
a seller on an acquisition deal.
Haya Rashed Al Khalifa
With over 30 years of experience in providing legal advisory services to diverse and distinguished clientele,
Haya Rashed Al Khalifa has been considered a forerunner of the Bahraini legal market.
The firm is known for its exceptional
work for clients in all aspects of financial and corporate transactions including banking and finance, restructuring and insolvency, financial services regulatory and M&A
practice areas.
The firm is particularly active and visible in the banking and financial services industry sectors.
The firm’s notable clients include Bahrain Sugar Refinery, Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Bahrain Development Bank, Ahli United Bank B.S.C, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Kuwait Finance House, Majed Al Futtaim Properties, KHCB, and Texel Air.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period, the firm
advised on
banking and financing, financial services regulatory,
restructuring,
and M&A transactions.
The firm advised both the lenders and borrowers on
Islamic, project and asset financing work
but was often seen advising on the lender’s side.
The firm also
provided financial regulatory advice to
high-profile
clients in the financial services industry sector.
In the restructuring practice, the firm advised clients on corporate and financial restructuring deals.
In M&A, the firm advised
mostly acquirers on both public and private
acquisitions involving real estate, financial services and food and beverage industries.
Client feedback: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
“They provide timely response, high availability and accurate analysis.”
“Elie is very responsive and understands business and problematics very well.
He's client-oriented and always gives
accurate feedback on questions addressed to him.”
Newton Legal
Newton Legal Group is a Bahrain based international law firm established in 2012. The firm
operates out of an office in Manama.
The firm has a well-established offering across several areas in the financial and corporate domain. The firm’s transactional work in the energy sector,
particularly oil and gas, is well
recognised.
It has a strong banking and finance practice that advises on local law aspects of a range of financing and refinancing transactions.
The firm is also visible in the restructuring and insolvency space, where it advises both lenders and borrowers.
Key clients include Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Bahrain National Gas Company (BNGEC), the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Bahrain Islamic Bank (BiSB), Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill (GARMCO), Czarnikow Group, and Mashreqbank.
Research period review: 33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period, the firm was active in banking and finance, M&A and restructuring and insolvency work during the research period.
In banking and finance the firm worked on loans financing and refinancing, including Islamic finance, typically on the side of the borrower.
In M&A the firm worked on both private and public
acquisitions,
acting mainly for acquirers.
The firm has been active in restructuring and insolvency. One notable example of the team’s work in the sphere is its representation of GARMCO, the first and one of the largest downstream
aluminum facilities in the Middle East, in
its court-led restructuring proceedings.
Deal highlights:
33rd edition (2023/2024)
The Oil and Gas Holding Company (nogaholding)
$1.6
billion refinancing
Zu'bi & Partners Attorneys & Legal Consultants
With a history going back to 1921,
Zu’bi & Partners Attorneys & Legal Consultants is Bahrain’s oldest established law firm. The firm has offices in Manama and Dubai.
The firm is one of the leaders in Bahrain and is particularly active in banking and finance. It has a long track record of advising on a broad range of conventional and Islamic finance transactions and has strong capabilities in developing innovative Shari’ah-compliant techniques.
The firm also has a strong presence in debt capital markets, where it
frequently acts on large issuances for public and private sector clients.
In M&A the firm is known for working on complex restructurings and acquisitions for both domestic and international clients.
Chevron International Pte, Standard Chartered Bank, Bahrain Ministry of Finance and National Economy, The Oil and Gas Holding Company, Bahrain Bourse, Zain Bahrain and Batelco Group
Research period review:
33rd edition (2023/2024)
During the research period the firm was active in
banking and
debt capital markets.
In banking the team represented lenders connected with banking and financial services sectors on financing transactions.
Deal highlights:
33rd edition (2023/2024)
Central Bank of Bahrain and Ministry of Finance and National Economy $350 million sukuk
Baker McKenzie
Chicago-headquartered Baker McKenzie is one of the largest law firms in the world both by revenue and headcount. In Bahrain the firm operates out of an office in Manama.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm fields a multi-disciplinary practice in Bahrain which advises clients on banking, capital markets, corporate M&A and projects.
The banking practice has a distinct specialism in project finance, Islamic finance, contractor finance, real estate finance, securitisation and receivables finance and financial restructuring.
It is among the best law firms in the Bahraini financial and corporate market, with a client base spanning all major Bahrain-based banks, key corporate and government.
Key clients
Key clients include Gulf International Bank, Saudi National Commercial Bank, Rami Sweis, Arab Bank, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mill and Kalaam Telecom Bahrain.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is an international law firm headquartered in the UK. In Bahrain the firm serves clients out of an office in Manama.
Focusses / specialisms
The firm fields a top-tier corporate practice in Bahrain, whose advice spans international and domestic mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, reorganisations, restructurings and public-private partnerships. The firm’s expertise in financial services M&A is second to none, having recently advised on the most significant cross-border bank mergers.
Projects is another area of strength for the firm, where its strong relationships with governmental institutions and project developers enable it to provide comprehensive advice on cutting-edge infrastructure projects.
Key clients
Key clients includeBahrain Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Finance, Premier Group, Diyar Al Muharraq, Electricity and Water Authority of Bahrain and GFH Financial Group.
Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023)
M&A
"They have an in-depth knowledge of the M&A transactions in the region and apart from being very detail-oriented, they are approachable round the clock. In a few words, one can completely rely on them without having to worry about any aspect of the transaction. Top-class legal services!"
"Very practical and responsive."
