IFLR 1000
The Guide to the World's Leading Financial Law Firms

	Baker & McKenzie Norton Rose
	Charles Russell Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Hassan Radhi & Associates Trowers & Hamlins Zu’bi & Partners
	Ahmed Zaki Yamani Haya Rashed Al Khalifa
	ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners Zeenat Al Mansoori & Associates

	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Norton Rose Trowers & Hamlins
	Hassan Radhi & Associates Zu’bi & Partners
	Ahmed Zaki Yamani Charles Russell
	ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners Elham Ali Hassan & Associates Zeenat Al Mansoori & Associates

	Baker & McKenzie Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Norton Rose
	Zu’bi & Partners
	Hassan Radhi & Associates Haya Rashed Al Khalifa
	ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners Elham Ali Hassan & Associates Zeenat Al Mansoori & Associates

Kuwait firm ASAR – Al Ruwayeh has been gradually building its practice in Bahrain as it looks to further establish its presence across the Gulf region.

Leading the team in Bahrain is partner Michael Durgavich who appears on most of the firm’s key mandates along with Ali Sheikh and Najib Saade.... [more]

Kuwait firm ASAR – Al Ruwayeh has been gradually building its practice in Bahrain as it looks to further establish its presence across the Gulf region.

Leading the team in Bahrain is partner Michael Durgavich who appears on most of the firm’s key mandates along with Ali Sheikh and Najib Saade.

The firm’s primary work in the last year has been related to M&A, projects and investment funds.

Deals
In the funds space the firm has been active recently picking up two key mandates. In one example the firm acted for the Islamic Development Bank on the establishment of IDB Infrastructure Fund II a new private investment undertaking (PIU). The team also advised on the establishment of Bahrain Islamic Bank Retail Fund.

In the derivatives area, the team advised VIVA on its entry into Islamic profit rate swap agreements.

An interesting mandate in the projects area saw the team act for BMI Bank and BBK on a review of the shariah-compliant financing provided to the Arabian Sugar Company for the financing of a sugar refinery.

Finally, in M&A the team acted for Euronet Worldwide on its acquisition of Arab Finance Corporation.
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	ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners Bader Saud Al-Bader & Partners
	Abdullah Kh Al-Ayoub & Associates International Counsel Bureau
	Al Tamimi & Company Anwar Al-Bisher & Partners Mashora Advocates and Legal Consultants Mishare M Al-Ghazali & Partners Salman Duaij Al-Sabah Law Office
	Taher Group Law Firm

Kuwait's largest firm, ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners, has an outstanding reputation in the local market and continues to be of the country's leading firms. "I find them to be the best in town.... [more]

Kuwait's largest firm, ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners, has an outstanding reputation in the local market and continues to be of the country's leading firms. "I find them to be the best in town. They have protected us on more than one front. They have a team which is expert on both international and Arabic law," is one client's reference. Another praises the firm for its lawyer's business orientated approach; "They don't only take care of legal issues but they also advise on the commercial issues." Another observes that: "When it comes to the international touch then ASAR is one the best firms in the country."

Of the firm's partners Hossam Abdullah, who heads the international practice, Sam Habbas and Rob Little are its leading figures. "If I were to become a prime minister I would hire him as my legal consult. With Sam the response time is excellent," says one client of Habbas. Abdullah is rated for being "technically a very sound guy" with "excellent local knowledge in Kuwaiti law".

Deals
Currently the firm is involved in one of the country's most eagerly anticipated projects, the construction of the Al Zour independent water and power producer (IWPP). Not only the first IWPP to be built in Kuwait, Al Zour is also the pilot project for the government's new process for awarding PPP (public-private partnerships) tenders. Rob Little, Ibrahim Sattout and Akusa Batwala are part of a consortium of advisors counselling the Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water (MEW) and the Partnerships Technical Bureau (PTB) on $1.8 billion deal.

With many investment companies struggling to keep up with their repayments, restructuring remains a common instruction for lawyers in Kuwait and the firm has been involved in a number of transactions in this space. One substantial example was its advice to Global Investment House and its financial advisors, Evercore International, on the restructuring of $1.7 billion in debt. On the creditor side, ASAR is assisting the committee holding Aayan Leasing and Investment Company's debt, which exceeds $1 billion.

Another active practice for the firm has been capital markets with the major deals falling into the debt category. One such matter saw ASAR act for KIPCO Asset Management Company and Watani Investment Company, the joint lead managers on the KD800 million ($286 million) bond for Kuwait Projects Company, which closed in January 2012. Additionally, the firm is advising Alghanim Industries, the originator and obligor of a $100 million securitisation sukuk (Islamic bond) MTN Programme, the first from a Kuwait originator.

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