Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

The legal challenges are as abundant as the opportunities across technology, energy, real estate, and financial services throughout the MENA region. Alston & Bird’s years of experience not only in MENA but throughout the rest of the world have prepared us to work with you through any matters that might arise. You can rely on our experience in the region to help guide you through your legal needs.

Overview

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions are experiencing unprecedented growth and transformation. With expanding opportunities across diverse sectors, particularly oil & gas, technology, real estate, and financial services, the region is fast evolving in both size and sophistication. Businesses and investors in MENA are not only driving local development but are increasingly looking outward, seeking to expand into foreign markets, especially Europe and the United States.

At Alston & Bird, we bring a wealth of experience to sovereign wealth funds, private equity firms, and privately held businesses operating in the MENA region. Our team advises on the full spectrum of your legal matters, from complex transactional work to high-stakes dispute resolution and international arbitration. In particular, we provide advice on insolvency, white collar crime, tax planning, restructuring, employment, securities litigation, and alternative dispute resolution.

Our footprint spans the entire MENA region, including the GCC, the Levant, and North Africa, with key relationships in Qatar, the UAE, and Egypt, among others. We are deeply engaged in supporting you as you navigate regional opportunities and global expansion strategies.

If you are seeking entry into the U.S. market, Alston & Bird offers unique capabilities and extensive expertise to ensure a smooth and successful transition. Our team includes professionals fluent in Arabic, enabling us to communicate effectively and provide culturally attuned advice. We also have extensive experience as counsel and advocates in the region’s offshore courts, including the DIFC and ADGM.

Whether you’re a MENA-based company looking to do business in the United States or a U.S. company interested in tapping into MENA’s wealth of business opportunities, our multidisciplinary and international experience in all markets equips us to offer you unparalleled experience anywhere in the region, anywhere in the world.

Experience

Represented the Arab Republic of Egypt in a dispute against an Italian investor under the Italy-Egypt bilateral investment treaty (BIT) over a contract to provide waste management and disposal services.
Represented the Arab Republic of Egypt in a dispute against Bahrani investors under the Bahrain-Egypt BIT over the construction and operation of a hotel along the River Nile worth up to €60 million.
Represented the Arab Republic of Egypt in a dispute under the Spain-Egypt BIT over a license to build and operate a cement factory.
Represented the Arab Republic of Egypt in an ICSID arbitration against a UAE investor based on an abuse of due process claim under the UAE-Egypt BIT.
Represented an Egyptian private equity firm in a dispute against a North African state in a treaty-based investment arbitration before the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Represented a UAE-based financial services company in multiple international arbitration, litigation, and enforcement matters involving foreign exchange repo transactions.
Represented an Egyptian private equity firm in a commercial arbitration claim against two African states arising out of a breach of a railway concession agreement.
Represented a UAE-based private equity fund as claimant in a DIAC-administered arbitration arising out of the sale of an education business.
Represented a Saudi holding and investment company in an ad hoc arbitration claim and related insolvency proceedings involving a telecoms investment in southern Africa.
Represented a consortium of UAE, Bahraini, and UK banks in negligence claims against the auditors of insolvent borrowers, with concurrent proceedings in Egypt and the UAE.
Represented a Saudi attorney in an ICC arbitration under French law against a former client in a claim for contingency fees in the sale of properties in Saudi Arabia.
Represented an Algerian state-owned oil company against a Norwegian oil company in an ICC arbitration under French law involving a series of contracts for the purchase of liquefied natural gas, claiming over $750 million.
Counsel to Lebanese investors in an ICC arbitration against the Republic of Cyprus under the Lebanon-Cyprus BIT, claiming $1.4 billion.
Represented a Lebanese American investor against the Republic of Romania in an ICSID arbitration involving a press distribution company claiming expropriation due to the revocation of a law granting land concessions to the investor.
Represented several Emirati and Iraqi parties in multiple company law proceedings before the DIFC courts.
Represented Cyprus- and UAE-incorporated parties in company law matters governed by the laws of the ADGM.
Defended an Iraqi telecoms company in a $1 billion ICC arbitration claim involving enforcement of a debt instrument and related issues, seated in Dubai.
Represented a leading sovereign wealth fund in arbitration proceedings involving construction of a luxury resort in the Red Sea.
Represented a UAE state-owned corporation in a dispute over the termination of a sports sponsorship agreement.
Represented a UAE-incorporated company in sensitive investigations and an audit of alleged internal frauds.
Represented Saudi and Kuwaiti investment funds in proceedings before the Cayman Island courts involving an insolvent joint venture partner and the potential sale of a substantial energy asset.