Middle East
Doha
31st Floor Tornado Tower
Al Funduq Street
PO Box 26100 West Bay
Our Doha office is located in Qatar’s prestigious West Bay. With significant proven reserves of both oil and natural gas, and one of the world’s highest per capita production rates, Qatar’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world.
Our team of lawyers has a deep understanding of the Qatari legal, regulatory, commercial, and financial markets paired with substantial Middle East and international experience. Our full-service legal practice in Doha offers legal advice in all areas, including corporate, commercial, regulatory and legislative drafting, projects, energy and infrastructure, aviation, banking and finance (including Islamic finance), telecoms, media and technology, real estate and construction, intellectual property, and all manner of dispute resolution.
We represent major State of Qatar-backed entities, family conglomerates, listed companies, and financial institutions doing business both domestically and abroad, as well as international clients doing business in Qatar and across the Middle East region. Members of our team have worked on a number of strategic government advisory mandates and are regarded as experienced practitioners in Doha. These mandates have included advising government agencies on the preparation and drafting of the entire suite of laws and regulations for their operations and projects, advising on trophy-asset acquisitions, and supporting strategic restructurings.
Alongside this, our firm was retained as the key adviser and drafter of the entire suite of new contracts being rolled out for Ashghal, the Qatar Public Works Authority. We take pride in having one of the few specialist public-private partnership lawyers operating in the Middle East, and consider our Doha office to be a true market leader when it comes to advising clients on front-end construction and infrastructure project tendering, contract drafting, and financing.
Doha is one of the centers of excellence for our global Islamic finance group. We advise banks and borrowers on all aspects of their banking and finance requirements, including some of the most complex regional work-outs involving complicated cross border and Shariah issues. Our office is the country correspondent for Islamic Finance News, a leading global news provider in the Islamic finance sector, and also advised on the award-winning first Shariah-compliant Exchange Traded Fund in Qatar.
Our Litigation and Dispute Resolution team is a very active part of our local offering. We routinely carry out advocacy in arbitration and the Qatar Financial Centre Courts, delivering our clients a full-service dispute resolution offering to ensure they have maximum visibility and control over their cases. We regularly advise local and international clients on litigation, arbitration, mediation, and, in particular, dispute avoidance and alternative dispute resolution. Our Litigation and Dispute Resolution partners in the region also sit as arbitrators. We have an impressive track record of cases in the local Qatari courts, in which we work closely alongside leading local counsel as our clients’ advocates.
Our Doha office has a regional outlook and works across the wider Middle East region on mandates for Qatari, regional, and international clients. Additionally, our office has a fully bilingual offering and is able to seamlessly advise clients in connection with documents and laws drafted in English and Arabic. With the benefit of our global platform, we routinely work with an international team of lawyers on projects across different jurisdictions, practice areas, and time zones.
- The 2021 Chambers Global Guide recognized the firm and its lawyers as leaders in Qatar in the areas of Corporate/Commercial; Corporate/Commercial: Banking & Finance; Dispute Resolution: International Firms; and Projects & Energy.
- The 2022 Legal 500 EMEA Guide recognized the firm as leaders in Qatar in the areas of Commercial, Corporate and M&A; Dispute Resolution; and Projects, Real Estate, and Construction.
What the team is known for Established practice covering general commercial, construction and investment treaty disputes. Engaged by Asian clients in the energy and oil and gas sectors. Also turned to by companies in the Middle East for infrastructure and development matters. Argues in arbitration courts across the world, including in Singapore, Dubai and New York. Singapore office works closely with colleagues across the network, especially with the London, New York and Doha offices. The team has been especially active advising Indian and Korean companies on cross-border disputes. Clients benefit from the firm's addition of local disputes capability through its combination in Singapore with Straits Law Practice LLC.
Amjad Hussain is widely considered a leader in Qatari finance matters. He is acclaimed by clients for his strengths in Islamic and asset finance, and offers further expertise in M&A transactions and commercial contract work. Sources describe him as a lawyer who is "very pragmatic, practical and offers a good level of service," further noting: "He's a really pleasant guy to work with."
Highly skilled banking and finance team especially accomplished at Islamic finance. Experienced advising major international clients on real estate finance, asset finance and restructurings. Frequently acts for regulatory bodies such as the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, and provides a wealth of guidance on corporate structurings. The firm also fields an experienced projects team capable of handling finance and development mandates, with particular strengths in PPPs.
Highly skilled banking and finance team especially accomplished at Islamic finance. Experienced advising major international clients on real estate finance, asset finance and restructurings. Frequently acts for regulatory bodies such as the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, and provides a wealth of guidance on corporate structurings. The firm also fields an experienced projects team capable of handling finance and development mandates, with particular strengths in PPPs.
Amjad Hussain is widely considered a leader in Qatari finance matters. He is acclaimed by clients for his strengths in Islamic and asset finance, and offers further expertise in M&A transactions and commercial contract work. Sources describe him as a lawyer who is "very pragmatic, practical and offers a good level of service," further noting: "He's a really pleasant guy to work with."
Eminent disputes team which possesses noteworthy expertise in arbitration, especially cases held under ICC rules. Also regularly assists with litigation proceedings, including at the Qatari Court of Appeal and before the QFC courts. Represents a number of engineering and construction clients as well as real estate developers and hotel groups.
Clients summarise the firm's strengths to be "a thorough uncovering and evaluation of issues and concise presentation of analysis and recommendations. Partners are professional with respect to client management while bringing a wealth of legal and arbitration experience to bear."
Highly skilled banking and finance team especially accomplished at Islamic finance. Experienced advising major international clients on real estate finance, asset finance and restructurings. Frequently acts for regulatory bodies such as the Qatar Financial Centre Authority, and provides a wealth of guidance on corporate structurings. The firm also fields an experienced projects team capable of handling finance and development mandates, with particular strengths in PPPs.
Clients value the firm's "thorough uncovering and evaluation of issues and concise presentation of analysis and recommendations." One client remarked upon its "strong client focus, with an appreciation and patience for the cultural nuances," going on to praise the team's "sound understanding of the commercial reality and thorough knowledge of the local Qatari market."
Matthew Walker is a highly regarded construction disputes lawyer with many years' experience in ICC and QICCA arbitrations. He is also well versed in litigation proceedings as well as mediations and adjudications. Clients applaud his "solid analytical skills," adding that "he develops sound arguments. He's a good listener and evaluates the client's position very well." He splits his time between London and Doha.
Paweł Piotrowski is fast establishing himself as a go-to figure for Qatari PPPs, offering considerable experience in procurement-related issues and contract drafting. One client enthused: "Pawełis really, really good. He's really accessible, gets back to you quickly, has a really commercial approach and understands transactions from a high level."
Simon Chan is well versed in a wide range of finance matters, acting for both borrowers and lenders. He is also noted for his skills in fintech and banking regulatory matters. Sources agree that he is "an experienced guy," with one client adding: "I find him to be really reliable."
