A highly-regarded group of lawyers with accumulated experience of more than a century of practice in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries — including eight partners who specialize in a wide range of transactional and dispute matters — joined Baker Botts L.L.P. today. The lawyers will work from firm offices in Dubai, Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.

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Morgan Lewis today announced that it plans to open an office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the additions of Ayman A. Khaleq—a leading structured finance and debt capital markets lawyer in the Middle East region who has a particular knowledge of Islamic finance—and Jim Knight—a corporate and transactional lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in energy and other industries. They are joined by London-based energy transactions partner Lewis Jones, whose fluency in the development and financing of international energy projects under English law solidifies the trio’s top-shelf service for clients with interests in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia.

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Clifford Chance has advised Sorouh Real Estate PJSC on its successful merger with Aldar Properties PJSC, terms of which were agreed by their respective boards in January 2013 and approved by their respective shareholders in March 2013. The merger was recently approved by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and was declared effective by the Ministry of Economy upon close of trading on 27 June 2013.

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Taylor Wessing Middle East has advised leading regional media business, Mediaquest, on its acquisition of the AME Info and SME Info websites, two of the leading business outlets for news and information in the Middle East and North Africa region from AME Info FZ-LLC, owned by Top Right Group.

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King & Spalding today announced the addition of a team of three international arbitration and construction lawyers from Simmons & Simmons to its Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices, the latest move in its plan of expansion of its global disputes capabilities.

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The Carrefour Group recently announced the sale of its 25% stake in Majid Al Futtaim Hypermarkets for €530 million to its regional partner, Majid Al Futtaim Holding.

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Clifford Chance, in cooperation with Al-Jadaan & Partners Law Firm, is advising Savola Group (Savola) on its acquisition of shares in Savola Foods Company (SFC) and Azizia Panda United Company (APU) from Al Muhaidib Holding Company (Al Muhaidib).

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A Dubai-based team of lawyers from global law firm K&L Gates LLP has advised Jordan’s Rassam family on the sale of a significant minority interest in Al Nabil Food Industries Limited Company (“Nabil Foods”) to global alternative asset manager, The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ:CG). The transaction closed on May 13, 2013, and is the first significant investment by an international private equity house into Jordan.

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Clifford Chance advised The Carlyle Group on their strategic investment in Al-Nabil Food Industries Co. Ltd., a frozen and chilled food products company in Jordan. The transaction closed on May 13, 2013.

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International law firm Clyde & Co is pleased to announce the lateral appointments of Rhys Lewis and Ross Barfoot as partners in its MENA corporate group, bringing regional corporate partner numbers to 12 and total regional partner numbers to 36.

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