Sullivan & Cromwell has represented U.S. and U.K. and other European clients, as well as leading regional businesses (including state-owned companies), in a wide variety of matters in the Middle East. These include joint ventures, private and public financings, project finance and development (including Islamic financings), M&A transactions, litigation matters, corporate and individual tax matters, and estate planning and other personal concerns of individuals. Lawyers dealing with Middle Eastern matters are based in Europe and the United States, drawing on colleagues in all practice groups as required to meet client needs.

S&C lawyers handling Middle Eastern matters are highly experienced in the local laws and practices that affect these matters. They are familiar with and respect the region’s history, culture, and methods of conducting business and personal affairs. The Firm has developed good working relationships with a number of capable local law firms and lawyers in the region. These relationships enable us to collaborate productively with local firms on a matter-to-matter basis, when this will help us to best serve the client’s needs.

Current and recent engagements in the region include our role as project counsel for the YLNG upstream gas field development and LNG liquefaction facility, the first world-scale project in Yemen; representing the project company in the Emirates Aluminium smelter project in the United Arab Emirates; representing ExxonMobil as a sponsor/developer of the approximately 535 km gas pipeline designed to transport significant quantities of gas from Qatar’s North Field to Kuwait; representing Occidental Petroleum in respect to the Dolphin gas pipeline project; and representing Alcan in a smelter and related power project in Oman.

In addition, S&C has a strong track record on corporate and securities work both in the region and for Middle Eastern investors expanding internationally, including recent work for DP World/Dubai Ports International.