Expanding our law firm’s global reach and commitment to serving clients doing business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the GCC and beyond, Vinson & Elkins opened its Abu Dhabi office in 2007. Our Abu Dhabi team includes multi-lingual U.S., English, and regionally-qualified lawyers focused on complex, high-profile transactions in aviation, banking and finance, capital markets, construction, corporate/M&A,  energy, infrastructure, project finance and development, real estate, and restructuring.

Our firm understands the unique legal, business, and regulatory issues facing clients located in,
and doing business in the Middle East. V&E lawyers have been actively involved in the ongoing development of the region’s commodities markets and regulations; health care infrastructure; restructuring regulations; and many other areas impacting business in the UAE and internationally. This knowledge, coupled with our understanding of Abu Dhabi-specific laws, frameworks, and customs, is integrated with our worldwide network of offices ensuring efficient project management and excellent service whenever and wherever clients need it. (View accolades for our Middle East experience.)

Corporate/ M&A
V&E is regularly recognized as a leading UAE law firm for corporate, commercial, M&A, and investment fund work by Chambers Global (2009-2011), Legal 500 (2009-2008), and other prominent publications. Our UAE team has significant experience advising on general corporate, M&A, joint venture, private equity, and other transactional matters throughout the MENA region, including those with Shari’a-compliant structures. We also maintain excellent working relationships with local counsel contacts that we can call upon for assistance in virtually any jurisdiction as needed.

Project Finance and Development
V&E has a very strong Abu Dhabi-based project development and finance team with multilingual attorneys who are familiar with relevant local and regional legal and regulatory requirements. Our Abu Dhabi lawyers have advised on numerous award-winning deals worldwide, including the Emirates Aluminium project in the UAE (Project Finance magazine’s ”Middle East Manufacturing Deal of the Year”), the US$4.1 billion cross-border Dolphin pipeline project (Infrastructure Journal’s “Oil & Gas Deal of the Year”), and the Marafiq IWPP in Saudi Arabia (named “Middle East Power and Water Project of the Year” by Project Finance magazine).

Energy
Vinson & Elkins has been recognized in Euromoney's Expert Guide to the World's Leading Energy & Natural Resource Lawyers as the "World's Leading Energy Law Firm" for 2010 - 2011.” As a result of our nearly century-long commitment to the energy industry, we have unrivaled experience in the legal aspects of virtually all areas of the energy sector. Our award-winning regional practice includes deep knowledge in climate change; LNG; minerals and mining; oil and gas; petrochemical; power; renewable, and alternative energy; and water. Clients include multinational companies; independent energy, mining, and related-service companies; government-owned energy entities; large industrial groups; international contractors; institutional, foreign, and private investors; investment banks; and some of the world's largest commercial banks.

Construction
Our construction and infrastructure practice is widely recognized as among the best and V&E was named “UAE Construction Law Firm of the Year” at the 2010 ACQ Law Awards. Our Abu Dhabi lawyers are familiar with UAE-specific construction issues and have deep experience advising governments, sponsors, project companies, lenders, and contractors in connection with a wide variety of construction and facilities matters. Our lawyers have particular experience in structuring, negotiating, and drafting EPC and other related contracts such as technology and process licenses, EPCM, EPCA, and FEED contracts, including those utilizing a number of different pricing models.

Capital Markets and Securities
Vinson & Elkins’ award-winning Capital Markets and Securities law practice consistently ranks among the best, including 29 Top 10 rankings in Thomson Financial’s first half 2010 league tables. V&E lawyers in Abu Dhabi and around the word advise on a broad range of debt, and equity transactions, such as high-yield and investment-grade debt issuances, 144A/Reg S matters, and bonds (including Sukuk). Our Middle East lawyers also advise on conventional and Shari’a-compliant derivatives matters and provide disclosure, governance, and general corporate advice to our public company clients.

Restructuring/Reorganization
Vinson & Elkin’s Restructuring and Reorganization law practice has been active for more than 25 years with leaders in workout and restructuring law worldwide, including a market-leading practice in the Middle East. The firm’s UAE lawyers have advised on the largest and most complex restructuring matters to date in the GCC and regularly provide clients with legal, business, and regulatory guidance including various Islamic financing components of restructuring and reorganization matters.

Aviation
V&E’s UAE lawyers have represented airport owners; regional, national, and international carriers; governments; equipment suppliers and manufacturers; service providers; and financial institutions in connection with market-leading aviation industry projects and transactions, including the expansion of Queen Alia International Airport in Jordan and the Shari’a-compliant aircraft sale and lease-back arrangement utilized to fund the operation of Gulf Air. Our UAE practice is backed by a team of global lawyers who regularly advise on some of the aviation sector’s most high-profile matters, such as the recent merger of Continental Airlines and United Airlines.

Real Estate
Our UAE real estate practice is ranked among the best in the region by Chambers Global. V&E’s Middle East lawyers understand all sides of a real estate transaction and regularly act for a wide variety of industry participants, including developers, contractors, financial institutions, insurance companies, private equity funds, design professionals, consultants, and governmental entities.