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Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is the only UK magic circle firm with an office in Bahrain, which it has nurtured and developed for more than a decade, having established in Manama in 2007. The office is led by Harnek Shoker and is supported by its formidable regional and global network, resources and expertise, most notably the firm’s UAE office. The team focuses on high-end, sophisticated and complex work, often with cross-border elements. The team has cultivated a prestigious and loyal client base in Bahrain and often takes a lead roles on large deals.
Dating back to 1921, Zu’bi & Partners Attorneys & Legal Consultants is Bahrain’s oldest law firm. The firm has offices in Manama and Dubai. It has a strong record on conventional and Islamic finance transactions, with a capacity for Shari’ah-compliant products and financial regulatory advice.
Highlights
Zu’bi & Partners repeatedly acts for the
Ministry of Finance and National Economy and in 2023 advised on a $1 billion sukuk issuance and $1 billion drawdown from its GMTN programme. In the financing space, the team advised
HDFC Bank, Bahrain branch, as borrower on a $525 million club financing from a group of international lenders.
Showcasing its expertise in public M&A, the firm advised
Al Baraka Group on its acquisition by Dallah AlBaraka Holding, which led to the delisting of Al Baraka Group. The deal required an intricate understanding of public M&A regulations and processes. The team also acted for
Gulf Tamin on a share acquisition into the listed Arab Insurance Group.
Key clients
Ministry of Finance and National Economy, HDFC Bank, Al Baraka Group, Gulf Tamin
Newton Legal has become a fixture on Bahrain’s local legal market. It is also registered as a foreign legal consultant, a license it has held since 2012. The firm was founded by Joseph Huse and operates out of Manama. The team is led by Bahraini lawyers, most notably Managing Partner Aamal Al Abbasi, who upholds a strong reputation in the local market. The team is especially well known for its corporate practice, where it has a notable record on top M&A, joint-ventures, and corporate restructurings.
Highlights
Newton Legal acted as local counsel to Ithmaar Holdings in the proposed sale of certain assets amounting to USD 695 – 715 million and liabilities amounting to USD 665 – 695 million of the Ithmaar Group (including assets and liabilities of Ithmaar Bank) to GFH. The team advised on al elements of the transaction which relate to Bahraini law, as well as the corporate governance considerations or related to the deal and the completion steps and considerations.
The team also advised the arrangers in the syndicated shariah complaint multi-currency financing of Eskan Bank. The transaction encompassed a US$ 266,000,000 term facility and a BHD 150,000,000 revolving credit facility, totalling approximately US$ 664,850,000. The transaction closed in June 2024.
Key Clients
National Bank of Bahrain; Ithmaar Holdings; Ahli United Bank; Mumtalakat Holding Company; Weil, Gotshal & Manges (on behalf of noteholders of Petrofac)
Testimonials 2023-2024
“We have used the firm for its legal opinion on various complex matters. They are an excellent team led by a very professional partner.” (Banking & Fiannce)
“The team advised us on the legal documentation and regulatory process for the divestment of regulated business. Their knowledge, client service and approach to work stands out.” (M&A client)
“Aamal Al Abbasi is very good in client management” (Banking & Finance)
“I would recommend Ahmed Fardan for his work laying down a regulatory plan and drafting of transaction documents.” (Energy)
ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners traces its presence in Bahrain back to 2006. The office advises on Bahraini law and is backed by expertise from its office in Kuwait, where the firm was originally established in 1977. Led by partner David Walker, of counsel, and recently returned partner Simone del Devo, the firm has top class practices in both corporate and financial practice areas, underpinned by partners Simone del Devo and Amal Lari and associate Ahmed Al-Saeed. The team has a regular presence on the market’s most sophisticated transactions.
Highlights
ASAR Bahrain acted as legal counsel to Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) in connection with its acquisition of 292.8 million shares in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (ALBA) from SABIC Industrial Investment Company. The firm advised Ma’aden on all Bahrain law aspects of the transaction, including the block trade structure, stock exchange mechanics, regulatory approvals, settlement logistics, and local disclosure obligations. The deal reached financial close in February 2025.
The team also advised Engie on the sale of its entire shareholding in three Bahraini closed joint stock companies involved in utility infrastructure projects in Bahrain, including the Bahraini operation and maintenance company responsible for operating the Al Ezzel Power Station. This included advising on the transaction structure, regulatory compliance requirements, and reviewing and negotiating the share purchase agreement.
Key Clients
Burgan Bank; Eskan Bank; Engie; Fajr Capital; Ma’aden
UK-headquartered Trowers & Hamlins is a full-service law firm with offices across the Middle East, Asia, North Africa and Europe, including key Islamic centres Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Malaysia and Oman. The firm handles a steady stream of banking and finance and corporate mandates. The office is led by International Managing Partner Jeremy Ingham while the corporate team is led by the highly reputed Brian Howard. The firm has developed a strong presence in the market over many years.
Baker McKenzie is one of only a small handful of truly global law firms with an office in Manama. The team has an especially strong record in banking, finance and restructuring, but boasts a valuable client-base across all financial and corporate. The banking and finance practice advises on various matters including project finance and Islamic finance, and the corporate and commercial practice advises on M&A, capital markets, real estate, construction and general corporate matters. The lawyers in the Bahrain office work with both English and Arabic documentation.
Haya Rashed Al Khalifa is one of the oldest and most prestigious firms in the market, boasting over 30 years of providing legal advisory services to a diverse and distinguished client base. The firm is known for its work for clients in all aspects of corporate commercial and financial transactions, including banking and finance, restructuring and insolvency, financial services regulatory and M&A .
Testimonials 2023-2024
“The team offers timely responses, high-availability and accurate analysis.” (M&A)
“Elie Yazbeck is very responsive and understands business and business problems very well. He's client-oriented and always gives accurate feedback on questions addressed to him.”
“Sachin Shaji is an excellent and pragmatic litigator” (M&A)
Key clients
Bahrain Sugar Refinery, Bahrain Economic Development Board, Bank of America, Bahrain Development Bank, Bahrain Islamic Bank, Kuwait Finance House, Majed Al Futtaim Properties, KHCB, Texel Air
Regional law firm Al Tamimi & Company has had an office in Manama since 2014 and is supported by its considerable network of 16 offices located across the GCC. The Bahrain-based team is led by managing partner Rad El Treki, who specialises in corporate commercial, and who works alongside head of banking and finance Rafiq Jaffer, who moves between the firm’s Bahrain, Saudi and UAE offices. Al Tamimi is well regarded in the market across the corporate finance, handling a steady stream of banking, projects, regulatory and M&A mandates.
DLA Piper is one of a small handful of truly global firms with an office in Bahrain. The firm is led by Mohamed Toorani. Toorani has headed the office since 2013 and became a partner in DLA Piper in 2021. The team, which relocated to a new office in Manama in 2023, is supported by its regional and global network. The firm covers all manner of corporate finance, regulatory and projects, with notable roles for international clients in financial regulatory and corporate structuring advice in Bahrain.
Zeenat Al Mansoori & Associates has been providing advice on domestic corporate financial law since 1989. The firm is led by Zeenat Al Mansoori, a litigation and arbitration specialist, while Amel Al Aseeri leads a corporate commercial practice that has a growing reputation. The firm is generally well regarded in the market, and although it is best known for its disputes work, the team has a strong profile for all manner of corporate finance, particularly on the corporate side. An M&A client praises the team for its “technical knowledge, pragmatic commercial advice and market knowledge”.
Zu’bi & Partners Attorneys & Legal Consultants is a leading international Bahraini top-tier legal services provider in the sectors of banking and finance, corporate, civil, commercial, litigation and arbitration services. For the past 101 years, the firm has been providing its clients with the highest quality legal advice. The firm has an exceptional reputation for dealing with unconventional issues and providing innovative solutions specifically tailored to meet its local and international clients’ legal and commercial needs. The firm regularly advises and partners with other international law firms on major infrastructure projects and financing.
Celebrating 30 years of excellence in 2022, EAH Law is a leading honest and reliable Bahrain law firm with offices at the prestigious Bahrain World Trade Center in Manama. The firm is accustomed to dealing with and advising multi-national organizations, financial institutions, governments, international law firms, and high net-worth individuals at the forefront with a commitment to market leading client service. Renowned partners Elham Ali Hassan (LLB, LLM (Berkley)) and Essa Jawahery (LLB, LLM (London), FCIArb) are both admitted to the Court of Cassation, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution, and leading international arbitration institutions.
Al Doseri Law is a specialist banking and finance, litigation and dispute resolution, TMT and corporate Bahraini law firm founded by partner Saad Al Doseri in 2018. The firm comprises a team of accomplished and experienced lawyers who are highly regarded and recognised for their legal expertise, advising high profile local and international clients in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The firm advises and represents high profile clients across a range of industry sectors including banking, TMT, finance and investment, construction, real estate, general commercial, employment, and bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring. The firm also has extensive expertise in dispute resolution matters, most notably international arbitration and mediation. Al Doseri Law also provides all the key, essential, services in relation to legal translation. Through our team and track record, the firm ensures that clients receive the best legal translations possible.
In using Al Doseri Law, clients benefit from a significant breadth of expertise, which combines a unique blend of innovation and experience, knowledge and creativity, insight and vision that defines who the firm is.
From prominent transactions to critical regulatory issues and complicated litigation, our lawyers harness their knowledge across multiple jurisdictions and legal disciplines to provide a comprehensive perspective for sophisticated matters.
Their lawyers are multi-specialists, equipped to handle a broad range of legal matters. They prioritise the needs of their clients and are client focused on their legal service delivery. To achieve clients’ finest results, they blend their rooted international sectoral expertise with local market comprehension.
In 2024, Al Doseri Law and GLA & Company announced the formation of a strategic alliance in the Kingdom of Bahrain, bolstering the offerings of both law firms across the Middle East and North Africa. This partnership will allow GLA & Company and Al Doseri Law to collaborate conflict-free on client matters, facilitating the sharing of knowledge and materials between the two firms. Benefitting from their combined experience of a broad range of matters in the MENA legal landscape, the alliance will leverage the strengths of each firm, providing both with access to better and more comprehensive resources.
Al Doseri Law’s legal services in Bahrain are available on a 24/7 basis to clients who need a lawyer urgently. Often clients need a law firm that is ready to act at a moment’s notice. When a crisis strikes, clients require lawyers that respond with urgency, accuracy and with the experience needed to guide them through that crisis.
Newton Legal is a Bahrain-based international law firm established in 2012 with the objective of providing worldclass legal services throughout the Kingdom of Bahrain and the GCC region.
At Newton Legal, we rely on our lawyers’ international and local experience, and our firm’s trusted reputation to provide effective legal representation to clients across the region. Our structured approach allows us to advise on issues in a way which is tailored to each client’s exceptional, multifaceted and occasionally politically sensitive transactions. Our clients include businesses ranging from multinational corporations as well as Bahraini governmental clients such as the Office of H.R.H First Deputy Prime Minister, the Office of H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Al Arrayed, the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) and the Economic Development Board (EDB).
Much of our practice is devoted to representing clients involved in the oil and gas, banking and finance, and real estate industries. We represent many of Bahrain’s leading companies, and companies worldwide turn to us when they need experienced legal counsel in Bahrain.
ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners is a key player in Bahrain’s corporate and finance landscape, advising on both local and international matters across a wide range of sectors, including banking and financial services, infrastructure, energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, and healthcare. With nearly 20 years in Bahrain and a broader presence spanning four decades in the Gulf, the firm brings deep market knowledge and regional connectivity to its work.
The Bahrain team provides comprehensive support on corporate and financial matters, from complex crossborder transactions to day-to-day advisory work. ASAR is known for delivering clear, commercially focused guidance that helps clients navigate high-value deals, regulatory frameworks, and strategic growth opportunities in Bahrain and across the region. The firm’s clients include multinational corporations, regional financial institutions, investment funds, government entities, and leading Bahraini businesses.
Dr. Hassan Ali Radhi founded Hassan Radhi Law Office in 1974. Later, Hassan Radhi Law Office associated itself with the U.S. legal firm Coudert Brothers and both established an international business law firm in the name of "Coudert Brothers in association with Hassan Radhi" and worked together for eight years. In 1994, Hassan Radhi & Associates (HRA) came into existence with the induction of partners.
Currently HRA has Nine partners including Dr. Hassan Ali Radhi who is the senior partner of the firm and other partners are Ms. Noor Hassan Radhi, Mr. Sayed Jaffer Mohamed, Mr. Jalil Al Aradi, Ms. Noora Janahi, Mr. Mohsin Al Alawi, Ms. Fatima Al Ali, Mr. Hassan Al Nawah and Mr. Qassim Alfardan. The number of attorneys presently working at the office, including the partners, is 17, apart from the trainee lawyers, paralegals and administrative staff.
Today HRA topped the list of the most reputable and leading law firms in Bahrain and in the Gulf region with an extensive range of legal expertise. HRA provides an exceptional legal services to leading businesses in Bahrain and around the world and always staying true to the guiding values and principles and providing outstanding legal services to clients, especially in Banking, Corporate and Finance sectors with high professional standards.
The Firm's lawyers render consultation services on every facet of law related to business in Bahrain. The lawyers have been educated at prestigious universities from Bahrain, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Egypt, Kuwait, Morocco, Jordan and Bangladesh.
HRA is the exclusive member firm in Bahrain for Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms with in-depth experience in 100+ countries worldwide. HRA clients are the ultimate beneficiaries of the worldwide reach and access to exceptional global legal expertise that membership in Lex Mundi provides.
HRA has received a number of prestigious national and international awards, particularly for its achievements in individual areas of law and in different jurisdictions. HRA has been consistently listed among the top law firms in the region by the world’s largest legal referral guides such us IFLR1000, Chambers and Partners, Legal500 and others.
PRO BONO WORK: Hassan Radhi & Associates prides itself in assisting the less privileged by rendering free legal advice and representing them before the Bahraini courts without charging any fee. There is no distinction in our treatment to fee paying clients and pro bono clients and full care and attention is provided to both.
HRA vision: “We strive to be a leader in providing comprehensive, professional and creative legal solutions to fully meet the confidence and expectations of our clients locally and internationally”.
Haya Rashed Al Khalifa is a full service legal practice and regarded as one of the most prominent and dynamic law firms in Bahrain. With over 30 years of litigation and transactional experience, we are endowed with a long-standing tradition of excellence and we enjoy a distinguished reputation for the quality of its legal advice, delivering highly professional, responsive and cost-effective services tailored to the needs of those whose interests it represents and serves.
Associates of Haya Rashed Al Khalifa Attorneys are well known as dynamic legal advisors with a unique breadth of expertise concentrated on procuring solutions that are innovative and practical.
We have a reputation for providing an exceptional legal service and are renowned for our commitment to excellence and for our ability to find innovative solutions to the most complex of legal problems. Please feel free to visit our website at www.hraklf.com for further information
