Bahrain

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.  

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”.

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.

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

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.