Matthew Heaton leads the banking and finance team at Al Tamimi & Company In Association with Adv. Mohammed Al Marri. ‘Unquestionably an outstanding lawyer’, Heaton pairs experience in the European debt markets with established Qatari expertise to support clients, from international banks to high-profile corporates, doing business in Qatar. With particular strength providing regulatory advice on fintech matters, the team covers project finance, private and wholesale banking, trade finance, and investment funds. Muhammad Mitha is recommended for his technical regulatory knowledge, and leads on moveable assets security work. Aviation finance is also an area of strength for the team, along with Islamic finance.

Noted as a ‘go-to firm for banking advice', the team at Addleshaw Goddard provides advice on English, State of Qatar and Qatar Financial Centre law-related matters. Robin Hickman leads the Middle East finance offering for the firm; based in Dubai, Hickman specialises in conventional and Sharia compliant finance and debt restructurings. Alan MacRitchie ‘is a fountain of knowledge’, sought after for his advice regarding ‘Qatar specific security queries’. Sitting within the firm’s global finance and projects division, the team leverages its international reach to support clients with cross-jurisdictional interests.

Amjad Hussain leads the Middle East banking and Islamic finance team at K&L Gates, a ‘master of his craft‘ whose practice spans transactional and regulatory work. Pairing its ‘deep understanding of local practices‘ with particular real estate investment trusts strength, the team advises clients including major banks and financial institutions. Islamic finance is also an area of expertise for the team, including cross-border secured financing, restructurings, and Sukuk. Simon Chan is a key partner – a ‘diligent, practical’ ‘rising star’, Chan specialises in Shari’ah-compliant project financings.

Ian Siddell heads the banking and finance team at Baker & McKenzie Limited, leveraging extensive project finance experience to support high-profile banking clients. Siddell’s practice spans Islamic finance and contractor finance and he is particularly experienced in aircraft finance, debt capital markets and insolvency; he co-manages the firm’s Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah and Bahrain offices. The team’s client base includes sponsors and companies, private equity funds, banks and other financial institutions.

The ‘helpful and responsive’ banking and finance practice at Dentons pairs international reach with expertise in Qatari law and practices. Heads of team Safwan Moubaydeen and Zaher Nammour offer expertise in large-scale infrastructure and finance projects, advising both private and governmental entities. Experience in the aviation industry is a notable standout characteristic of the team, with a stellar track-record advising aircraft leasing companies.

The Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP banking and finance team assists lenders and borrowers in corporate finance mandates across a range of jurisdictions, along with providing expertise in project finance matters and equity capital markets. Clint Dempsey, Dani Kabbani and Samer Sarkis co-lead the team: Dempsey, based in Dubai, specialises in cross-jurisdictional matters; Kabbani advises both governmental bodies and corporate clients; Sarkis’ practice has an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions.

Marwa Ali Bamatraf heads the corporate and commercial team at Sharq Law Firm, which handles a range of banking and finance matters including representing lenders, guarantors, and managers in facility agreements and bond issuances. Bamatraf advises both domestic and international clients; Rashid Al Saad, founder and managing partner, is noted for his expertise regarding major infrastructure projects and commercial transactions.

Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners‘ corporate advisory department supports a range of clients including large domestic and international financial bodies, with particular strength in cross-border tax and corporate structuring advice. Salman Mahmood leads the team, with expertise across the energy, infrastructure, and corporate finance sectors. The team advises on a range of public tenders and awards, taxation, and special economic zones.