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“Baker & Hostetler has a wide variety of specialist attorneys who work together seamlessly. We have been with Baker & Hostetler for many years with great success.”

BakerHostetler’s Middle East practice is uniquely positioned to advise companies operating in the region. With clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations, we counsel businesses throughout the Middle East, including aerospace and defense, construction, energy, financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, maritime, media, mining and technology, among others. Backed by our full-service firm with more than 1,000 lawyers across 18 offices, we seamlessly coordinate multijurisdictional teams to protect clients and help them navigate the complexities of international markets. Whether you are a U.S. business establishing a foothold in the Middle East or a company expanding into the U.S., we have the experience to get you there.

Our team is familiar with local customs, business protocols and Sharia law, which helps bridge cultural gaps and manage expectations on both sides of negotiations. We have attorneys who are fluent in Arabic, ensuring straightforward communication on all legal matters.

  • Formed and structured a $200 million Sharia-compliant real estate fund investing in U.S. commercial real estate, primarily for Middle Eastern investors.
  • Formed and structured multiple Sharia-compliant real estate funds ranging from $50 million to $250 million of committed capital in the U.S. and the Middle East/North Africa.
  • Formed and structured a $150 million real estate fund, primarily for Middle Eastern investors, investing in U.S. residential real estate.
  • Lead counsel for formation of a $500 million buyout fund targeting Middle Eastern investments and a $100 million private equity fund targeting North African investments.
  • Work closely with the general counsel of publicly traded companies in advising management and the boards of directors and committees in connection with corporate governance matters and evolving best practices, including board and committee operations, advising on self-evaluation processes and ESG.
  • Advised a global Saudi Arabia-based client on designing and implementing board and corporate governance structures and policies, best practices, auditing and compliance.
  • Provided legal and policy advice to a commodity producer regarding trade-related strategies for mitigating the risk of trade remedy tariffs and other non-tariff barriers.
  • Designed and implemented comprehensive compliance programs to prevent and detect potential anti-corruption risks for numerous companies, including developing compliance policies and training programs, and drafting and reviewing contracts with agents, distributors and other third parties.
  • Advised a major energy company regarding the FCPA risks and requirements associated with doing business in Africa.
  • Analyze and draft international trade compliance manuals for a variety of clients, including a large multinational with operations around the world.
  • Advising U.S. and global clients on compliance with U.S. primary sanctions administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), including with respect to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and certain regions of Ukraine and secondary statutory sanctions under various executive orders and legislation such as the Iran Sanctions Act and the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
  • Represented a Dubai-based company owned by a Kuwaiti public company in connection with national security queries by the U.S. government regarding a non-notified asset purchase that had occurred three years earlier.
  • Counseling companies on obtaining export and reexport license applications and use of license exceptions and general licenses.
  • Regularly advises U.S. and global companies on complex jurisdictional, classification, licensing and enforcement matters relating to the Export Administration Regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations and U.S. trade and economic sanctions.
  • Negotiated various construction and engineering service agreements (FIDIC and non-FIDIC) relating to significant projects in the Middle East and Asia and often including alternative dispute resolution provisions (e.g., senior executive negotiation, mediation, expert determination or dispute review boards) in addition to final and binding arbitration.
  • Represented a Europe-based engineering firm in an International Chamber of Commerce proceeding involving defective gas turbine components designed for use in a power generation facility in Saudi Arabia.
  • Defending a globally known, U.S.-based engineering, construction and private military contracting company against claims brought under the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), among other statutes, for claims arising out of the use of non-U.S. workers at U.S. bases in Iraq.
  • Counseled companies of all sizes and stages across multiple industries regarding strategic planning relating to decision to accept U.S. government funding through grants, cooperative agreements, OTAs, contracts and subcontracts and related compliance considerations.
  • Represented clients in FCPA investigations relating to Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Russia, India, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Africa and China.
  • Conducted review of a large medical association regarding allegations of violations of the FCPA in Saudi Arabia.
  • Represented several large U.S. companies in the successful pursuit of significant expropriation claims before the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal, including claims exceeding $200 million.
  • Advised high-net-worth individual in multimillion-dollar estate-related legal dispute.
  • Represented Emirates National Bank of Dubai in connection with contract dispute against U.S.- based financial institution.
  • Represented largest shareholder of technology company in complex fraud dispute based in the U.S.
  • Advised high-net-worth individual in contract dispute involving real estate project.

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