Kuwait - Jurisdiction IFLR1000 Review

Meysan

Firm overview

Launched in 2015, Meysan is an innovative and ambitious international law firm, comprising leading legal experts from the Middle East and the UK, serving those territories and beyond.

With a team of over 60 lawyers covering all key areas of corporate and finance law, the firm has advised on more mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions by value than any other law firm in Kuwait, completing over 30 deals exceeding US$30 billion in total value over the past seven years.

Meysan is the most respected firm in Kuwait, with unmatched bench strength and a remarkably broad range of partner expertise. Strong in both domestic and international matters, as proven by our distinguished clients and track record. We are a top adviser on corporate financings and capital markets transactions in Kuwait, working across the full spectrum of equity, debt, and hybrid instruments, including numerous market-first innovations. Its boutique approach, limiting the number and type of matters handled, ensures a focus on high-value work, while a lower partner-to-associate ratio guarantees hands-on partner attention.

The firm's clients include some of the largest Kuwaiti and Middle Eastern blue-chip companies, multinational corporations, international financial institutions, sovereign governments, family groups, and high net worth individuals. Most importantly, Meysan takes a boutique approach to legal practice, selectively limiting the number and scope of matters it undertakes to deliver the highest standard of service to its clients.

GLA & Company

Firm overview

GLA & Company is a regional MENA-based law firm with offices in Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar and UAE. It provides strategic, cost-effective and forward-thinking legal representation for companies seeking to do business in the Middle East. The firm boasts a diverse portfolio of clients, ranging from start-ups to global enterprises doing business in the Middle East. GLA’s practice consists of a full-service law firm that handles everything from simple advisory work to complex contentious and non-contentious matters. With extensive experience advising clients in the key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE – as well as in Egypt – the firm offers unique insights for companies seeking quality legal services. Data protection and privacy, in particular, is a key focus area for the firm, considering the expansion and revamping of applicable laws and regulations across the GCC.

GLA & Company is headed up by Nader Al Awadhi, Senior Partner, and Alex Saleh, Managing Partner. As a founding partner, Nader Al-Awadhi has over 44 years of legal experience. Nader Al Awadhi’s reputation in the Kuwait legal profession is well-known. He has developed a strong forte for commercial and corporate litigation matters representing many of the top Kuwaiti companies and institutions as well as many famous international companies.

Alex Saleh is the Managing Partner of GLA & Company and takes a leading regional role within the firm with respect to its M&A and Private Equity practice. With over 25 years of experience in both the GCC markets as well as the US, he has accumulated sizable expertise in the areas of banking & finance, mergers & acquisitions, capital market deals and infrastructure projects. His experience garners praise from the leading legal directories as he is annually awarded “Market Leader” by the IFLR1000, “Band One” by Chambers & Partners and “Leading Individual” by Legal 500. Alex’s transactions regularly win Deals of the Year by the same institutions and organizations.

With Offices Throughout the Region, Our Firm Represents Companies in the Middle East and Worldwide
At GLA & Company, we provide strategic, cost-effective, and forward-thinking legal representation for companies seeking to do business in the Middle East. We also represent MENA startups and established companies doing business locally and abroad.

Our practice encompasses all of the legal issues companies will likely encounter in the global business environment. With extensive experience advising clients in the key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states of Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) plus Egypt, we offer unique insights for companies seeking to establish or expand business operations in these nations. From advising on various aspects of doing business in the region, engaging in simple or complex transactions, assisting with local regulatory disclosures with various competition or anti-trust authorities, or resolving disputes (local or arbitral), our attorneys are well-equipped to provide current, concise and timely representation to all types of clients.

We Work With Companies and Their International Counsel
We work with many of our clients directly. This includes clients located in the Middle East and in other regions worldwide in a diverse array of industries. But we also work with companies’ international law firm counsel in many instances. If your firm has a client with interests in the Middle East, GLA & Co attorneys can either shoulder the load or work alongside your firm’s attorneys to meet your client’s needs in a timely and cost-effective manner.

We Provide a Full Suite of Necessary Legal Services for Global Companies
We have structured our firm to serve as full-service outside counsel to multi-national companies seeking to do business in the Middle East and regional companies ranging from high-tech startups to established real estate developers, financial institutions, and retailers. This is illustrated by our practice areas, which include:

We Offer Unique Perspectives on Doing Business in the Middle East
As a result of our attorneys’ decades of local experience, we offer unique perspectives on doing business in the Middle East. Not only are our attorneys intimately familiar with the legal and regulatory issues, but they are knowledgeable about local and regional customs as well. As a result, our attorneys can help our clients avoid costly—and potentially embarrassing—mistakes while fully addressing their legal needs.

We are Different from Our Competitors
As a boutique law firm with the resources and talent of much larger firms, we stand out from our competitors. We offer custom-tailored, one-on-one legal representation at reasonable rates, and our attorneys take a personal interest in ensuring that our clients have every available opportunity to succeed. Moreover, what sets GLA & Co apart is our unparalleled combination of international and local expertise. GLA & Co combines the best and brightest regional international advisors with local experts who often hold an established and respected relationship with many key regulatory authorities, allowing us to provide the best advice and representation in a timely manner.

Al-Hossam Legal

Firm overview

Al-Hossam Legal (Legal Consultants & Attorneys) provides high-end quality legal services and in-depth long experience (from 27 to 42 years) on major and landmark complex legal files and transactions in Kuwait and GCC as well as many Shari`ah deals in Asia, Europe and the U.S.A. The firm focus on corporate, commercial, banking & finance (including Islamic finance), capital markets, M&A and high value commercial litigations to selected major local and international banks, corporations and private clients representing full range of industry sector.

ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners

Firm overview

ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners is Kuwait's preeminent Tier 1 corporate law firm, boasting a formidable network throughout the MENA region. Celebrated for its leading corporate, commercial, and dispute resolution practices, ASAR excels in a comprehensive suite of legal services. These include corporate and commercial transactions, banking and finance, capital markets, mergers & acquisitions, privatizations, IPOs, franchising, construction, government projects, PPPs, securities, taxation, commercial litigation, and arbitration. With mastery across over 30 practice areas, ASAR delivers a seamless, integrated approach to clients' complex legal needs.

The firm serves a distinguished clientele of multinational corporations, financial institutions, industrial powerhouses, governments, and private clients, both domestically and internationally. Leveraging over 40 years of experience in Kuwait and almost 20 years in Bahrain, ASAR is the trusted choice for top international law firms seeking specialized local counsel on diverse projects. Their client roster includes prominent Kuwaiti public and private-sector entities, as well as major US, UK, European, and Asian organizations operating within Kuwait and the broader GCC region. ASAR also maintains a distinguished private clients & family office practice, providing bespoke guidance to ultra-high net worth individuals and family offices.

With offices in Kuwait and Bahrain and robust partnerships with firms in over 100 jurisdictions globally, ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners is poised to guide clients through the complexities of the region's legal landscape.

IFLR1000 Reviews

Financial and corporate

Alfahad & Partners (Consultants and Attorneys)

The law firm Alfahad and Partners (Consultants and Attorneys) was established in 2018 and advises clients out of its Kuwait City office.

In the financial sphere, the firm has a particular focus on domestic and cross-border M&A work, especially acquisitions in which they work for clients linked with the banking and financial services sectors.

Key clients

Key clients include TUV SUD, Jazeera Airways, Kuwait Finance House, Ahli United Bank, Prime one Group General Trading and Contracting, Aref Investment Group, Biotisk Energier Sweden, and Rexel Middle East.

Al-Hossam Legal

Al-Hossam Legal is a Kuwaiti law firm with vast experience in advising on a wide array of financial and corporate transactions. It has its offices in Kuwait City.

The firm has decades of experience in advising clients on banking and finance, M&A, and capital markets transactions.

The firm is particularly active in advising on M&A deals and the equity side of capital markets transactions such as mergers, rights issues and initial public offerings for clients in the banking sector. The firm also advises on debt capital markets, especially bond issuances.

Key clients

Key clients include National Industries Holding Company, Kuwait Financial Centre, Gulf Bank, Al-Ahli Bank, Boubyan Bank, Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company, Kamco Investment Company, National Industries Group Holdings, and Boubyan Petrochemical Company.

ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners

Kuwaiti law firm ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners was founded in 1977. The firm has offices in both Kuwait City and Manama, Bahrain. The firm is led by managing partner Ahmed Barakat.

In the financial and corporate practice, the firm's work focuses on acquisitions for clients connected with financial services, retail and logistics whilst in project development the firm works on both energy and infrastructure projects for clients connected with the financial services, transportation and energy sectors.

Key clients

Key clients include Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Suez Environment, Gameland Trading and Contracting, Hydro Trading, Ahli United Bank, Limak İnşaat Sanayi Ve Ticaret, Petrochemical Industries Co, Kuwait Polypropylene Industries, The National Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait International Bank, Burgan Bank, Kuwait Financial Centre, Cummins PGI, Deloitte & Touche ME, Engie Services Middle East and Riyad Bank.

Meysan

Meysan Partners is a Kuwait headquartered corporate law firm. Founded in 2015 it is led by managing partner Bader El-Jeaan and has operations across the Middle East.

The firm boasts an active capital markets practice, which has experience encompassing the complete spectrum of equity, debt and hybrids instruments. The practice does predominantly issuer side work and advises on financing mandates.

The firm is also present in M&A where it advises on deals of varying size and complexity.

Testimonials

Capital markets: Equity

“Flexible with approach and scope. Quality of work as well as understanding of local rules and regulations.”

M&A

“Meysan is unique in that they only assume lead counsel roles on transactions. Their lawyers all came from senior positions in international firms and so are confident and experienced in negotiating and leading the most complex and high-value transactions, whether M&A or capital markets.”

“My experience with Meysan Partners has exceeded my expectations in every aspect. From start to finish, they show unparalleled professionalism, expertise, and dedication. One aspect that particularly stood out was their proactive approach to identifying and mitigating potential issues before they arise. Their strategic planning were instrumental in navigating seamlessly through some of the challenges, ensuring that a particular transaction progresses smoothly and efficiently.”

“I enjoy dealing with Bader El-Jeaan and Michel Ghanem. They are always professional, courteous and detail oriented and think outside the box. Also, they are always reachable and ready to go above and beyond to help us solve our legal issues.”

Restructuring

“The Meysan team has been extremely pro-active and going above and beyond to meet our needs in a very tight timeline. This includes liaising with the regulators and also coordinating with the local governmental bodies to expedite the process, on several occasions. Moreover, the innovative solutions and expertise regarding how to structure such a transaction on such a large scale since it involved the restructuring of more than 100 companies on a global basis among others were excellent. What really makes them stand out is their level of professionalism, they supported us throughout this transaction which took months to finalise.”

Bader El Jeaan

“Bader El-Jeaan is perhaps the leading M&A lawyer in the region. He's adept at not only executing high-value M&A deals, but creating precedent transactions for the region. Recently, he's noted as the strategist of our firm’s recent moves, a transaction that's reverberated in Kuwait and which is likely to trigger others to follow.”

“I had the pleasure of working with Bader for several years on various transactions and his out-of-the-box thinking coupled with his in-depth knowledge and experience were every time instrumental in achieving a successful outcome.”

“Bader is an extremely knowledgeable attorney and his attention to detail is remarkable. Bader has worked for our firm on a number of large transactions (in Kuwait and overseas) and his continuous feedback and support, along with his project planning skills and dedication throughout these projects are invaluable. His vision and deep understanding of our business’ needs differentiates him from others.”

Michel Ghanem

“He communicates, responds, assigns, delegates and provides innovate solutions.”

Tarek Yahya

“Provides innovative solutions to issues.”

Key clients

Key clients include Agility, Daimler, Deliveroo, Delivery Hero, InstaShop, KIPIC, KNPC, HSBC, Citibank, Agthia, L’Oréal, Aetna, Gulf Insurance Company, Kuwait Telecommunications and Ooredoo.

Abdullah Kh Al-Ayoub & Associates

Founded in 1982, Abdullah Kh Al-Ayoub & Associates is a full-service law firm in Kuwait and is led by its founder and managing partner Mr Abdullah Kh. Al-Ayoub.

The firm advises on financial and corporate transactions including international business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and finance. The firm has considerable experience in dealing with financial institutions and companies within Middle East and across Europe, Asia and the United States.

Al Markaz Law Firm

Founded in 1983, Al Markaz Law Firm is situated at the heart of Kuwait City.

The firm’s banking offering has wide-ranging expertise in domestic and international work and serves both Islamic and conventional commercial banks, investment companies, funds and other financial institutions.

In project development the firm works on infrastructure project deals for clients connected with the energy or public sectors.

Key clients

Key clients include ABB Utilities, Al Bassam Engineering, Al Masar Leasing & Investment, Arabian Capital Investment and Finance, Bank Muscat, China Export & Credit Insurance Cooperation, Coutts Bank, Gianni, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Kuehne & Nagel, Optima Solutions, RBS International, Skycom Express, Tencent Gaming, Rheinland Kuwait, Xiaomi Corporation and Xpress Money.

Al Yaqout and Al Fouzan Legal Group

With offices in Kuwait and Dubai, Al Yaqout and Al Fouzan Legal Group is a dynamic Middle Eastern law firm. It was formed in 1954 in Kuwait and is presently led by managing partner Mr, Khalifah Al-Yaqout.

The firm is highly active in the Kuwaiti financial and corporate sphere. It has a track record in industries which had previously lacked legal support in the country such as logistics and TMT, where the firm has advised start-ups in the country’s booming tech sector.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Microsoft, Al Ghanim Industries, HSBC, Warba Bank, Talabat, Carriage, Mashkoor, Aayan Real Estate, Hyusong Heavy Industries, Dietsmann and the Embassy of France in Kuwait.

Al-Hamad Legal Group

Al-Hamad Legal Group is headquartered in Kuwait City and was founded by Ms. Rana Yacoub Al-Hamad in 2003.

The firm’s main specialism is banking and finance, both conventional and Islamic, with expertise in aircraft financing, PPP/PFI financing, capital markets and investment funds.

It has strong capabilities in PPP project work in Kuwait and regionally. Its practice spans the broad area of project development across several sectors.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Health Assurance Company (Dhaman), J3 for Management and Development of Lands and Real Estate, Raith Engineering and Manufacturing Company, National Industries Group Holding Company, Alternative Energy Projects Company and Enertech.

International Counsel Bureau

The International Counsel Bureau was established in 1994 by Abdul Rahman Al Haroun. He was later joined by Ghazi Al Qahtani in 1998. The firm is presently led by managing partner Aisha Al Nesef and has an office in Kuwait City.

In financial and corporate work, the firm has been active in a wide variety of work including mergers, restructurings, investments, bond issuances and loan financing for clients.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include EQUATE Petrochemicals Company, Kuwait Finance House, NBK Capital, Ahli Bank of Kuwait and Amazon.

Taher Group Law Firm Company for Litigation and Legal Consultation

Taher Group Law Firm was established in 1969 is presently led by Dr Fawaz Alkhateeb the firm’s managing partner. Besides its main location in Kuwait City, the firm also has an office in Cairo.

The firm is active in financial and corporate areas such as banking, capital markets, M&A, regulatory and PPP, with a high volume of transactions completed each year. Its clients operate in several sectors, including healthcare, services, investments and construction.

Key clients

Key recent clients include Marafie Group, Commercial Real Estate Company, Credit and Information Networks, Wara constructions and Waldorf Astoria Hotel Chain.