GLA & Company is a regional MENA-based law firm with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Kuwait, Cairo and Beirut. 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 Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE – as well as in Egypt and Lebanon – 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.
Read More About UsWith 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, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) plus Egypt and Lebanon, 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:
- Anti-Trust & Competition
- Banking & Finance
- Capital Markets
- Commercial Advisory
- Construction & Projects
- Corporate and M&A
- Data & Technology
- Disputes
- Employment & Benefits
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.
Speak with an Attorney at GLA & Co Today
If you would like to know more about our attorneys, our practice areas, or any other aspect of our firm, we invite you to get in touch.
Our Team
Nader
Al Awadhi
Senior Partner
Nader Al-Awadhi is a founding and senior partner of GLA & Company and also founding principal of Nader Al Awadhi Attorneys and Legal Consultant Law Firm, with 46 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. Nader has applied his knowledge of bankruptcy and insolvency laws to commercial litigation matters in relation to distressed companies and restructuring at large and legal consultancy for corporate.
Alex Saleh
Managing Partner
Alex Saleh is a founder and managing partner of GLA & Company and takes a leading regional role in the firm concerning its M&A and Private Equity practice. With over 25 years of experience in both the GCC and the US, he has accumulated sizable expertise in the areas of banking and finance, M&A, capital market deals and infrastructure projects. His experience garners praise from the leading legal directories, and his transactions regularly win Deals of the Year from the same institutions and organisations. Alex was the recipient of the “Lawyer of the Year” in the Law Magazine awards of 2022.
Yousef Al Amly
Partner & Head of Corporate Commercial
Yousef Al Amly is a partner at GLA & Company, and a dual-qualified lawyer and certified practitioner in both the UK and Egypt. With accumulated years of experience in corporate, banking and finance, equity capital markets, and debt capital markets, Yousef has advised clients on complex corporate and commercial structures and transactions in relation to joint ventures, corporate restructuring, M&A, equity capital markets and commercial transactions (including franchise, distributorship and agency); and has advised high-profile companies in the Middle East on anti-money laundering means, cybersecurity and data protection. Yousef was awarded “Rising Star” by the Law Magazine awards of 2022.
Feras Gadamsi
Partner & Head of Data & Technology
Feras Gadamsi is a partner based in the firm’s Dubai office. Mr. Gadamsi leads GLA’s global technology, data, and privacy practice. Mr. Gadamsi was Uber’s lawyer in the MEA region, serving as General Counsel for Middle East and Africa covering all legal issues in 20+ markets. Immediately prior to joining the firm, Mr. Gadamsi served as Regional General Counsel at IBM. Mr. Gadamsi also served as Oracle Cerner’s Regional General Counsel from 2010-2014. Mr. Gadamsi has also served as CLO and Head of Policy for a Dubai-based startup and has advised several technology and payments companies throughout the EMEA Region. Mr. Gadamsi started his career in private practice as an associate at Bracewell in Houston before moving to Dubai with King and Spalding. Mr. Gadamsi also advises on compliance issues, including regional anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, U.S. FCPA, internal investigations, and audits.
Hegui Taha
Partner & Head of Cairo Office
Hegui Taha is a partner at GLA & Company. Hegui has more than 16 years’ experience and is specialized in corporate, M&A, capital market, Civil, Commercial and employment laws. He has participated in major transaction and IPOs with a significant number of clients. He has also been involved in major IPO’s and private placements. Hegui conducted various due diligence and drafting of the relevant transaction documents. Also in drafting various types of agreements. He also provided clients with day-to-day corporate matters. Assisted in handling ESOP.
Hegui was awarded “Rising star” in the Law Magazine awards of 2022.