Practice Areas Banking & Finance

Significant Expertise in all Aspects of Banking & Finance Across the Middle East

Our Banking & Finance practice is recognized for its extensive expertise in advising clients across a broad spectrum of sectors and jurisdictions throughout the Middle East. We have a strong presence in all GCC states, providing tailored, high-quality legal services to local, regional, and international banking and non-banking financial institutions, corporations, and government entities.

Our team is experienced in handling a wide variety of financial transactions, including but not limited to leveraged finance, corporate finance, project finance, asset-based lending, Islamic finance, syndicated lending, and debt restructuring. Whether it is advising on the structuring and negotiation of complex cross-border financings or ensuring compliance with regional regulations, we provide clients with solutions that are both commercially sound and legally robust.

Local Counsel for Finance Matters in the Middle East

Comprehensive Transaction Experience

Our expertise spans the full range of financial products, including traditional bank lending, debt capital markets, acquisition finance, structured finance, and Islamic financing. We also excel in handling secured lending transactions, where our local teams are adept at providing the most appropriate legal structures for collateralizing assets and issuing clean, enforceable opinions on various lending scenarios.

Project Finance

We have a strong track record in project finance, advising sponsors, lenders, and borrowers on high-value projects in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, construction, and telecommunications. Our team has in-depth knowledge of the unique complexities involved in such projects, including risk allocation, financing structures, and regulatory approvals.

Innovative Solutions in Islamic Finance

We are well-versed in the principles of Sharia-compliant financing and have advised on several landmark Islamic finance transactions. From sukuk issuances to Sharia-compliant lending structures, such as Mudarabah, Murabaha, or Ijara, our team provides innovative solutions that meet both legal and religious requirements, ensuring full compliance while maximizing financial returns.

Debt Restructuring and Refinancing

Our Banking & Finance team has a proven track record in restructuring and refinancing distressed debt, including complex multi-jurisdictional workouts and debt renegotiations. We provide strategic advice to both creditors and debtors, helping them manage financial challenges and develop solutions to mitigate risks.

Leveraged Finance & Syndicated Loans

We have extensive experience in advising financial institutions and corporate borrowers on leveraged finance transactions and syndicated loans. Our team is particularly adept at structuring and negotiating large-scale syndicated deals, leveraging our regional expertise to ensure seamless execution and compliance with all local regulations.

When assisting international law firms on local financings involving GCC-based borrowers, we localize the standard Loan Market Association documentation to be in line with the local laws of the relevant GCC state; we draft and prepare all local security and collateral documentation (usually done in Arabic or bilingual); we opine on both authority/capacity and enforceability issues as well as handle all closing precedents in order to ensure a final completion of the transactions.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Management

In a constantly evolving regulatory landscape, we assist clients in navigating the complex web of banking regulations across the GCC and the greater MENA region. Our deep understanding of local laws and international banking regulations ensures our clients remain compliant while optimizing their operations and managing legal risks effectively.

We advise both international law firms and regulated entities directly on the full spectrum of legal issues impacting banking and finance matters in the Middle East. This includes advising on regulatory matters in the GCC and Egypt that involve their main banking regulatory bodies, which are:

• Saudi Central Bank; 
• Central Bank of the UAE;
• Dubai Financial Services Authority of the DIFC;
• Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the ADGM;
• Central Bank of Kuwait;
• Qatar Central Bank;
• QFC Regulatory Authority; and
• the Central Bank of Egypt.

When pursuing complex and large-scale banking and finance transactions in the Middle East, it is imperative to ensure strict compliance with all pertinent sources of legal authority. In addition, attending to local customs and expectations can be critical for successfully executing transactions. Our lawyers help companies navigate the local landscape. In addition, they rely on their local experience to help ensure that our clients do not face unnecessary challenges concerning their banking and finance activities.

Speak with a Banking & Finance Lawyer at GLA & Co

For more information about our legal services for banking and finance matters in the GCC States and throughout the Middle East, please contact us to arrange a confidential consultation.