Practice Areas Banking & Finance

Our Lawyers Have Significant Experience Representing Financial Institutions in the Middle East

Banking and finance matters in the MENA region require experienced legal counsel. This is because not only are financial transactions complex, but they are also subject to numerous laws and regulations, and oversights can have drastic consequences. At GLA & Co, our lawyers have acted on behalf of both financial institutions, lenders, and borrowers throughout the Middle East. Our lawyers have significant experience in past deal flow representing parties on both sides of most financial transactions.

With offices in the UAE, Kuwait, and affiliated offices in KSA, Qatar and Egypt, we assist with banking and finance matters in the main banking centers of the GCC. Our lawyers are well-known for their experience in this area, winning numerous awards from IFLR100, Legal 500, and Chambers & Partners.  We also maintain close working relationships with many of the world’s largest law firms. Due to the unique and complex nature of the regional banking and finance regulations, these law firms rely on our local experience to help them represent their clients effectively.

Local Counsel for Banking & Finance Matters in the Middle East

We advise both international law firms and lenders/borrowers directly on the full spectrum of legal issues impacting banking and finance matters in the Middle East. This includes advising on regulatory matters in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that involve their main banking regulatory bodies, which are:

• Central Bank of Kuwait;
• Saudi Central Bank; and
• Central Bank of the UAE.

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.

Our lawyers assist with banking and finance matters in all GCC states and Egypt, including the following types of matters:

• Corporate Finance – Bilaterals and Syndication;
• Project Finance;
• Trade Finance;
• Islamic Finance;
• Structured Finance; and
• Restructuring & Workouts

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.

Speak with a Banking & Finance Lawyer at GLA

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.