About

In its third annual list, ALB highlights 50 exceptional lawyers from the MENA region who have distinguished themselves through outstanding client service. The lawyers were selected based on a client survey directly sent to ALB. The list is in alphabetical order, and some of the lawyers have been featured.

  • Lawyers were selected based on client feedback sent directly to Asian Legal Business between December 2022 and February 2023.
  • The work of the lawyers nominated, as well as the commercial standing of the clients’ making recommendations, were taken into account during evaluation.

 

 

KUSHAGRA ASHOK ARORA
founder, DGM and Al-Mheri Advocates & Legal Consultants LLC, United Arab Emirates

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Encouraged by a rewarding practice in the region of over a decade, Kushagra has partnered to expand his practice within MENA through these offices in Dubai and ADGM.

Arora is well regarded as an accomplished and dependable disputes lawyer specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration.

Arora’s expertise has exposed him to

a wide range of industries, such as construction and real estate, F&B, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, oil and gas, insurance, logistics, healthcare, cybercrimes, fintech, and investments.

His growing practice is a testament

to clients’ confidence in his ability to formulate unorthodox legal strategies and navigate complex disputes. He is widely acknowledged for yielding tangible results. Several firms frequently require Arora’s practice to co-counsel in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Guinea, Angola, Mexico, Ethiopia, Singa-pore, Switzerland, the Netherlands, China, and Japan.

His impressive track record has earned him recognition and accolades, including being featured in the ALB MENA Super 50 lawyers list for 2021 and 2022. Prior founding 1948 Chambers, Arora was a co-founder and partner at the renowned Mahmood Hussain Advocates and Legal Consultancy, where he honed his skills and deepened his understanding of UAE’s legislative landscape and its practicalities.

“Kushagra has a natural panache for simplifying otherwise entangled legal proceedings, and he does so while playing fair.”

ZIAD EL-KHOURY
chief executive officer, BLK Partners, Saudi Arabia

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Ziad El-Khoury is the chief executive officer and senior legal consultant at BLK Partners, a prominent and unique legal platform based in Riyadh.

With a reputation as a leading legal expert in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, El-Khoury’s extensive experience and deep understanding of the corporate and business landscapes have solidified his position as a trusted authority in the field. His prowess extends beyond routine legal matters, encompassing complex cases involving corporate, healthcare, technology, real estate, construction and infrastructure, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution.

Market sources consistently praise El-Khoury, acknowledging his influential role in developing the firm’s regional profile and capabilities and managing its spectrum of corporate and commercial mandates. He is also highly rated for his healthcare knowledge and commercial business acumen.

El-Khoury ‘s remarkable leadership abilities enable him to spearhead high-stakes projects with finesse. His keen insights and exceptional guidance have earned him the trust of major corporations and influential clients across Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and globally. Under his leadership as CEO, and despite the pandemic, the firm grew five folds in the last 5 years, a remarkable achievement by all measures.

El-Khoury holds an LL.M in International Business Law from the American University in Washington, DC, and a JD (equivalent) in Lebanese law from Universite La Sagesse. He is fluent in Arabic, English, and French, facilitating seam-less communication with clients from diverse backgrounds.

 

 

THE LIST

ALB MENA SUPER 50 2023

HAMAD AL- YAFEI
Hamad Al -Yafei Law Firm

NASSER AL-ADBA
Omani & Partners Law Firm

BADR AL ARISHI
Knowledge Pioneers Law Firm

ARIG ALI
Zaki Hashem & Partners

SALAM ALSMADI
MAS Advocates

MICHAEL BOUTROS
Shahid Law Firm

JAMIE GIBSON
Dentons

SAM HABBAS
ASAR - Al Ruwayeh & Partners

NABIL ISSA
King & Spalding in Affiliation with the Law Office of Mohammad Al-Ammar

MOHAMED KHODEIR
Khodeir & Partners

SALMAN MAHMOOD
Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners

SAFWAN MOUBAYDEEN
Dentons

ALEX SALEH
GLA & Company

DAN SHAMGAR
Meitar Law Offices

LEEN ZAZA
Khoshaim & Associates

BARNEY ALMAZAR
Gulf Law

JOEY T. SHABOT
Greenberg Traurig

SALMAN AHMED
Trowers & Hamlins

BASHIR AHMED
Afridi & Angell

AAMAL AL ABBASI
Newton Legal

RASHID AL SAAD
Sharq Law Firm

ESSA MOHAMMAD AL SULAITI
Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm

KOKILA ALAGH
KARM Legal Consultants

HADI J ALALAWI
Hadi Alalawi & Partners

SAMI AL-LOUZI
The Law Office of Megren M. Al-Shaalan in cooperation with White & Case

KUSHAGRA ASHOK ARORA
1948 Chambers

ALI BACHROUCH
Al Tamimi & Company

CHERYL CAIRNS
Trowers & Hamlins

NICK CARNELL
Taylor Wessing

AARON DIKOS
Al Tamimi & Company

DEBOPAM DUTTA
Trowers & Hamlins

ZIAD EL-KHOURY
BLK Partners

JASMIN FICHTE
Fichte & Co

MELISSA FORBES-MIRANDA
Stephenson Harwood

CHRISTOPHER GUNSON
Amereller Law Firm

ANDREAS HABERBECK
Derayah LLPC – Saudilegal

NAJIB HAGE-CHAHINE
Hage-Chahine Law Firm

RAN HAI
Herzog Fox & Neeman

MICHAEL HARTLEY
Mantle Law

KIERSTEN LUCAS
Stephenson Harwood

SOURAYA MACHNOUK
Abou Jaoude & Associates Law Firm

JONATHAN P NOBLE
Amereller Law Firm

JERRY PARKS
Taylor Wessing

ARDESHIR D PATEL
Al Busaidy, Mansoor Jamal & Co

MAZEN RASAMNY
Rasma Legal

EYAD REDA
Eyad Reda Law Firm

MUNIR SUBOH
BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates

RANIA TADROS
Stephenson Harwood

RAD EL TREKI
Al Tamimi & Company

ABDELMAJEED ZWAIRI
MAS Advocates