Middle East

• Recognized as one of the top 3 law firms in the Middle East at the Chambers Global Awards event (2007)
• Recognized as a leading firm in the category of Projects & Energy in the Middle East (Chambers Global 2008)
• Recognized as a leading firm in Corporate/Commercial in the UAE and Saudi Arabia (Chambers Global 2008)
• Listed as a Recommended Firm in Dispute Resolution in the UAE and Saudi Arabia (Legal 500 Middle East 2008)
• Listed as a Recommended Firm in Corporate and M&A in the UAE and Saudi Arabia (Legal 500 Middle East 2008)
• Listed as a Recommended Firm in Projects and Energy in the UAE (Legal 500 Middle East 2008)
• Listed as a Recommended Firm in Banking and Finance in the UAE (Legal 500 Middle East 2008)
• Recognized as one of the leading firms for international arbitration (Chambers Global, 2008)

Fulbright & Jaworski lawyers have long represented Middle East-based clients on projects in and involving the Middle East. To support its many clients who have businesses, investments, construction and development projects, offices and other interests throughout the Middle East, Fulbright maintains locations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. These activities of the firm's clients are supported by our domestic United States, as well as our London, Beijing and Hong Kong locations.

The deep and longstanding diplomatic, commercial and personal ties between nations, companies and individuals from the Middle East and Houston (where  Fulbright was founded in 1919), Washington, D.C. (where the firm has had an location since 1927), London (where the firm has had an location since 1973) and New York (where the firm has had an location since 1989) are well known. As international commerce has grown, many close lawyer-client relationships have evolved naturally in parallel, providing a solid foundation for Fulbright's Middle East Practice.

Our lawyers resident in the Middle East locations have decades of experience living and advising clients in the region. Various members of our Middle East Practice Group are fluent in Arabic and other languages that are relevant to our work Middle East. Visit Fulbright's Dubai and Riyadh locations.

Among the core areas of our Middle East practice are:

Energy. Fulbright has one of the world’s leading energy practices. More than 250 lawyers in our U.S. and international locations handle a comprehensive range of projects and matters for this important global industry. Read more about our Energy practice.

Arbitration and Disputes. Fulbright’s internationally-prominent arbitration and disputes practice has involved numerous matters in and involving the Middle East. In addition to our other experience in this area, lawyers in our Middle East practice group have represented both commercial and governmental clients in disputes before most of the major arbitral tribunals in the world, in a variety of industries. They also have extensive involvement in local litigation and arbitration working with local counsel. Read more about Fulbright’s Arbitration Practice Group and Litigation Practice Group.

Structured and Project Finance. Fulbright advises clients on the development, construction, finance, operation, acquisition and disposition of infrastructure projects around the world. Our work in this area has included representation of our clients on more than 200 power projects having a combined total investment amount exceeding US $54 billion, to date. We represent multilateral lenders, commercial banks, developers, sponsors, investors, insurers and others on multiple types of projects in various sectors. Read more about our Project Finance practice.

Islamic Finance. Fulbright lawyers have been at the forefront of Islamic finance since 1996 in the Middle East, North America, Europe and Asia. They are known throughout the world for their successful efforts in developing, and transactionally implementing, a wide range of innovative Shari’ah-compliant structures and products, and the associated legal architecture, in the geographic areas throughout the world, and particularly for many of the first such structures and products in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Defense and Security. Members of Fulbright’s Middle East Practice Group have advised numerous defense contractors and suppliers in connection with defense and security procurement, programs and matters in numerous countries in the region. Their experience includes US Foreign Military Sales and other US regulatory matters relating to such programs and activities and local law issues which arise from such programs.

Hospitality and Tourism. Fulbright advises clients on all aspects associated with the development and operation of hospitality and tourism projects in the Middle East, a growing industry segment in the region. We represent a wide range of clients, primarily developers and owners of lodging and timeshare developments and other tourism destinations.

Corporate, Commercial and Capital Markets Transactions. We have handled many corporate finance, acquisition, public offering, commercial credit, leasing and similar matters, as well as regulatory and enforcement matters involving the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and others for clients based in the Middle East.  On the ground in the Middle East, we handle a variety of inbound investment, business, trade, commercial, compliance, regulatory and other matters associated with doing business in the region.

Intellectual Property. Fulbright also has an internationally-prominent intellectual property practice, which includes lawyers in our Middle East practice. We handle a wide range of patent, trademark, copyright, licensing and other intellectual property matters. Read more about our Intellectual Property Practice Group.

For further information or questions about our Middle East practice, please contact either John Lonsberg, Mark Bisch or John Boehm.

When You Think MIDDLE EAST, Think Fulbright.^TM