Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer continues to be the most significant and high-profile international practice in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Over the past several years, we have worked on the country’s top local and international transactions with some of the most high profile Bahraini clients across a range of industry sectors. We have also long been the firm of choice for the Government of Bahrain, the Royal Court of Bahrain and the Court of the Crown Prince (including the respective investment arms) working on most of their significant projects.

Our extraordinary relationship with Bahrain began about 10 years ago when we acted for the Kingdom on the successful resolution of its land and maritime border dispute with the State of Qatar, the longest case in the history of the International Court of Justice.

Our team in Bahrain comprises a mix of leading international lawyers and fluent English and Arabic speakers. We are recognised as one of the leading international legal practices in the country on international corporate, finance, energy and infrastructure and real estate transactions across a range of sectors. We are the only ‘magic circle’ firm in the Kingdom.

Our Bahrain practice is primarily focused on the following areas:

Corporate
Our Corporate team in Bahrain has worked on some of the most significant transactions in the region, including currently advising on the restructuring of Gulf Air and working on a number of high profile corporate transactions with the Ministry of Finance, National Oil and Gas Authority of Bahrain and the Economic Development Board of Bahrain.

Finance
With the Kingdom as a leading financial centre, our preeminent Finance team continues to work for some of the leading investment and Islamic banks in Bahrain (including Al Salam Bank and Kuwait Finance House).

Energy and infrastructure
Our energy and infrastructure team regularly advises on some of the most prestigious projects in Bahrain and the region, including advising on the US$4bn Qatar-Bahrain Causeway Project, Al-Hidd Independent Water Power Project (IWPP) and, given our successful involvement in the Al-Hidd project, we are advising the Government on the proposed Phase 1 of the Al-Dur power and water project. The team is actively involved with the Bahrain Ministry of Finance on some of the country's leading privatisations particularly in the power sector. Further, the team works very closely with the National Oil and Gas Authority of Bahrain and the Bahrain Petroleum Company.

Real Estate
As Bahrain continues its tremendous growth in real estate development, our leading real estate practice continues to act on a number of the most important local mandates, as well as top regional and international mandates. These include the development of Sama Dubai’s Salam Resort, development of a major health city and involvement with numerous international real estate acquisitions and mixed use real estate developments.

Industry sectors
Our practice in Bahrain is also active in a range of sectors, including energy, telecoms, private equity/investment, infrastructure and transport, leisure, financial institutions and funds.

Contact

  • Harnek Shoker
  • Head of Bahrain office
  • T + 973 1 756 7900
  • F + 973 1 756 7901
  • Alison Swenton
  • Head of business development Middle East and North Africa
  • T + 973 1 756 7900
  • F + 973 1 756 7901
  • Richard McCabe
  • Recruitment manager
  • 65 Fleet Street
  • London, EC4Y 1HS
  • T + 44 (0)207 785 2443