Dentons Middle East has expanded its Banking & Finance capabilities with the appointment and relocation of three experienced counsels across Muscat, Doha, and Dubai, responding to growing client demand for financial services expertise across the region.
Justine Harding rejoined Dentons’ Muscat office in January, returning to the firm’s banking practice where she worked from 2008 to 2024. A New Zealand-qualified barrister and solicitor, Harding specializes in retail and corporate banking and finance as well as debt capital markets. She previously worked in-house for major banks in New Zealand and London. In Oman, her practice also covers general corporate and commercial advice and real estate, reinforcing her familiarity with the local legal market.
Riza Ismail relocated in February from Dentons’ Muscat office to its Doha office. With more than 20 years of experience, Ismail advises on a broad range of banking and finance matters, including Islamic finance, capital markets transactions such as local and international bonds and Sukuk issuances, project finance, corporate banking involving bilateral and syndicated loans, and investment funds.
Katharina Schaub joined the firm’s Dubai office in February as a restructuring and insolvency specialist. A German-qualified lawyer, Schaub brings experience across Germany, Australia, the UK and the UAE. She joined Dentons from UAE-headquartered NMC Healthcare, where she was a senior member of the legal team. At Dentons, she will support clients on restructuring and insolvency mandates while complementing the firm’s Banking & Finance and Commercial Disputes practices.
The appointments follow the relocation of Debt Capital Markets partner Victoria Wyer from London to Dubai in September and the addition of Capital Markets partner Peter Cullen in Dubai in January 2026, further bolstering the firm’s regional finance capabilities.
Dentons operates seven offices in the Middle East, located in Amman, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat and Riyadh. The firm has maintained a presence in the region for more than 50 years, providing local support to clients backed by international reach.
KEY QUOTES:
“The wealth of Banking & Finance talent Dentons has attracted in the Middle East means we are able to strategically distribute this expertise across the region according to client needs. We are one of very few firms in the region able to offer such comprehensive coverage for financial services clients and we will continue to build on this advantage.”
Stephen Knight, Partner And Head Of Dentons’ Middle East Banking And Finance Practice
