Sullivan & Cromwell has opened an office in Abu Dhabi and rehired Ahmed T. el-Gaili as a partner to lead its Middle East practice as the law firm expands around increasing sovereign capital, private equity and infrastructure activity across the region.
The new office is located in Abu Dhabi Global Market, the UAE capital’s international financial center, and has received full regulatory authorization from ADGM’s Registration Authority.
Sullivan & Cromwell said the office will strengthen its ability to advise clients in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern markets across financing, regulation and major cross-border transactions.
El-Gaili previously spent six years practicing with Sullivan & Cromwell in London before relocating to the Middle East.
He brings nearly two decades of regional experience advising sovereign wealth funds, governments, state-owned enterprises, private equity firms and major corporations.
His practice covers M&A, private equity, joint ventures, project finance, development and restructuring, with particular experience in energy, infrastructure, life sciences, telecommunications and technology.
El-Gaili will work alongside Sullivan & Cromwell partners with existing Middle East experience, including Garth Bray and Umberto Hassan.
The Abu Dhabi opening expands Sullivan & Cromwell’s global footprint to 14 offices and positions the firm closer to some of the world’s largest sovereign investors and increasingly active pools of private capital.
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“Sovereign capital, private equity and infrastructure investment in the Middle East is fueling some of the most high-profile and complex transactions anywhere in the world, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.”
Ahmed T. el-Gaili, Partner and Head of Sullivan & Cromwell’s Middle East Practice
“Their decision to open an office in ADGM reflects the continued growth of Abu Dhabi as a leading hub for international finance, investment and professional services.”
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer of ADGM
