The Middle East and Africa group at Harbottle & Lewis brings together experienced lawyers with a range of expertise and we work together to advise some of the world’s most talented and enterprising people and their businesses in the region.
In our experience, family and enterprise go hand in hand in the Middle East and Africa. We pride ourselves on advising in ways attuned to our clients’ culture, family and faith. Our clients come back to us time and again.
- Protecting your family’s private wealth: whether your concern is succession planning, matrimonial or personal tax, we can advise on strategies for wealth protection and this often involves Shari’a
- Creativity: we advise a range of clients with talent and commercial interests in the performing arts, e-gaming, art and fashion. We also advise on the protection and licensing of intellectual property
- Privacy: we are well known for our expertise in advising on information protection, privacy and defamation
- Commercial transactions: we advise a range of entrepreneurial clients in venture capital deals, buying and selling businesses, strategic partnerships and shareholder arrangements. In sports, we have particular expertise in negotiating and providing advice on the terms of commercial sports agreements, including sponsorship, participation, staging, promoter and venue agreements, and advising on sports regulatory and disciplinary issues. In tech and data we have a dedicated team focussed on the regulation and monetisation of data and the commercial models that underpin start ups and scale ups in all tech verticals.
- Real estate: our property lawyers can advise you on the acquisition and sale of UK real estate, including residential property, commercial property and country estates. We are accustomed to advising clients requiring Shari’a compliant mortgages
- Global mobility: many of our clients have connections in a number of jurisdictions. We can advise on your immigration, employment and international tax and transparency reporting requirements
- Family office and governance: we are often involved in setting up and reviewing family offices and family businesses, to ensure the governance in private wealth and business structures is co-ordinated and tax efficient
- International wealth structuring: our clients regularly ask us to stress test existing trusts and foundations or establish new ones, often with Shari’a concerns
- Disputes: we can advise on a range of contentious work, involving a range of sectors. On the commercial side, we advise international businesses and private offices in a variety of complex cases. Our expertise also means that we can advise you on managing risk, mediation and avoiding litigation as well as helping you to prepare for litigation
- Illness and incapacity: we regularly assist clients with vulnerable family members whose needs require sensitivity and care
- Matrimonial: where there is a connection to England, we can advise sensitively on all aspects of arrangements concerning families and children. This includes pre-nups, post-nups, separation, divorce and the resolution of financial matters and living or schooling arrangements for children
Caroline Roberjot
Partner
E: caroline.roberjot@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Emma Wright
Partner
E: emma.wright@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Gary Ashford
Partner (non lawyer),
Chartered Tax Adviser
E: gary.ashford@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
John Kelly
Legal Consultant
E: john.kelly@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Lidia Cantele
Partner
E: lidia.cantele@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Louis Castellani
Partner
E: louis.castellani@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Matthew Leverton
Partner
E: matthew.leverton@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Bob Mitchell
Partner
E: bob.mitchell@harbottle.com
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Sarah Gogan
Partner
E:
T: +44 (0)20 7667 5000
Our clients, their families, business interests and assets are often located in multiple places all over the world and remain relatively mobile. We advise with independence and work with our clients and their trusted advisers to provide the fullest support. Where needed, we also have the freedom to recommend local advisers best suited to each client.
We would be delighted to.