The awards recognise the excellence and outstanding achievements of the region’s leading law firms and in-house legal teams, as well as the top deals and dealmakers. The volume and complexity of deals and availability of sophisticated legal counsel, underscore the resilience and advancement of the legal market in the Middle East during a challenging year.

Clifford Chance took home 10 awards, including the International Law Firm of the Year as well as for
its work on the Middle East Deal of the Year (Port and Free Zone World Conventional and Islamic
Financing). Local giant Al Tamimi & Company claimed five awards for its litigation practice as well
as the Managing Partner of the Year and Middle East Law Firm of the Year.

“We are delighted to recognise the top law firms in the Middle East for their excellence in navigating the
evolving legal landscape in the region,” said Andrew Smart, managing director of The Brief. “The law
firms named have continued to show strength and creativity in getting deals done despite an uncertain
economic climate.”

In addition to recognising the collective talents of law firms and in-house legal teams, The Brief Middle
East Law Awards 2012 also singled out the leading individual talents in the region. Anneliese Reinhold of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) took home the Middle East In-House
Lawyer of the Year as well as the Most Influential Female Lawyer of the Year.

With hundreds of legal and industry professionals involved in the nomination and submission process,
here is a definitive list of the law firms of the year in the Middle East region.

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