In its third annual list, ALB highlights 50 exceptional lawyers from the MENA region who have distinguished themselves through outstanding client service. The lawyers were selected based on a client survey directly sent to ALB. The list is in alphabetical order, and some of the lawyers have been featured.
KUSHAGRA ASHOK ARORA
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Encouraged by a rewarding practice in the region of over a decade, Kushagra has partnered to expand his practice within MENA through these offices in Dubai and ADGM. Arora is well regarded as an accomplished and dependable disputes lawyer specialising in commercial litigation and arbitration. Arora’s expertise has exposed him to a wide range of industries, such as construction and real estate, F&B, pharmaceuticals, hospitality, oil and gas, insurance, logistics, healthcare, cybercrimes, fintech, and investments. His growing practice is a testament to clients’ confidence in his ability to formulate unorthodox legal strategies and navigate complex disputes. He is widely acknowledged for yielding tangible results. Several firms frequently require Arora’s practice to co-counsel in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Guinea, Angola, Mexico, Ethiopia, Singa-pore, Switzerland, the Netherlands, China, and Japan. His impressive track record has earned him recognition and accolades, including being featured in the ALB MENA Super 50 lawyers list for 2021 and 2022. Prior founding 1948 Chambers, Arora was a co-founder and partner at the renowned Mahmood Hussain Advocates and Legal Consultancy, where he honed his skills and deepened his understanding of UAE’s legislative landscape and its practicalities. “Kushagra has a natural panache for simplifying otherwise entangled legal proceedings, and he does so while playing fair.” |
ZIAD EL-KHOURY
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Ziad El-Khoury is the chief executive officer and senior legal consultant at BLK Partners, a prominent and unique legal platform based in Riyadh. With a reputation as a leading legal expert in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, El-Khoury’s extensive experience and deep understanding of the corporate and business landscapes have solidified his position as a trusted authority in the field. His prowess extends beyond routine legal matters, encompassing complex cases involving corporate, healthcare, technology, real estate, construction and infrastructure, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. Market sources consistently praise El-Khoury, acknowledging his influential role in developing the firm’s regional profile and capabilities and managing its spectrum of corporate and commercial mandates. He is also highly rated for his healthcare knowledge and commercial business acumen. El-Khoury ‘s remarkable leadership abilities enable him to spearhead high-stakes projects with finesse. His keen insights and exceptional guidance have earned him the trust of major corporations and influential clients across Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and globally. Under his leadership as CEO, and despite the pandemic, the firm grew five folds in the last 5 years, a remarkable achievement by all measures. El-Khoury holds an LL.M in International Business Law from the American University in Washington, DC, and a JD (equivalent) in Lebanese law from Universite La Sagesse. He is fluent in Arabic, English, and French, facilitating seam-less communication with clients from diverse backgrounds. |
THE LIST
ALB MENA SUPER 50 2023 |
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HAMAD AL- YAFEI NASSER AL-ADBA BADR AL ARISHI ARIG ALI SALAM ALSMADI MICHAEL BOUTROS JAMIE GIBSON SAM HABBAS NABIL ISSA MOHAMED KHODEIR SALMAN MAHMOOD SAFWAN MOUBAYDEEN ALEX SALEH DAN SHAMGAR LEEN ZAZA BARNEY ALMAZAR JOEY T. SHABOT SALMAN AHMED BASHIR AHMED AAMAL AL ABBASI RASHID AL SAAD ESSA MOHAMMAD AL SULAITI KOKILA ALAGH HADI J ALALAWI SAMI AL-LOUZI |
KUSHAGRA ASHOK ARORA ALI BACHROUCH CHERYL CAIRNS NICK CARNELL AARON DIKOS DEBOPAM DUTTA ZIAD EL-KHOURY JASMIN FICHTE MELISSA FORBES-MIRANDA CHRISTOPHER GUNSON ANDREAS HABERBECK NAJIB HAGE-CHAHINE RAN HAI MICHAEL HARTLEY KIERSTEN LUCAS SOURAYA MACHNOUK JONATHAN P NOBLE JERRY PARKS ARDESHIR D PATEL MAZEN RASAMNY EYAD REDA MUNIR SUBOH RANIA TADROS RAD EL TREKI ABDELMAJEED ZWAIRI |
METHODOLOGY
• Lawyers were selected based on client feedback sent directly to Asian Legal Business between December 2022 and February 2023.
• The work of the lawyers nominated, as well as the commercial standing of the clients’ making recommendations, were taken into account during evaluation.