Middle East : Keystone Law

Keystone Law has been advising clients in the Middle East since it launched in 2002.

Our highly experienced team of lawyers advise businesses and individuals in the region using the law of England & Wales, which is known for its flexibility, predictability and stability, accompanied by a strong and reliable judicial system. This is why it is the first choice for many international deals and legal matters.

We represent and advise clients of all sizes, including high-profile individuals, families and royalty through to local companies and international corporations. Our lawyers understand the need for tailored advice to suit individual circumstances and provide a bespoke service to every client.

By using the firm’s innovative proprietary technology, our lawyers are able to work closely with clients in the Middle East to deliver fast, efficient advice and are unhindered by geographical differences, and where necessary we will be available in person too.

When expert local advice is required, we have trusted relationships with local counsel and can work with them to provide a tailored multi-jurisdictional approach.

For further information or to discuss a matter, please telephone 020 3319 3700 or click here to email us.

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Aviation
Banking and Financial
Commercial
Construction and Property
Corporate
Dispute Resolution
Energy
Family Offices and Succession Planning
Immigration
Luxury Assets
Reputation Management
UK Residential Property

Aviation

Acted for a Middle Eastern cargo airline against its insurers and broker arising from damage caused to two CF6 engines whilst being transported for maintenance in 2018. Claim against insurer under the policy and the broker for negligence in failing to ensure appropriate cover.
Acted for a UAE client on the purchase of a new Global 6500.
Advised a major Middle Eastern airline on a strategic joint venture project for its duty-free business, involving the establishment of retail and food & beverage operations at a new airport in the Middle East.
Assisted a Middle Eastern airline in respect of the sale and leaseback of Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
Acted for Royal Jordanian Airlines’ insurers in respect of passenger claims arising from the detonation of a grenade following a hijacking shortly after having departed from Amman, Jordan, in 2000.
Acted for Royal Jordanian Falcons’ insurers in relation to claims by dependants of deceased persons arising from the crash of an aircraft at an airshow in Ostende, Belgium, in 1997.
Acted for Kuwait Airlines Corporation against Iraqi Airways Company in relation to claims for theft of aircraft following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Claim valued at $1.2 billion.
Advised a foreign Government of a non-European Union member state on the acquisition of a VIP Aircraft in “green condition”, including negotiating a Sales Proposal and a Purchase Agreement and Interior Completion Agreement with a US aircraft completion centre.

Advised a Middle Eastern Re group on regulatory arrangements for expansion of its business in the UK in compliance with EEA and UK requirements.
Advised on fundraising activities in Middle East, US (Regulation D) and Far East.
Advised the Government of Oman on the restructuring and privatisation of the solid waste sector in Oman including the letting of a number of concession and operation infrastructure waste contracts to the private sector and drafting a new Oman waste law.
Acted for a Saudi Arabian family on its corporate acquisition of a UK office and retail park.
Acted on the corporate acquisition of a ME super-yacht marina design consultancy.
Acted for a Saudi Arabian family on its corporate acquisition of a UK office and retail park.
Acted for a Qatari UHNW family on the establishment of a tax-efficient multi-jurisdictional holding structure to invest in pan-European hotels and commercial real estate assets.
Acted for a Middle East UHNW family on the restructuring of its equity investment in a London riverside real estate development project.

Dispute Resolution

Energy

Advised a Middle Eastern government oil & gas company on the drafting of dispute resolution provisions for a package of contracts relating to the construction of a US$7bn gas refinery.
Advised an O&M contractor in relation to settlement negotiations for logistics contracts in the Middle East.
Advised an O&M contractor in relation to turbine supply issues for power and water plants in the Middle East.
Advised an O&M contractor on the terms of a supply contract for spare parts for power and water plants in the Middle East.
Advised Governments in CIS, the Middle East and Asia on the use of Smart Contracts to mitigate cross-border legal risk.
Advising a Middle East focused oil and gas UK listed company on its standard international oil and gas joint operating agreement.

Employment

Acted for an international professional services firm in respect of an outsourcing contract won in relation to the provision of facilities management services across 121 properties, across 94 countries in the Middle East, Asia Pacific, China and Africa.
Advised a board member of a Middle Eastern oil and gas company on breach of contract, unfair dismissal and whistleblowing claims – currently ongoing in the Employment Tribunal.

Family and Succession Planning

Immigration

Advised a UHNW Middle Eastern family in exceptional circumstances applying for entry clearance in their home country for Tier 1 Investor extensions, working closely with Home Office officials to ensure correct process for this family of five.
Assisted a large Middle Eastern family office with immigration applications, enabling family members to exceptionally switch status within the UK, bypassing the need for them to apply overseas at a time when it was dangerous to return to their home country.
Assisted a Bahraini client in his initial entry clearance for Tier-1 Entrepreneur application, successfully extended his visa again in June 2022, and recently advised on requirements for settlement and citizenship applications.
Assisted with a UHNW Syrian family with entry clearance for Tier-1 Investor applications – in an exceptional circumstance where the client had to file their applications from Kuwait because it was dangerous to be in Syria at the time of war.
Assisted with a UHNW UAE family with Tier-1 Investor extension applications from Dubai during Covid when applications should have been made from within the UK.
Assisted with many entry clearance Skilled Worker applications from the UAE and Kuwait.
Acted for a dual KSA/UK national with a request from His Majesty’s Passport Office to change her name on her KSA passport which the client was successful in rejecting.
Gained a UK visa extension for the family of a deceased KSA billionaire businessman based on his profile and investments made within the UK.
Acting for Syrian PEP and family on general UK immigration matters including an overseas domestic worker, a UK permanent residency and UK naturalisation.
Represented an Iranian billionaire on their application for Investor status and subsequent UK residency.
Advising a Lebanese HNWI for the past 10 years as an Investor, Entrepreneur, ILR and now on UK citizenship, together with advice for children by surrogacy from the USA.

Luxury Assets

Advising two Middle Eastern governments on the recovery of illegally excavated and/or exported antiquities.
Advised on a dispute regarding a piece of artwork sold at auction whereby the authenticity was challenged.
Represented numerous families and HNWIs on the loans of artwork to museums around the world.
Represented the buyer of a high-profile piece of artwork valued in excess of $100m.
Advised on the sale of a prominent and encyclopaedic collection of Islamic Silver Art.
Acted for a UAE client in a breach of warranty claim against a yacht vendor.
Successfully mediated a dispute between a UAE boat owner, marina and boat yard regarding defective works and unpaid marina charges.
Advised a UAE client on the purchase and conversion of a 70m motor yacht including drafting all supplemental agreements and advising on ownership structuring and VAT.
Advised a Kuwait-based client on the purchase of a semi-completed motor yacht from a French yard and her export to Kuwait.

Property and Construction

Reputation Management

Acted for a claimant in a leading case concerning state immunity and the question of whether state immunity can protect a Middle Eastern state and state individuals in relation to allegations of torture.
Acted for an international Middle Eastern conglomerate in claims for fraud, conspiracy and deceit in proceedings which took place in the courts of three different jurisdictions.

UK Residential Property Purchases and Sales

E - Gaming

Advised an Asia-owned e-gaming business and its Asia-based owners on a successful application for an Isle of Man e-gaming licence and structuring the underlying holding and operating companies.

Lisette Aguilar

Partner

Lisette specialises in disputes and transactions relating to art, antiques and the luxury sector, and also has a general commercial litigation background. During her 12 years as a senior in-house… Read More