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Level Up: Unlocking Financial Potential In The Middle East
Welcome to this edition of Law Update, where we focus on the ever-evolving landscape of financial services regulation across the region. As the financial markets in the region continue to grow and diversify, this issue provides timely insights into the key regulatory developments shaping banking, investment, insolvency, and emerging technologies.
2025 is set to be a game-changer for the MENA region, with legal and regulatory shifts from 2024 continuing to reshape its economic landscape. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and Bahrain are all implementing groundbreaking reforms in sustainable financing, investment laws, labor regulations, and dispute resolution. As the region positions itself for deeper global integration, businesses must adapt to a rapidly evolving legal environment.
Our Eyes on 2025 publication provides essential insights and practical guidance on the key legal updates shaping the year ahead—equipping you with the knowledge to stay ahead in this dynamic market.
A complete spectrum of legal services across jurisdictions in the Middle East & North Africa.
Mark Brown
Partner, Head of Projects
Biography
Mark is a specialist banking and finance lawyer with significant experience advising financial institutions with respect to transactional lending, commercial advisory, product development, insolvency issues and legislative change. Mark was recently ranked by the Legal 500 as a ‘Next Generation Partner’.
Recent Experience
- Acting for multiple local and international financial institutions to develop and implement standard and bespoke banking products and platforms for use in the UAE, ADGM or DIFC, including account terms and conditions, credit facilities, cash-pooling and corporate liquidity, internet banking, and gold accounts and loans.
- Advising financial institutions such as Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC and First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, on sale or purchase of loan portfolios.
- Assisting foreign financial services companies on their establishment in the ADGM.
- Advised multiple banks on a claim by a major UAE insurance company for declarations of liability in the DIFC courts in respect of suspected fraudulent trade finance transactions.
- Acted as UAE/DIFC counsel on the financing aspects of United Arab Shipping Company Limited re-domiciliation into the DIFC, including the impact of all existing facilities and related bareboat charters.
- Advising sponsors and lenders in UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on some of the most notable independent power or water projects in the region, including the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority solar programme, FEWA 150 MIGD IWP, Taweelah 200 MIGD IWP, Fujairah Phase 3 IPP, Hamriyah 1,800 MW CCGT Plant and Al Dur II IWPP.
- Leading significant FDI transactions into the UAE and their financing, such as Apollo Global Management, Inc. (USA) and consortium on the acquisition of a $5.5 billion real estate investment partnership with ADNOC, the investors to the $20.7 billion investment and financing of ADNOC gas pipelines.
- Acting for the issuers or purchasers on numerous DCM mandates.
Language(s)
- English
Education
2004 – Bachelor of Laws, Victoria University of Wellington
2004 – Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, Victoria University of Wellington
Admission
2006 – Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand
Practice(s)
Sector(s)
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