Suhail Mirza

Suhail Mirza is a Partner and an experienced corporate, projects and infrastructure lawyer with extensive expertise in cross-border M&A across the Middle East, with a particular focus on the technology sector (including fintech and digital payments) and infrastructure projects. His primary practice area is Mergers and Acquisitions.

He advises extensively on shareholders' agreements, fund-raising and start-up investments, corporate governance, regulatory matters and foreign direct investment, regularly assisting multinational companies in expanding their footprint across the region.

Over the course of his practice in the Middle East, he has advised leading fintech companies, government entities, private equity investors and family offices on a wide range of M&A transactions, joint ventures and investment activity. He is also highly experienced in projects and infrastructure work, including IWPPs (water treatment, desalination and power), transport and social infrastructure projects, as well as associated arrangements such as distribution and network connection.

Based in Dubai since 2008, he has worked on transactions throughout the Middle East, as well as in South Asia and Africa. His experience includes advising government procurers and sponsors on concession arrangements, procurement and bid compliance, corporate and shareholders' agreements, and broader commercial and contractual frameworks.

He is consistently recognised by leading legal directories. He is recommended as an expert UAE-based lawyer by Legal 500 EMEA and IFLR1000, and has been recognised by Chambers Global for doing "an exceptional job on joint ventures, especially cross-border work." He has broad and practical knowledge of English law, DIFC law and local Dubai law.

His recent experience includes acting for a Tata group company on its AED 1.04 billion acquisition of a controlling stake in Damas, the region's leading luxury jewellery brand; acting for a regional environmental services company on the divestment of a strategic stake to a foreign infrastructure fund; acting for an Oman sovereign wealth fund on its proposed investment in a UAE food and beverage franchise; and acting for Etihad Water & Electricity Company PJSC on its AED 200 million acquisition of a strategic stake in a Project and O&M Company in relation to a 150 MIGD IWP Project.

He has also acted for a start-up AI company on successive funding rounds and the acquisition of a business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; for institutional investors on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital in an ADGM-regulated brokerage firm; for institutional investors on the acquisition of a minority stake in a DIFC-regulated brokerage firm; for Etihad Water & Electricity Company PJSC on its investment in a USD 950 million utilities project in the UAE; for a Canadian listed company on its USD 40 million take-private and re-domicile to the UAE; and for a South Africa listed company on its acquisition of a data handling business in the UAE.

Other matters include acting for the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (as co-developer) on the entry into a joint venture and framework agreement with Mubadala Development Company for the procurement of six independent water and power projects in the UAE; acting for Etihad Water & Electricity Company PJSC on its procurement of the 45 MIGD IWP in Ras Al Khaimah and the 150 MIGD IWP in Umm Al Quwain; acting for Etihad Water and Electricity Company PJSC in relation to the concession arrangements for the Tanqia waste water treatment plant in Fujairah; acting for Metito Utilities on its bid for the New Cairo Waste Water Treatment project; acting for Etihad Water & Electricity Company PJSC on its stake build and acquisition of shares in a UAE concession company in the IWP sector; advising Carnival Corporation on its participation as port operator in a multi-billion US dollar development for a new cruise liner terminal in the UAE; advising Saudi Arabia's Zahid Group on its acquisition of a 50% stake in Greencells Group, one of Europe's largest solar plant developers and operators; and acting for the UAE Government's Roads & Transport Authority in relation to the procurement of a transport infrastructure project and urban commercial building on a PPP basis.

He holds an LLB (Hons) from The University of Birmingham (1997) and was admitted as a Solicitor in England & Wales in 2000. He speaks Bengali, English and Urdu.