The Middle East Legal Awards 2018 | ALM Real Estate Media Group | The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, Al Mamsha Street, Jumeirah Beach Residence - Dubai - UAE

Baker McKenzie, Ashurst, Dentons and DLA Piper are among the firms competing to be named International Law Firm of the Year at the Middle East Legal Awards.

Completing the line-up in this flagship category at the awards – which are jointly hosted byLegal Week and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Middle East Chapter – are Stephenson Harwood, Clyde & Co, DWF and Eversheds Sutherland.

The shortlist, which is unveiled today (21 March), showcases the region’s top lawyers and legal departments and was chosen from a record number of submissions.

Among the companies represented in the in-house categories are Deutsche Bank, Microsoft, FedEX, Johnson Controls and Middle East satellite television broadcaster OSN.

2017 Winners:

ACC LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
• Elias Hayek, partner, Squire Patton Boggs

ACC MIDDLE EAST ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
• Salman Al-Ansari, partner, Al-Ansari & Associates

LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR - LARGE TEAM:
• Pepsi-Cola International
• Highly commended: OSN

LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF THE TEAR - SMALL TEAM:
• Total Marketing Middle East
• Highly commended: Sidra Medical and Research Center

LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF THE YEAR - GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, AGENCY OR PUBLIC BODY:
• Qatar Financial Centre Authority
• Highly commended: DIFC DRA Academy of Law

GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND:
• Khalid Khan, The Zubair Corporation
• Highly commended: Clint Hermes, Sidra Medical and Research Center

SENIOR CORPORATE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR:
• Rahul Sharda, Al Ghurair Investment
• Highly commended: Shafiq Jamoos, Deyaar Development

JUNIOR CORPORATE COUNSEL OF THE YEAR:
• Rabah Bashir, Zakher Marine International

INNOVATION AWARD:
• The Bench
• Highly commended: Shelf Drilling

CSR INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR:
• Dentons
• Highly commended: Al-Ansari & Associates

DIVERSITY INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR:
• Clyde & Co
• Highly commended: Dentons

INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY FOX RODNEY SEARCH:
• DLA Piper
• Highly commended: Clifford Chance

REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - Large Practice:
• Al Tamimi & Company
• Highly commended: BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates

REGIONAL LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - SMALL PRACTICE:
• Al Jallaf Advocates & Legal Consultants
• Highly commended: Afridi & Angell

ASSOCIATE SOLICITOR OF THE YEAR:
• Christina Sochacki, Senior Associate, Al Tamimi & Company
• Fareya Azfar, Associate, Gateley

BANKING AND FINANCE TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Dechert
• Highly commended: Clifford Chance

INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENERGY PROJECTS TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Bracewell
• Highly commended: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld

CONSTRUCTION TEAM OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY ARCADIS:
• Dentons
• Highly commended: Berwin Leighton Paisner

REAL ESTATE TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Hadef & Partners
• Highly commended: Al Tamimi & Company

CORPORATE TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Hadef & Partners
• Highly commended: Al Tamimi & Company

ARBITRATION TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Reed Smith
• Highly commended: Charles Russell Speechlys

LITIGATION TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Baker McKenzie
• Highly commended: Al Tamimi & Company

REGULATORY AND INVESTIGATIONS TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Clyde & Co
• Highly commended: Simmons & Simmons

TMT TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Simmons & Simmons Middle East
• Highly commended: The Bench

EMPLOYMENT TEAM OF THE YEAR:
• Stephenson Harwood Middle East
• Highly commended: Al Tamimi & Company