Dubai

Our team has led and continues to advise on several pioneering, 'first-in-country' transactions across the region. Our connections with both public and private stakeholders and regulators in the Emirate of Dubai and beyond provide us insight into diverse areas of the economy, positioning our lawyers as consistent and trusted business advisors in a fast-moving market. 

As a global business hub and the epicentre of some of the most innovative construction and major development projects in modern history, our on-ground team in Dubai provides an integrated full-service legal offering with specialisms in the built environment, cross-border investment, and corporate expertise. Our award-winning expertise in dispute resolution, including arbitration, is another reason clients choose to work with us.

Our in-depth market awareness enables us to provide strategic legal advice that bridges regional opportunity with global best practice.

Our Expertise

Corporate and commercial

Our Dubai corporate practice supports local and international clients with commercial, regulatory, corporate and M&A expertise. We are particularly renowned in the private equity and venture capital space, where we assist both investors and high-growth companies on fund structuring, equity financing, and exit strategies. Our lawyers provide strategic and pragmatic advice across a wide range of sectors including energy, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, retail, food and food security, education, manufacturing and financial services.

Real estate and construction

We provide end-to-end legal support on real estate developments, including land acquisition, structuring, sales, leasing, and dispute resolution whilst our construction expertise covers the full project lifecycle from inception, documentation, procurement and contract negotiation to risk management, dispute avoidance and claims, and asset disposal. Noted by Legal 500 for "unparalleled dedication" to our clients, we advise some of the largest regional developers and international operators on prominent mixed-use, residential and hospitality projects across the UAE.

Project finance (including PPP)

We are one of the region’s leading legal advisors on infrastructure development and public-private partnerships (PPPs). Our lawyers have supported the world's leading financial institutions, export credit agencies, international sponsors, borrowers, governments and government related entities on major utilities, transport, and social infrastructure initiatives and transactions (including desalination and solar energy developments) as well as advising on groundbreaking PPP legislation across the GCC.

Dispute resolution

Our dispute resolution team advises on diverse contentious issues across a wide range of sectors. Trowers' lawyers provide practical and commercial advice for all forms of dispute resolution and avoidance, from structured negotiation and mediation, dispute avoidance boards, expert determinations, to formal proceedings such as arbitration and the courts. The team is well known for its work on some of the highest value and most complex matters in the UAE, most recently winning "Arbitration Team of the Year" at the 2025 LexisNexis Middle East Legal Awards. We bring deep experience in supporting litigation and arbitration across all court levels and institutions in the Middle East and beyond, delivering precise, tailored solutions for both private and public sector clients.

Our team and head of office

Cheryl Cairns, resident managing partner for the Dubai office, leads our International Construction Disputes practice. Based in Dubai since 2007, Cheryl specialises in both contentious and non-contentious construction matters, including major infrastructure projects across the GCC. Cheryl is highlighted in all major legal directories including Chambers Global, Legal 500 and Lexology Index, and frequently commended by clients for her leadership and technical excellence.

Other longstanding team members include Bill Jefferies, who heads Trowers' International Corporate team and acts as Honorary Legal Adviser to the UK Consul General in Dubai, and Matthew Showler, one of the region's leading dispute resolution lawyers and co-head of the firm's International Arbitration practice. Alongside their teams, the Dubai office is also home to specialists in real estate, project finance and private wealth.

“Our Dubai office is a key part of the firm’s international platform and reflects the city’s dynamic, global character. With deep regional roots and a team that combines local insight with cross-border expertise, we advise on some of the most complex and high-value matters in the market. Whether supporting strategic investments, navigating construction and infrastructure projects, or resolving multi-jurisdictional disputes, we bring a tailored, practical approach to every client engagement.” – Cheryl Cairns 

Client testimonials

"Trowers & Hamlins' strength is their ability to offer both strategic insight and comprehensive legal support, ensuring that clients are well protected and informed throughout the deal process." (UAE Venture Capital and Emerging Companies – Chambers Global, 2025)

"The calibre and comprehensiveness of their legal thinking are very good. They are thorough, commercial, approachable and great to work with." (UAE Construction – Chambers Global, 2025)

"They are excellent at guiding and supporting their clients through complete and challenging situations." (UAE Commercial, Corporate and M&A – Legal 500, 2025)