Associates and Counsel

Afraz Hussain

Associate, Dubai Office

Mr Hussain practices corporate and commercial law and has a wealth of knowledge in the areas of private equity, mergers & acquisitions and employment. He has advised on structuring of onshore and offshore investments, entry-level strategies, and has advised various private equity funds in domestic and cross-border transactions in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and management of rig

Mr Hussain practices corporate and commercial law and has a wealth of knowledge in the areas of private equity, mergers & acquisitions and employment. He has advised on structuring of onshore and offshore investments, entry-level strategies, and has advised various private equity funds in domestic and cross-border transactions in connection with acquisitions, divestitures and management of rights.

Mr Hussain joined Afridi & Angell in 2016. Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate at a leading firm in Mumbai, India.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Private Equity
  • Employment

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Bar Council of India
  • Bar Council of Maharashtra & Goa

EDUCATION

  •  B.L.S.LL.B., Government Law College, Mumbai, India, 2012 

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Urdu
  • Hindi
  • Gujarati

 

Kanan Kasuya

Associate, Dubai Office

Ms Kasuya joined Afridi & Angell in 2014. Her practice focuses on corporate and commercial matters, including: advising clients on the establishment, structuring and winding down of business in the UAE; and advising clients on the general corporate, commercial and other matters related to the conduct of business, financing, employment matters, real estate and regulatory compliance. Ms K

Ms Kasuya joined Afridi & Angell in 2014. Her practice focuses on corporate and commercial matters, including:

  • advising clients on the establishment, structuring and winding down of business in the UAE; and
  • advising clients on the general corporate, commercial and other matters related to the conduct of business, financing, employment matters, real estate and regulatory compliance.

Ms Kasuya interned at Afridi & Angell prior to joining the firm in 2014. Prior to that, she has interned at legal clinics of University of Montreal and McGill University in Montreal, Canada and at a reputable law firm in Cairo, Egypt.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Corporate and Commercial

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Quebec Bar Association

EDUCATION

  • LLB, University of Montreal, 2012
  • BA (with distinction), McGill University, 2009

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Arabic
  • French
  • Japanese

 

 

Saurbh Kothari

Senior Associate, Dubai Office

Mr Kothari joined the firm in 2008. He advises both local and international clients on corporate and commercial, mergers and acquisitions and aviation finance matters.  Mr Kothari has been involved in: advising on all aspects of the purchase or sale of businesses, including due diligence, structuring of the transaction, negotiation and documentation of the deal; preparing a broad rang

Mr Kothari joined the firm in 2008. He advises both local and international clients on corporate and commercial, mergers and acquisitions and aviation finance matters. 

Mr Kothari has been involved in:

  • advising on all aspects of the purchase or sale of businesses, including due diligence, structuring of the transaction, negotiation and documentation of the deal;
  • preparing a broad range of commercial agreements;
  • advising on the establishment of businesses in the UAE and thereafter assisting such businesses on a regular basis; and
  • acting as the UAE counsel for sale and refinancing of aircrafts.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Banking and Financial Services

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Bar Council of Rajasthan

EDUCATION

  • BBA LLB (Corporate Honors), National Law University, Jodhpur, India, 2008

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Hindi

PUBLICATIONS

 

Danielle Lobo

Senior Associate, Dubai Office

Ms Lobo practises corporate and commercial law and has a wealth of experience in advising vendors, trade purchasers and management with both the acquisition and disposal of companies. Ms Lobo also advises on private equity investments including advising on the funding of start-up companies and a number of oil and gas technology companies.  Ms Lobo joined Afridi & Angell in

Ms Lobo practises corporate and commercial law and has a wealth of experience in advising vendors, trade purchasers and management with both the acquisition and disposal of companies. Ms Lobo also advises on private equity investments including advising on the funding of start-up companies and a number of oil and gas technology companies. 

Ms Lobo joined Afridi & Angell in 2010. Prior to joining the firm, she was a solicitor with a global firm in Scotland. 

Her notable transactional experience includes:

  • acting for the vendors on the US$275 million disposal of MTEM Limited to Petroleum Geo-Services AS which was later shortlisted for "UK Deal of the Year" at the European Venture Capital Awards;
  • acting on behalf of the vendors in relation to the sale of a fitness franchise in the Middle East;
  • acting for the acquirer in its acquisition of an interest in an Iraqi company which operates a steel manufacturing plant in Erbil, Kurdistan (US$14 million);
  • acting on behalf of management in relation to the sale of an interest in a Jebel Ali Free Zone company to a leading IT and software development company for US$2 million;
  • acting as local counsel in relation to the transfer of the business and assets of the Philips television division involving 26 jurisdictions into a joint venture group to be operated by Philips and TPV;
  • acting for CER in relation to the disposal of a 20.1% interest in a project company in Pakistan which operates a 551 MW combine cycle gas turbine;
  • acting for a leading retail conglomerate in the Middle East and India on acquisitions and general corporate work;
  • acting for Poyry Energy AG on the cross border acquisition of IGL Consultants Limited; and
  • acting for the Capita Group on numerous asset disposals.        

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Private Equity

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Law Society of Scotland

EDUCATION

  • LLB (Hons), University of Aberdeen, Scotland, 2004

LANGUAGES

  • English

PUBLICATIONS

 

Silvia Anna Pretorius

Senior Associate, Abu Dhabi Office

Ms Pretorius joined Afridi & Angell in 2008. She has extensive experience advising foreign and local clients on setting up companies and joint ventures in the UAE. She also regularly advises clients on general corporate, commercial and other matters related to the conduct of business in the region including regulatory compliance, real estate, and employment law. Ms Pretorius has also advised l

Ms Pretorius joined Afridi & Angell in 2008. She has extensive experience advising foreign and local clients on setting up companies and joint ventures in the UAE. She also regularly advises clients on general corporate, commercial and other matters related to the conduct of business in the region including regulatory compliance, real estate, and employment law. Ms Pretorius has also advised local and foreign entities on UAE securities law issues.   

Prior to joining Afridi & Angell Ms Pretorius was a senior member in the English Law Department of a leading law firm in Doha, Qatar. Prior to that, she spent her career as an attorney in South Africa where she focused primarily on litigation for major financial institutions and the telecommunications industry. 

Her notable transactional experience includes:

  • advising buyer in respect of the proposed acquisition by Aker's Solutions of an oil and gas services group;
  • acting as local counsel for (i) Qatalum aluminim smelter and IWPP project; (ii) Qatar Gas 4 project in respect of the expansion/sharing of the Ras Laffan facilities; and (iii) the Mesaieed InternationalPower Project;
  • providing general advice and assistance to foreign firms in the engineering, construction, and consultancy industry operating large projects;
  • representing a major international manufacturer of telecommunications handsets in connection with various UAE legal and regulatory issues; and
  • advising local and foreign parties on UAE securities law issues.   

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Oil and Gas
  • Technology, Media and Telecommunications
  • Banking and Financial Services

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS 

  • Natal, South Africa, 1992 Member of Side Bar, both Natal and Transvaal Provincial Divisions, South Africa

EDUCATION

  • LLB, University of Natal, South Africa, 1990
  • BA, University of Natal, South Africa, 1987

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Afrikaans
  • Italian
  • German (basic)

PUBLICATIONS