Partners

Shahram Safai

Partner, Dubai Office

Mr Safai is a partner at Afridi & Angell and his practice consists of corporate law, real estate law and disputes.  Mr Safai also advises on private equity and venture capital transactions. Mr Safai heads the firm’s Iran team, real estate team and venture capital team and he has been highly sought after by boards and shareholders for strategic legal advice.  He is active i

Mr Safai is a partner at Afridi & Angell and his practice consists of corporate law, real estate law and disputes.  Mr Safai also advises on private equity and venture capital transactions. Mr Safai heads the firm’s Iran team, real estate team and venture capital team and he has been highly sought after by boards and shareholders for strategic legal advice.  He is active in lobbying for and providing constructive feedback to government organizations regarding regional laws and regulations pertaining to venture capital investment, corporate governance and real estate.

Mr Safai also advises clients with respect to investments, joint ventures and doing business in Iran. Such advice involves franchise and agency matters, build operate transfer transactions, regulatory & legal compliance and strategies, foreign investment protection regimes, sanctions and anti-money laundering implications.

Recent work includes:

  • Structured and drafted agreements for the AED525 million sale of the Automall development in Motor City, Dubai consisting of 450,000 square feet of leasable space and 150 stores.
    • Design and formation of a bespoke venture capital fund focused on the Middle East.
  • Advice upon and drafting of documentation for the sale of AED2.2 billion of real estate by a prominent developer to a financial institution.
  • Advice and representation of clients with respect to doing business in Iran, including drafting, negotiations, representation before ministries and implementation of distribution agreements, joint venture agreements, financing agreements and other matters.  
  • Strategic, legal and operational advice for a multibillion dollar financial free zone in the region.
  • Representation of a corporate client in arbitration involving a high value real estate investment. 
  • Advice and drafting of documentation regarding the purchase of property in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Design and formation of a bespoke venture capital fund focused on the Middle East.

Mr Safai is also a registered professional engineer and he has previously worked as a design engineer, a hydroelectric dam manager in charge of biologists, technicians, electricians and mechanics, as well as a construction engineer. He also worked for a global oil & gas company, supervising the pressure testing of gas wells. He is a regular speaker at seminars on legal developments and current issues in real estate and construction law. At the invitation of the Government of Dubai, Mr. Safai lectures on legal matters at the Land Department.

Prior to joining Afridi & Angell Mr Safai was an associate at Cooley Godward in Palo Alto, California practicing venture capital law.  

Mr Safai is well recognised by the leading international legal industry publications such as Chambers Global and Legal 500 EMEA.  He has been recognised as a ‘Leader in their Field’ of practice (Chambers Global 2013, 2012, 2011).

Mr Safai is described as 'quick, responsive and forthright' and 'he is a well-known figure in the UAE real estate sector.' - Chambers Global 2013

Clients highlight his ability to deliver tailor-made advice. - Chambers Global 2012

Mr Safai is also described as 'a cut above the rest with thorough knowledge, sharp analytical prowess, understanding of the industry, good relationships with government authorities and the best of communication skills.' - Legal 500 2011

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Real Estate
  • Venture Capital
  • Corporate
  • Litigation, Arbitration

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • State Bar of California
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Law Society of England and Wales
  • International Bar Association
  • Association of Professional Engineers of British Columbia

EDUCATION

  • Juris Doctor, University of British Columbia, 1998
  • Master of Business Administration, 2002 
  • Bachelor of Engineering, University of British Columbia, 1992

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Farsi

PUBLICATIONS

PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS

  • Speaker and panelist, Spotlight on Construction and Liability: Challenges and Fiduciary Duties, MEREIA Conference, 24 May 2016, Dubai
  • Speaker, Term Sheets Made Simple, Womena Angel Series Workshop, 23 April 2016, Dubai 
  • Speaker, Real Estate in Dubai, a presentation to students from Kingston University, 5 April 2016, Dubai Land Department and Dubai Real Estate Institute
  • Speaker, The control of transactions: how is the transparency of real estate owners ensured?, Structuring real estate ownership in Dubai, 2 March 2016, Dubai
  • Panelist, Setting Up an Entity & Opening Bank Accounts: Onshore, Free Zone & Offshore, Dubai Forward, 17 February 2016, Dubai
  • Chairman and Speaker, Doing Business in Dubai, and what you need to know about the UAE and Dubai, Dubai Forward, 15 February 2016, Dubai
  • Speaker, Managing the transition to DIFC wills: what is the impact on existing and common succession instruments/techniques?, Optimal Successions in Dubai & the UAE, 24 November 2015, Dubai
  • Speaker, Dubai Land Department and succession issues/transfer of property, Optimal Successions in Dubai & the UAE, 23 November 2015, Dubai
  • Panelist, MENA M&A Landscape: trends, challenges and winning strategies, The American Lawyer’s Global M&A Playbook, 28 October 2015, New York
  • Speaker, Construction / Real Estate Sector / UAE Forecasts – Opportunity – Challenge – Risks / Land Department & RERA Functioning – Settlement of Disputes, ICC Forum 2015, 22 April 2015, Dubai
  • Panelist, Operating in Dubai: what are the best options for your strategy?, Dubai Forward: The 2nd annual strategic conference on Dubai as a financial & wealth management centre, 23 & 24 February 2015, Dubai
  • Speaker, Real Estate in Dubai – The Amazing Decade, a presentation to a delegation from Singapore, 25 February 2015, Dubai Land Department
  • Speaker, Hello Tomorrow – where science and technology meet entrepreneurship to build our tomorrow, 18 February 2015, Hult International Business School, Dubai
  • Speaker, Legal Aspects of VC: The VC Term Sheet in Focus, Dubai Silicon Oasis, 9 February 2015
  • Speaker, Offshore Companies – where to create an offshore company to hold real estate in the UAE?, Optimal Succession in Dubai & the UAE, 24 & 25 November 2014, Dubai
  • Real Estate in the UAE – The Amazing Decade (an Information Exchange organised by The American Business Council of Dubai & Northern Emirates), 19 November 2014
  • Panelist, Dispute Resolution in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting 2014, 28-31 October 2014, New Orleans
  • Chairman and Speaker, Spotlight on Construction – Challenges and Fiduciary Duties, Afridi & Angell (in conjunction with Snag & Inspect) client seminar, 21 January 2014
  • Panelist, Corporate finance: 2014 and beyond, 2013 ACT Middle East Annual Conference, Driving Growth, Building Futures, DIFC, Dubai, 26-27 November 2013
  • Construction Law in the UAE: Issues and Practical Solutions, Afridi & Angell client seminar, 28 March 2012 (Dubai), 11 April 2012 (Abu Dhabi)
  • JOP Law and Steps to Forming OAs, Middle East Association Managers Conference, 8-9 December 2010
  • Strata Law Compliance Seminar Part II, Afridi & Angell client seminar, 29 September 2010
  • Strata Law Compliance Seminar, Afridi & Angell client seminar, 4 August 2010
  • Property Registration in Dubai: Past, Present and Future, Presentation to the Land Department, Dubai, January 2010

 

Gregory J Mayew

Partner, Abu Dhabi Office

Mr Mayew joined Afridi & Angell in 2003 and became a partner in 2007.  His practice covers a wide range of areas including  general corporate law, corporate finance, securities law, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory law, corporate governance and compliance, and doing business in the UAE and the Middle East. Some of Mr Mayew's work includes: a

Mr Mayew joined Afridi & Angell in 2003 and became a partner in 2007.  His practice covers a wide range of areas including  general corporate law, corporate finance, securities law, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory law, corporate governance and compliance, and doing business in the UAE and the Middle East.

Some of Mr Mayew's work includes:

  • advising foreign and local companies on setting up joint ventures in Abu Dhabi and the UAE;
  • providing general advice to UAE-based banks on lending, security, legal and regulatory issues;
  • advising various corporate clients regarding loan facilities from local banks;
  • providing legal opinions to local and international lenders on various aspects of project finance and capital market transactions;
  • representing lenders, borrowers, issuers and investment banks in corporate finance, structured finance and capital market transactions;
  • advising local and foreign parties on UAE securities law issues; and
  • advising clients on general corporate matters relating to the conduct of business in the region.  

Prior to joining the firm Mr Mayew was an associate with Dewey Ballantine in New York and London.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Infrastructure and Project Finance
  • Regulatory Compliance 
  • Capital Markets and Privatisation
  • Securities Law
  • Defense and Offsets
  • Banking and Financial Services

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • New York State Bar

EDUCATION

  • JD, University of Minnesota, 1999
  • SM, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993
  • BA, University of Denver, 1990

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Arabic
  • French

PUBLICATIONS

 

Stuart Walker

Partner, Dubai Office

Mr Walker's primary practice includes financial services regulation, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and employment matters. He leads the field in advising parties during Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) investigations and, where necessary, negotiating settlements on their behalf.  Mr Walker was instructed by the first authorised firm to be fined by the DFSA

Mr Walker's primary practice includes financial services regulation, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and employment matters. He leads the field in advising parties during Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) investigations and, where necessary, negotiating settlements on their behalf.  Mr Walker was instructed by the first authorised firm to be fined by the DFSA and has since gone on to advise in connection with a significant number of DFSA investigations.

Mr Walker is a regular contributor to Euromoney’s Global Banking & Financial Policy Review. He is the co-author of the UAE chapter, Financial Services Regulation in the Middle East, Oxford University Press (2008). He has contributed articles to various publications including the International Financial Law Reviews and Lawyer Monthly. 

Mr Walker joined Afridi & Angell in 2003 and became a partner in 2008. Prior to joining the firm Mr Walker was a solicitor in the banking department of Lovells in London. He lived and worked in London, Hong Kong, New York and Dubai. Prior to qualifying as a lawyer, he wrote for and edited various trade journals and other publications. 

‘Stuart Walker is noted for his regulatory knowledge and experience.’   One client remarked: ‘We are really impressed. He is very practical – he expresses himself clearly and explains things to us so we can understand them.’ -  Chambers Global 2013

‘Stuart Walker has emerged as the leading name for regulatory advice in the U.A.E.  He knows the market, is experienced dealing with the regulators and is always very well informed.’ – Chambers Global 2011

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Dubai International Financial Centre Laws
  • Banking and Financial Services in the UAE and DIFC
  • Capital Markets
  • Corporate Governance and Regulatory Compliance
  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Employment

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Law Society of England and Wales
  • Financial Services Lawyers Association

EDUCATION

  • Legal Practice Course, College of Law, London, 1999
  • Common Professional Examination, University of Hong Kong, 1997
  • BA (Hons), Sociology and Economics, University of York, 1993

LANGUAGES

  • English

PUBLICATIONS

 

James Bowden

Partner, Dubai Office

Mr Bowden is a transactional and corporate/commercial lawyer with in-depth experience in the UAE. Prior to joining Afridi & Angell, Mr Bowden gained in-depth technology outsourcing experience while working as in-house counsel with one of Canada's leading technology companies. He is well regarded by clients for his pragmatic approach and commercial awareness, and for his exceptional servi

Mr Bowden is a transactional and corporate/commercial lawyer with in-depth experience in the UAE. Prior to joining Afridi & Angell, Mr Bowden gained in-depth technology outsourcing experience while working as in-house counsel with one of Canada's leading technology companies. He is well regarded by clients for his pragmatic approach and commercial awareness, and for his exceptional service oriented attitude. Mr Bowden represents clients of all sizes and across many industries including prominent UAE business groups, UAE and foreign government bodies, public and private UAE and foreign multi-nationals, and local companies of all sizes and across many industries. He is the trusted advisor to many prominent members of the UAE business landscape.

Mr Bowden's broad areas of expertise are:

  • acquisition and divestment of companies;
  • franchise, agency and distribution arrangements in the UAE;
  • UAE business structures;
  • UAE employment matters, contentious and non-contentious;
  • anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, competition law and other UAE compliance matters; and
  • data security and protection, outsourcing and cloud computing, privacy and risk management.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Technology, Media and Telecommunications
  • Franchising and Licensing
  • Employment

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Ontario Bar Association
  • Canadian Bar Association
  • Law Society of Upper Canada

EDUCATION

  • LLB, Queen's University, Canada, 2004
  • BBA, Siam University, Thailand, 2001

LANGUAGES

  • English

PUBLICATIONS

 
Home About Us
EXPERTISE
OFFICES
PEOPLE CONTACT US CAREERS
KNOWLEDGE EVENTS MEDIA
©2024 Afridi & Angell Legal Consultants. All rights reserved.