Naji Hawayek

Education 

• Advised on the establishment and structuring of North London Collegiate School in Dubai, including negotiation of all contractual arrangements.
• Advised GEMS on several JVs, licensing and corporate structuring matters. Also seconded to GEMS in 2010.
• Advised on Middlesex University structuring matters in Dubai.
• Advised on the sale and lease back of Kent College.
• Advised on the sale of Horizon English and Horizon International to Cognita. 
• Advised on the acquisition of New World American School in the UAE.
• Advised on the sale of Emirates American Academy in Sharjah.
• Advised Babilou Education on several acquisitions in the UAE, including Blossom Education and Bright Kids.
• Advised Athena Education on significant corporate structuring and re-structuring matters.
• Advised the African investment arm of a large regional education operator on its expansion plans and JVs in North Africa.

Healthcare

• Advised BioCell on the acquisition of Dante Labs in the UAE.
• Advised Majid Al Futtaim on the sale of two clinics in Dubai to Mediclinic.
• Advised Younata Investment on the sale of a majority interest in Kalium Group to Avivo Capital.
• Advised NMC Health on the acquisition of an interest in Fakih IVF Group in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for USD 189 million.
• Advised NMC Health on the acquisition of Provita in Abu Dhabi for USD 160 million.
• Advised Enayati on the acquisition of a polyclinic in Dubai.
• Advised NMC on the acquisition of Dr Nadia’s Clinic in Abu Dhabi.
• Advised Dr Sunny on the sale of nine clinics and pharmacies to NMC.
• Advised Varkey Group on the sale of a significant interest in Emirates Healthcare Holdings to Mediclinic International for approximately USD 220 million.
• Advised Gulf Healthcare International LLC on the acquisition of three clinics from Dr Joseph in the UAE.

Energy/Offshore

• Advised Al Bawardi Enterprises on the sale of a majority interest in Emdad to NMDC.
• Advised Gordon Drilling Technologies on the acquisition of Vertex Downhole.
• Advised Saudi Tabreed District Cooling Company and its shareholders. on a dual private placement and share sale to IDB Infrastructure Fund II, managed by ASMA Capital.
• Advised Millennium Offshore Services LLC on the sale of its entire offshore accommodation business in Asia and the Middle East.
• Advised Lamprell plc, an LSE listed entity, on the acquisition of a major oilfield services/engineering corporation, listed on OSE for over USD 300 million.
• Advised UAE petroleum company on a sale transaction involving a subsidiary.
• Advised a UAE company on the proposed acquisition of a design/engineering business specialised in oil & gas tanks and pipelines.
• Advised a US group on a private placement in the GCC and subsequent acquisition of multiple lift boats.
• Advised an African family group on a joint venture in the oil & gas sector in Africa and Iraq.

Financial services / Investment

• Advised a Swiss insurer, on the acquisition of an insurance business based out of Lebanon with branches in UAE, Kuwait and Oman.
• Advised a private equity firm on the acquisition of a stake held by Goldman Sachs in an investment company in the GCC.
• Advised a UAE family on the sale of Federal Exchange in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
• Advised on investment and divestment of money exchange businesses in the GCC.

Manufacturing

• Advised a company listed in India, on the acquisition of a steel plant in Oman.
• Advised a GCC family group on the acquisition of an interest in a sugar refinery.
• Advised a company listed in Netherlands, on an acquisition and joint venture in the GCC.
• Advised a Swiss manufacturer of construction chemicals on the proposed acquisition of assets/companies in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
• Advised an African group on the proposed acquisition of a dairy manufacturing facility in Dubai.
• Advised a Sharjah family group on the acquisition of a majority interest in a chocolate/sweets manufacturing business in the UAE and KSA.
• Advised an Indian family on the sale, to a private equity firm, of an interest in a textile production and trading business in Jebel Ali Free Zone.
• Advised a joint venture for the production and distribution of chemicals/paint in UAE and Oman.
• Advised a European multinational on the proposed acquisition of a manufacturing facility in Umm Al Quwain, UAE.
• Advised a European multinational on the proposed acquisition of a manufacturing facility in Yanbu, KSA.
• Advised a large manufacturer / distributor of tobacco products on acquisitions in KSA and Egypt and several shareholder / JV arrangements across Middle East and Africa.

TMT

• Advised the shareholders of STS on the sale of STS group to ZainTech.
• Advised Midis Group on the acquisition of Arrow ECS, a software distribution company registered in Dubai Silicon Oasis, from Arrow Electronics, a US-listed American Fortune 500 company.
• Advised a Saudi/UAE group and another heavy weight in the media sector on a joint venture.
• Advised a UAE group on the proposed sale of an interest in a telecommunications / distribution business in the GCC.
• Advised a family business on the acquisition of a stake in Fetchr.
• Advised a UAE publisher on the proposed acquisition of a certain newspaper line owned by a UK group.
• Advised a European venture capital firm on the acquisition of an interest in Souqalmal.
• Advised a private investor on the sale of a majority stake in a telecommunication/IT distribution business based in Jebel Ali Free Zone.
• Advised a Saudi investor on the acquisition of a stake in Holidayme.com.
• Advised private investors / family businesses on investments in venture capital funds with a tech focus.

Logistics

• Advised a UAE family group on the sale of its courier business and related investment into a start-up offering technology solutions in the parcel delivery and logistics industry.
• Advised the main regional courier business on two investments in start-up businesses.

Consulting

• Advised Oliver Wyman on the acquisition of the Booz Allen Hamilton business in the region.
• Advised a Big 4 firm on the acquisition of a consultancy business in DMCC, Dubai.
• Advised a firm on the acquisition of a management consultancy business in the GCC.
• Advised a firm on the acquisition of a technology-specific consulting business in the GCC.
• Advised the sale of a majority interest in a technology consultancy in Dubai focused on the development of smart cities.

Real Estate / Construction

• Advised an Indian family on the sale of significant real estate in London via the sale of a Luxembourg holding company.
• Advised a Saudi group on the acquisition of a stake in a company whose objective is to develop a plot of land in Dubai.
• Advised a UK group on a joint venture with a GCC party to deliver a construction project.
• Advised a UAE group on a joint venture in respect of a large property development in the GCC.
• Advised two Saudi families on the acquisition of the full interest in a plot of land in Dubai that is held through a Jebel Ali Offshore Company.
• Advised several investors and real estate developers on Joint Venture and Joint Development arrangements for the purposes of developing plots of land for future sale or rental purposes.

Aviation

• Advised Gama plc on the acquisition of Jet Set's stake in Gama Group in the UAE.
• Advised a UAE carrier on a significant group corporate restructuring exercise.

Private Equity Funds / Private Placements / VC Funds

• Advised a private consortium on the establishment of a USD 900 million investment fund in the Cayman Islands and a USD 700 million real estate fund in the BVI.
• Advised on the structuring and forming multiple investment funds in DIFC and ADGM.
• Advised on the structuring and establishment of an Islamic investment fund.
• Advised on all aspects of venture capital funds active in the technology space.
• Advised on various private placements, including focus on information or private placement memoranda, subscription agreements and other transaction documents.

Corporate Restructuring / Regulatory / Corporate Governance

• Advised on the corporate restructuring of one of the largest Middle East groups, involving in excess of 150 companies and entities in various business sectors.
• Advised on completing a significant pre-IPO restructuring exercise for a GCC education group.
• Advised a major regional jewellery business on its reorganisation, licensing and corporate governance in preparation for an initial public offering (IPO).
• Advised a major financial investment and consultancy group on its structuring, corporate governance and licensing in the UAE.
• Advised a local healthcare group on its restructuring, fund raising and expansion plans into India.
• Advised closely with McKinsey & Co in relation to the restructuring of a UAE government body.

Family Business

• Advised numerous family businesses and family members on shareholding / ownership structure and governance matters, including assistance in implementing legal structures (e.g. holding companies, foundations, trusts, etc) that ensure business preservation and succession planning.

*Please note the above experience was prior to joining AG

Naji holds academic qualifications in common law, civil law and Shariah law. He holds an LLM in International Commercial Law (Merit) from the University of Westminster in London, and an LLB from Sagesse University in Beirut. He also completed a postgraduate diploma in Islamic Banking at the Institute of Islamic Banking & Insurance in London.

 Naji is admitted to the Beirut Bar Association, is a Registered Foreign Lawyer with the Solicitors Regulation Authority in the UK, and is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA). 

• English
• Arabic