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Robin Hickman

Partner, Finance
Dubai

EXPERTISE

Robin Hickman is a banking and finance partner with nearly a decade of experience in the GCC. He specialises in conventional and Sharia compliant banking and project finance matters with a particular expertise in real estate and debt restructurings.

Robin advises major regional and international banks, government / semi-government entities and blue-chip enterprises across the spectrum of industries, including construction, infrastructure, energy and utilities, renewables and TMT.

Robin has worked on some of the region's largest and most complex financings. He is regularly praised by the leading legal directories, including Chambers and Legal 500.

Prior to joining Addleshaw Goddard, Robin has practiced in London and GCC offices of a magic circle law firm and a leading UK law firm.

Experience

Advising Dubai Group on its US$7 billion corporate debt restructuring with 44 banks

Advising Standard Chartered Bank in connection with the US$250 million real estate financing to Meraas in respect of the construction and development of the City Walk and Box Park developments in Dubai

Advising Damas LLC on its AED3 billion restructuring with 25 banks

Advising the project company and the sponsors (the Ministry of Finance in Oman and Oman Oil Corporation) in relation to the US$1.2 billion financing of the Sohar Refinery Project with loans sourced from a syndicate of international commercial banks, regional banks and JBIC and backed by political and commercial risk insurance from Nexi

Advising the arrangers on a US$1.1 billion facility for the construction and development of the Dubai Parks and Resorts theme park

Advising the Kuwait sponsor in respect of the US$1 billion Reem Mall project in Abu Dhabi

Advising the lenders to the winning bidder on DEWA's 800MW solar energy project in Dubai

Advising the lender on financing the AED1.1 billion purchase of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, DIFC

Advising Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC (Zain KSA) on a US$1.3 billion syndicated loan facility comprising a term loan and a revolving credit facility

Advising the lenders in relation to a AED600 million syndicated facility as part of the development and construction of Dubai Festival City

Advising Drydocks World on its US$2.3 billion corporate debt restructuring

Advising Natixis, Bayerische and Calyon in connection with the original US$2.5 billion financing and subsequent US$900 million bridge financing of the Shuweihat S2 IWPP in Abu Dhabi

Advising a syndicate of banks in relation to various commercial and ECA backed facilities for the US$2.8 billion financing of the Sohar Refinery Improvement Project in Oman

Advising Al Khalij Commercial Bank on a US$180 million Egyptian hotel financing

Advising Standard Chartered Bank in connection with a AED1.02 billion dual currency real estate financing for Damas Real Estate

Advising Standard Chartered Bank in connection with the US$190 million real estate financing to Meraas in respect of the Blue Waters hotel to be constructed on Blue Waters Island, Dubai

Advising Standard Chartered Bank and National Bank of Abu Dhabi in respect of a US$293 million financing to Al Noor and Emirates Healthcare (part of the Mediclinic Group)

Advising the lenders to a bidder on ADWEA's Sweihan solar energy project in Abu Dhabi

Advising the lenders in connection with the financing of Sumitomo and Malakoff's successful bid for the US$5.5 billion Ras Azzour IWPP in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Advising the lenders in connection with the original US$2.5 billion financing and subsequent US$900 million bridge financing of the Shuweihat S2 IWPP in Abu Dhabi

Advising the Abu Dhabi Investor Corporation in relation to the Mafraq-Ghweifat Highway PPP Project (value US$2.7 billion), the UAE's first transport PPP Project

Advising Shuweihat CMS International Power Co on the implementation by ADWEA of a site-wide terrorism scheme at the Shuweihat Complex in Abu Dhabi

Advising the winning consortium on the Muharraq Wastewater BOO project in Bahrain

Advising Pixel Digital Systems LLC on its debt restructuring with 13 banks

Testimonials

Clients are especially complimentary of his work ethic and level of client service: "We've found him to be very responsive and happy to build the relationship with us."

Chambers

''Robin’s a great lawyer to deal with, has a good business / legal acumen, and is capable of offering the best advice which tends to be balanced to protect the best interest of his clients and facilitate closure of the transaction. His good contact / relationship with many counsels in the market makes him well placed to find solutions to problems.''

Standard Chartered Bank

"Robin is commercially astute, pragmatic and one of the most experienced banking and finance lawyers in the region. He is able with consummate ease to manage the conflicting issues that arise in complex negotiations between the legal team and demands of the business in order to close a transaction. He is highly adept at building rapport with clients and is a trusted adviser.“

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Professional Qualifications