Expertise
Robin Hickman has spent nearly a decade in the Middle East advising clients on Shari’a compliant and conventional banking and project finance transactions with a particular specialisation in real estate financings.
Robin has worked on some of the largest and most complex financings in the Middle East and is ranked as a leading lawyer in both Chambers and Legal 500. Prior to joining Addleshaw Goddard, Robin spent 7 years at Clifford Chance, including two years in Qatar as head of the firm’s Qatar banking practice.
- Experience
Robin's experience includes advising:
- Dubai Group on its US$10 billion corporate debt restructuring;
- the arrangers on a US$1.1 billion facility for financing the construction and development of the Dubai Parks and Resorts theme park;
- Qatar National Bank as borrower on a US$3 billion syndicated facility, a US$1.75 billion syndicated facility and a US$2.2 billion syndicated facility;
- the Qatari lender on a Euro1.5 billion financing to fund the acquisition of Deutsche Bank shares;
- the Qatari lender in relation to the US$1.2 billion refinancing of the Al Wa’ab City development in Qatar;
- Standard Chartered Bank in connection with the US$250 million real estate financing to Meraas in respect of the City Walk and Box Park development in Dubai;
- Qatar Electricity and Water Company on the development and financing of the US$400 million Ras Abu Fontas A3 IWP in Qatar;
- the arrangers in relation to a US$1 billion term loan facility for the Commercial Bank of Qatar;
- the lenders to the winning bidder on DEWA’s 800MW solar energy project in Dubai;
- Mobile Telecommunications Company on a US$700 million facility agreement with SCB, Citi and Arab National Bank as lenders;
- Emirates NBD Bank on financing the AED1.1 billion purchase of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, DIFC;
- Mobile Telecommunications Company KSC on a US$1.3 billion syndicated loan facility comprising a term loan and a revolving credit facility;
- the lenders in relation to a AED600 million syndicated facility as part of the development and construction of Dubai Festival City;
- Drydocks World on its US$2.3 billion corporate debt restructuring;
- 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;
- 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;
- Al Khalij Commercial Bank on a US$180 million Egyptian hotel financing;
- the arrangers in connection with a US$210 million paper mill project in Abu Dhabi;
- Emirates Islamic Bank on a US$60 million murabaha real estate financing in respect of the Village luxury outlet in Dubai;
- Standard Chartered Bank in connection with a AED1.02 billion dual currency real estate financing for Damas Real Estate;
- 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; and
- Barclays on its US$100 million term loan to Aldar Properties.
- Testimonials
"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 in-house 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." Oliver Hall, Head of Legal, ADS Securities
