Michael Kortbawi

• Advising a prominent GCC investment bank in relation to the acquisition of Telecom Somalia and subsequent implementation of such acquisition in Punt Land, Somaliland and South Central Somalia. • Advising a Bahraini bank in relation to possible actions under DIFC Law against the directors and majority shareholders of a US$500 million private equity fund on the basis of breach of directors duties by the board of directors and breach of the fiduciary duty by the majority shareholder of the general partnership; • Assisting a leading investment company in acquiring a controlling stake in a publicly listed local insurance company in the UAE in a first of its kind transaction which included a large number of regulatory challenges; • Assisting CedarBridge, a private equity fund, in the acquisition of several educational institutions in the MENA region; • Advising a French investment company in relation to the sale of an equity shareholding in a Dubai Airport Free Zone Private Jet Company and negotiating the terms of sale until the successful completion of the deal. • Advising a number of publicly listed companies on corporate governance issues and compliance with Nasdaq Dubai and DFSA rules; • Assisting a private investment fund in Kuwait in acquiring a market leader insurance services provider in the UAE; • Representing Halliburton Company in relocating its headquarters to the DIFC; and • Representing a FTSE 100 insurance company in connection with the merger of two of the largest insurance companies in the UK and subsequent implementation on a local level of such merger.