Latham & Watkins
Info CheckedReal Estate Lawyers
DIFC, Dubai
About
Latham & Watkins is one of the world's largest and highest-grossing law firms, with over 3,000 lawyers across 30+ offices globally. The firm has operated in Dubai since 2008, with its office in the DIFC serving as the hub for the firm's Middle East and North Africa practice. Founded in Los Angeles in 1934, Latham is consistently ranked among the top three global law firms and brings formidable transactional capabilities to the UAE real estate market.
Real Estate Practice
Latham & Watkins' Dubai real estate team operates at the intersection of real estate, finance, and capital markets. They advise on large-scale real estate transactions, real estate-backed financing, REIT structuring and listings, and property-related M&A. The team is particularly strong in advising institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and private equity firms on real estate investment vehicles and portfolio transactions. Their expertise extends to hospitality sector M&A, where they regularly advise on hotel acquisitions, management agreements, and brand licensing deals.
Notable Transactions
Latham & Watkins has been involved in several of the UAE's largest real estate capital markets transactions including advising on sukuk issuances backed by real estate assets, REIT formations and listings on regional exchanges, and real estate-related M&A deals valued in the billions of dirhams. The firm has also advised sovereign investors on the acquisition and financing of premium commercial real estate in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and has acted on landmark hospitality sector transactions in the region.
Awards & Rankings
Ranked Band 1 by Chambers Global for Corporate/M&A and Banking & Finance in the Middle East. Recognised by Legal 500 EMEA across multiple categories including Real Estate and Capital Markets. Named "Law Firm of the Year" at the IFLR Middle East Awards multiple times and consistently ranked among the world's elite firms by The American Lawyer, Vault, and Chambers Global.
Services Offered
Key services Latham & Watkins provides for real estate lawyers clients in Dubai:
Why Choose Latham & Watkins
- Elite US-headquartered global firm — one of the largest international law firms, operating from an office at ICD Brookfield Place in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
- Centre of gravity for the region — Chambers Global notes the Dubai office acts as a key centre for the firm's work throughout the Middle East and Africa.
- Finance-led real estate capability — the practice advises on real estate financings, project finance, and capital markets, representing developers, sponsors, lenders and investors.
- Conventional and Islamic finance — considerable expertise in Islamic finance and sovereign sukuk alongside conventional lending.
- Multilingual, multinational team serving governments, state-owned funds, corporations, financial institutions and real estate developers.
How Latham & Watkins Works
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1
Initial enquiry and conflict check
Contact the Dubai office to outline your matter; the firm runs a standard conflict-of-interest check before engaging.
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2
Scoping and engagement
A partner-led team scopes the work, sets out terms of engagement and provides a fee proposal on a quote basis.
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3
Advisory and execution
Lawyers advise on the transaction or financing — structuring deals, drafting and negotiating documents and conducting due diligence.
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4
Completion and ongoing support
The matter is completed and the team remains available for related follow-on or cross-border work.
Business Profile
Hours and pricing may change — confirm directly with the business before engaging.
Licenses & Certifications
Licenses and certifications are subject to renewal. Verify current status with the issuing authority before engagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Latham & Watkins handle real estate work in Dubai?
Its Dubai real estate work is finance-led — the team advises on real estate financings, project finance and capital markets, representing developers, sponsors, lenders and investors. It is a corporate, finance and capital-markets firm rather than a provider of individual residential conveyancing.
Where is the Latham & Watkins Dubai office located?
The Dubai office is at ICD Brookfield Place, Level 16, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai, UAE.
Is Latham & Watkins an international or local law firm?
It is an elite US-headquartered global firm, founded in 1934 in Los Angeles. It established an on-the-ground presence in Dubai in 2008, and the office acts as a key centre for the firm's work across the Middle East and Africa.
What types of clients does the Dubai office work with?
The team represents governments, state-owned funds, corporations, private investors, financial institutions, fintech innovators, emerging companies, venture capital firms and real estate developers.
Do I need a lawyer to buy property in Dubai?
It is not legally mandatory for every transaction, but legal advice is commonly used for higher-value, off-plan, commercial or cross-border deals. Note that Latham & Watkins focuses on institutional finance, projects and corporate matters rather than individual property conveyancing.
Does the firm work on Islamic finance?
Yes. The Dubai team has considerable expertise in Islamic finance, including sovereign sukuk, alongside conventional and acquisition financings, project finance and restructurings.
How are fees structured?
Fees are provided on a quote-on-request basis following a scoping discussion and engagement terms. As an elite global firm, it sits at the top tier of the market.
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