André is Counsel in our Global Transactions team, based in Dubai. He has extensive corporate transactional and general advisory experience, advising a range of strategic, private equity and sovereign wealth fund clients across a number of sectors covering Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the US and Asia.
André is qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales, having obtained his Bachelor of Laws and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice from the University of Glasgow. He trained in London and practised for two years post-qualification before joining the team in Dubai in 2017. He also served as the Deputy General Counsel and Head of Legal of Newcastle United Football Club for 12 months in 2021-22 following the Club’s takeover led by the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
A sample of André’s experience includes advising:
- Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on its acquisition of a significant minority stake in Azimut Benetti Group, one of the world’s leading design-and-build luxury yacht businesses, based in Italy.
- Development Partners International on its exits from its investments in the South African-based, integrated facilities management business, International Facilities Services, and the Egyptian pipes and drainage solutions leader, EGIC.
- A consortium of Arcapita Investment Partners and Dgpays on the acquisition of a majority stake in the UAE-based payments solutions provider, Neopay, from Mashreqbank PJSC.
- Waha Capital, The Rohatyn Group and Development Partners International on various governance and exit-related arrangements in relation to their investments in the emerging markets industry leader in the provision of airtime and data credit services, Optasia.
- Gulf Investment Corporation on its investment in Action Energy Company, a leading Kuwaiti-based oil and gas rig services company in a first-of-its-kind investment by way of convertible preference shares in the Kuwaiti market.
- Bahrain National Holding on the sale of two of its insurance subsidiaries, Bahrain National Life Assurance and Bahrain National Insurance, to Solidarity Group.
- Newcastle United FC on its Winter and Summer 2022 transfer window signings, including Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimarães, Nick Pope, Sven Botman, and Alexander Isak.
- A consortium of Cerberus Capital Management and Olive Rock Partners on its acquisition of a significant minority stake in United Eastern Medical Services, a prominent healthcare provider in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
- Development Partners International on the establishment of a US$750m pan-African pharmaceuticals platform alongside British International Investment plc and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
- Kelix Bio on the acquisition of Adwia Pharmaceuticals, a generics pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor based in Egypt, and Celon Laboratories, an Indian oncology and critical care specialist.
- United Parcel Services, Inc. on its acquisition of Marken, the global provider of just-in-time logistics and supply services to the life sciences sector.
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