Malcom Abaza
Legal Director - Corporate & Commercial
Malcolm is an English qualified lawyer with over 20 years’ experience, the majority of which have been spent in the Middle East.
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Malcolm's practice spans a broad range of corporate, commercial and financial matters, both in connection with international transactions and with local matters. He regularly advises investors, funds and growth companies in relation to convertible notes, subscription agreements and shareholders’ agreements.
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Malcolm speaks fluent Arabic and has extensive experience of working with written Arabic in a legal context.
Experience
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Advising on a broad range of corporate, commercial and financial matters, both in connection with international transactions and with local matters governed by United Arab Emirates and Oman law.
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Advising venture capital fund managers based in the ADGM on SAFE notes, and subscription and shareholders’ agreements.
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Advising Shell Oil on local-law issues relating to a multi-billion-dollar investment in a joint venture to be incorporated in the ADGM.
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Advising BlackRock's Global Energy & Power Infrastructure Fund on Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and onshore local law issues relating to a potential investment in the renewable energy sector in the United Arab Emirates.
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Advising Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company (Orpic)’s in connection with a syndicated facility agreement for a US$235,000,000 term loan for the financing of the Muscat-Sohar Pipeline Project (MSPP).
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Preparing the project documents (i.e. consultancy agreements and construction contracts) for a number of projects collectively forming Oman’s national food security initiative, with a combined capital outlay of approximately US$1 billion.
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Advising Bank Nizwa on a US$ 45,000,000 Islamic finance facility for a local property development project and preparing the relevant security documentation.
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Advising Strategic & Precious Metals Processing (SPMP), a UK, UAE and Omani joint venture, on a US$70,000,000 Islamic finance facility for the development of a 20,000 tonne per year antimony processing facility in Oman.
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Advising Bank Nizwa on the drafting of Islamic finance documents and ancillary security documentation for a US$50,000,000 facility for the development of the Tibat field in Musandam, Oman.
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Advising OMINVEST and Oman Investment Fund (OIF) on the US$30,000,000 acquisition of Oman Arab Bank’s (OAB) Investment Management Group.
Previously
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Al Tamimi and Company, Abu Dhabi
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Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP, Oman
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Regional Counsel, Western Union, Dubai
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Dentons, Abu Dhabi
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Simmons & Simmons, London & Abu Dhabi
Credentials
ADMISSIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS​​
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England & Wales
EDUCATION
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Legal Practice Course, Nottingham Law School, 2002
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Post Graduate Diploma in Law, Nottingham Law School, 2001
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MA (Hons) Arabic, University of Edinburgh, 1995