Awards Shortlists 2026

We are delighted to announce the official shortlist for the 2026 LexisNexis Middle East Legal Awards.

After a thorough judging process, we are proud to recognise an exceptional group of legal professionals, teams, and organisations whose achievements reflect the highest standards of leadership, innovation, and impact across the legal sector.

This year’s shortlisted nominees represent the strength and ambition of the Middle East’s legal community. Through their dedication and forward-thinking work, they continue to raise the bar, drive progress, and shape the future of the profession.

Join us on 24 September 2026 in Dubai as we honour their achievements at a prestigious awards ceremony.

Secure your seat and be part of an evening that brings together industry leaders, celebrates remarkable accomplishments, and highlights the excellence defining the region’s legal sector.

Stay tuned for more updates as we count down to this highly anticipated event.

General Counsel of the Year (Small Team)

  • Afaq Sindhu
  • Nisrine El Mir
  • Tatiana Khoury
  • Monita Barghachie
  • Abdullah Alajlan

General Counsel of the Year (Large Team)

  • Majed Alshabana
  • Dr. Osama Issag Alhaj
  • Sai Fiorilli
  • Fawaz Alawadhi
  • Taher Alkhateeb
  • Julia Kolomenko
  • Sanaa Daakour
  • Krishan Sinnadurai
  • Omar Almudarra

Legal Counsel of the Year

  • Mohamed Negm
  • Aliyah Al-Baz
  • Attila Hunter
  • Mohammed Ali Alzoghaibi
  • Yasmeen Qannati
  • Sultan Al-Khulaifi
  • Alan Edgar

Government Lawyer of the Year

  • Umar Azmeh
  • Sultan Naser Alsowaidi
  • Zoryana Vovchok
  • Jumana Alrojaie

In-House Team of the Year (Small Team)

  • The Arab Energy Fund
  • Starlinks Company
  • Publicis Groupe Middle East
  • Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group (Legal: Shipping & Logistics Division)
  • Air Products
  • RAKEZ
  • Sports City Enterprises (subsidiary of Aspire Zone Foundation)
  • Siemens Ltd. Saudi Arabia

In-House Team of the Year (Large Team)

  • Etihad Etisalat (Mobily)
  • Qatar National Bank
  • Riyadh Air
  • Arab National Bank
  • Gulf Insurance Group – Legal Department
  • Alghanim Industries – Legal Department
  • Dr. Osama Issag AlHaj

Government Legal Team of the Year

  • Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC)
  • Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi
  • Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR)

AI Legal Innovator of the Year

  • NeosLegal
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Mashael Alsulaiti Law Firm
  • Sharq Law Firm
  • Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm
  • Etihad Etisalat (Mobily)
  • AlMaghthawi & Partners
  • SGS Legal Department for Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa
  • PwC Legal Middle East
  • Sports City Enterprises WLL (an Aspire Zone Foundation subsidiary)
  • Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP

Best Workplace for Lawyers

  • Sharq Law Firm
  • Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm
  • DWF (Middle East) LLP
  • Hadef & Partners
  • Habib Al Mulla and Partners
  • PwC Legal Middle East
  • ADG Legal
  • HAS Law Firm

Arbitration Team of the Year

  • Sharq Law Firm
  • Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm
  • Hadef & Partners
  • Horizons & Co
  • Clyde & Co
  • M&CO Legal
  • Watson Farley & Williams
  • Habib Al Mulla and Partners
  • Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants
  • ALAIDAROUS Advocates and Legal Consultants

Banking & Finance Team of the Year

  • PwC Legal Middle East
  • Afridi & Angell
  • Covington
  • Baker McKenzie
  • Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP
  • Hadef & Partners
  • BSA LAW
  • Crowell & Moring LLP
  • Watson Farley & Williams
  • HAS Law Firm

Commercial Litigation Team of the Year

  • Afridi & Angell
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Batic Law Firm
  • HFW
  • Horizons & Co
  • Clyde & Co
  • Habib Al Mulla and Partners
  • M&CO Legal
  • Trowers & Hamlins
  • Balfaqeeh Advocates and Legal Consultants
  • ALAIDAROUS Advocates and Legal Consultants
  • KBH Limited
  • Stephenson Harwood LLP

Construction Team of the Year

  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Sharq Law Firm
  • Qaisar Hamed Metawea Law Firm
  • Trowers & Hamlins
  • Hourani & Partners
  • HAS Law Firm

Corporate-Commercial Team of the Year

  • Covington
  • Afridi & Angell
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP
  • Habib Al Mulla and Partners
  • Baker McKenzie
  • INP – IBRAHIM .N. PARTNERS
  • Gateley Middle East
  • Bird & Bird (MEA) LLP
  • Crowell & Moring LLP
  • Hadef & Partners

Employment Team of the Year

  • Stephenson Harwood LLP
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Sharq Law Firm 
  • Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
  • Clyde & Co
  • Dar Al-Muhama Law Firm
  • ADG Legal
  • Alsuwaidi & Company LLC 
  • Hadef & Partners
  • BSA LAW
  • Jamal Al Amri Advocates and Legal Consultants
  • KBH Limited

Energy & Infrastructure Team of the Year

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Covington
  • Sharq Law Firm 
  • Mayer Brown
  • Bracewell LLP (Dubai Branch)
  • K&L Gates LLP
  • PwC Legal Middle East
  • MAQ Legal
  • Stephenson Harwood LLP

Intellectual Property Team of the Year

  • One World Intellectual Property and Consultations
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Baker McKenzie
  • Al Majd Law Firm
  • Clyde & Co
  • Bird & Bird
  • Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP
  • AlMaghthawi & Partners

M&A Team of the Year

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Sharq Law Firm 
  • K&L Gates LLP
  • Habib Al Mulla and Partners
  • Mayer Brown
  • Arkan Legal Consultants
  • Gateley Middle East
  • Hadef & Partners
  • Bird & Bird (MEA) LLP
  • PwC Legal Middle East
  • MAQ Legal

Maritime & Transport Team of the Year

  • Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP
  • Clyde & Co
  • Watson Farley & Williams
  • Al Tamimi & Company

Real Estate Team of the Year

  • Reed Smith
  • Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Baker McKenzie
  • Habib Al Mulla and Partners
  • Sharq Law Firm 
  • ADG Legal
  • M&CO Legal
  • Hadef & Partners
  • Jamal Al Amri Advocates and Legal Consultants
  • Batic Law Firm 
  • MAQ Legal
  • Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants 
  • Khalid Nassar & Partners Law Firm

Tax Team of the Year

  • Stephenson Harwood LLP
  • Qaisar Hamed Metawea Law Firm 
  • Mashael Alsulaiti Law Firm 
  • Baker McKenzie
  • Habib Al Mulla and Partners
  • Clyde & Co
  • Sharq Law Firm 
  • Al Tamimi & Company

Technology, Media & Telecoms Team of the Year

  • NeosLegal
  • KARM Legal Consultants
  • AX Law
  • Covington
  • Baker McKenzie
  • Sharq Law Firm 
  • Hadef & Partners
  • PwC Legal Middle East
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Simmons & Simmons Middle East LLP

Arbitrator of the Year

  • Rashid Al Saad Al Kuwari
  • Essa Al Sulaiti
  • Sally Kotb
  • Ali Al Zarooni
  • Susie Abdel-Nabi
  • Dr. Mahmood Hussain
  • Fatima Balfaqeeh
  • Dr. Karen Seif
  • Robert Whitehead
  • Daniel Xu

Rising Star of the Year

  • Umu Wurie
  • Maryam Alhashemi
  • Joy Kadi
  • Chris Gibson
  • Naba Noor
  • Hani Al Yacoub
  • James Lehmann
  • Sara Farid
  • Mayss Akasheh
  • Noor Cozens
  • Zuhaib Habib

Senior Associate of the Year

  • Kay NG
  • Mr. Faraz Salat
  • Andrew Primett
  • Charles Oliver
  • Li Ying Teng
  • Vaibhavi Tadwalkar
  • Maryam Chauhan
  • Kholoud Hafez
  • Noor Sadiq
  • Nina Fischer
  • Liam Thomas
  • Mohammed Abbas Al-Obaidi
  • Monika Humphreys-Davies
  • Nadia El Tannir
  • Faizan Daud

Managing Partner of the Year

  • Rania Tadros
  • Mashael Alsulaiti
  • Khalifa Al Yaqout
  • Abdulrahman Alhouti
  • Bader Alqellaish
  • Ali Al Zarooni
  • Matthew Heywood
  • Fatima Balfaqeeh
  • Melissa Murray
  • Asad Qayyum

Law Firm of the Year – Bahrain

  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Hadi Alalawi & Partners 
  • Zeenat Al Mansoori & Associates

Law Firm of the Year – Kuwait

  • YFLG – Al-Yaqout & Al-Fouzan Legal Group
  • Arkan Legal Consultants
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Wefaq Law Firm
  • Al-Hossam Legal – Al-Turqi & Partners
  • Dr Yacoub AlSanea & Partners 

Law Firm of the Year – Oman

  • BSA LAW
  • Bait Al Qanoon – Al Rashdi, Al Nabhani, Al Abri & Co. Advocates & Legal Consultants
  • Al Khalili, Al Ghailani & Co. LLP
  • Jamal Al Amri Advocates and Legal Consultants
  • Dr. Ahmed Al Jahwari & Partner Law Firm (AJLO)
  • MAQ Legal
  • Said Al-Shahry & Partners (SASLO)

Law Firm of the Year – Qatar

  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Mashael Alsulaiti Law Firm 
  • Sharq Law Firm 
  • Clyde & Co
  • Essa AlSulaiti Law Firm 
  • Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners
  • Al Majd Law Firm
  • K&L Gates LLP
  • Crowell & Moring LLP

Law Firm of the Year – Saudi Arabia

  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Qaisar Hamed Metawea Law Firm 
  • Batic Law Firm 
  • Baker McKenzie
  • Clyde & Co
  • AlMaghthawi & Partners 
  • Hammad & Al-Mehdar Law Firm
  • BSA LAW
  • Bedoor Alrabiah & Co. 
  • Stephenson Harwood LLP

Law Firm of the Year – UAE

  • Al Sahlawi & Co 
  • Afridi & Angell
  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP
  • Baker McKenzie
  • Fichte & Co
  • Rouse & Co. International
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • ADG Legal
  • INP – IBRAHIM .N. PARTNERS
  • Habib Al Mulla and Partners
  • BSA LAW
  • KLME LLP
  • Hadef & Partners
  • Stephenson Harwood Middle East LLP

Law Firm of the Year – GCC

  • Sharq Law Firm 
  • HFW
  • Clyde & Co
  • Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm 
  • Al Tamimi & Company
  • Wefaq Law Firm
  • Hadef & Partners
  • Bird & Bird
  • PwC Legal Middle East
  • BSA LAW
  • Dr. Ahmed Al Jahwari & Partner Law Firm (AJLO)
  • Stephenson Harwood LLP

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