Biography

Mark is a specialist banking and finance lawyer with significant experience advising financial institutions with respect to transactional lending, commercial advisory, product development, insolvency issues and legislative change.  Mark was recently ranked by the Legal 500 as a ‘Next Generation Partner’.

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Recent Experience

  • Acting for multiple local and international financial institutions to develop and implement standard and bespoke banking products and platforms for use in the UAE, ADGM or DIFC, including account terms and conditions, credit facilities, cash-pooling and corporate liquidity, internet banking, and gold accounts and loans.
  • Advising financial institutions such as Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC and First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, on sale or purchase of loan portfolios.
  • Assisting foreign financial services companies on their establishment in the ADGM.
  • Advised multiple banks on a claim by a major UAE insurance company for declarations of liability in the DIFC courts in respect of suspected fraudulent trade finance transactions.
  • Acted as UAE/DIFC counsel on the financing aspects of United Arab Shipping Company Limited re-domiciliation into the DIFC, including the impact of all existing facilities and related bareboat charters.
  • Advising sponsors and lenders in UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on some of the most notable independent power or water projects in the region, including the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority solar programme, FEWA 150 MIGD IWP, Taweelah 200 MIGD IWP, Fujairah Phase 3 IPP, Hamriyah 1,800 MW CCGT Plant and Al Dur II IWPP.
  • Leading significant FDI transactions into the UAE and their financing, such as Apollo Global Management, Inc. (USA) and consortium on the acquisition of a $5.5 billion real estate investment partnership with ADNOC, the investors to the $20.7 billion investment and financing of ADNOC gas pipelines.
  • Acting for the issuers or purchasers on numerous DCM mandates.

Language(s)

  • English

Education

2004 – Bachelor of Laws, Victoria University of Wellington

2004 – Bachelor of Commerce and Administration, Victoria University of Wellington

Admission

2006 – Barrister and Solicitor in New Zealand

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