(Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates) – Oli Charlesworth has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Abu Dhabi as a partner in the finance practice.
Mr. Charlesworth specialises in project finance, general banking and Islamic finance. He has advised project sponsors, project companies, lenders, export credit agencies and development finance institutions in relation to a wide range of transactions in various jurisdictions.
He joins the firm from Norton Rose in Abu Dhabi having been based in the Middle East for almost six years. He has advised sponsors and lenders in relation to Islamic, conventional and multi-sourced project financings in the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia across a range of sectors including power, water, infrastructure, metals, petrochemicals and gas.
He is recommended in the EMEA Legal 500 for his project finance work in the UAE and in the UK Legal 500 for his work in Islamic finance. Recent accolades include leading his team in relation to the financing of DP World Dakar’s port in Senegal which won Project Finance International’s “Africa Transport Deal of the Year 2010”.
Natasha G. Kohne, partner-in-charge in Akin Gump’s Abu Dhabi office, stated, “Oli brings a huge range of finance experience to our expanding office. His knowledge will help us to build on our established energy and project finance experience in the region to support our clients in their business and legal needs. We are delighted to welcome him to the firm.”
Mr. Charlesworth added, “The firm’s highly respected Abu Dhabi office is well supported by Middle East experts from across the globe and offers great opportunities for the firm’s clients. Working to help build out the finance capabilities of the firm is a challenge I will relish. Abu Dhabi continues to develop as a cultural and business hub in the region and there is an increasing and significant need for on the ground finance capability.”
Rick L. Burdick, managing partner for the firm’s international offices and head of Akin Gump’s international corporate transactions practice, said, “Oli’s arrival will give us a fantastic opportunity to further build out our finance capabilities on the ground in the UAE. He is highly thought of, well respected and will work well with our existing transactions team in the UAE and around the world.”
