Commercial, Corporate, & Oil and Gas Law Firm in Yemen

Law Firm Overview

The Law Office of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Sons was established by the late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah in 1927 in the city of Aden. The firm is the oldest and most established law firm in Yemen, and one of the oldest established law firms in the Middle East. With over twelve highly qualified advocates, and with branches in Aden & Sana’a and operating from Hodeidah and Mukallah, the firm is considered to be the largest law firm in Yemen.

The firm has earned the respect of the International Community, and represents a number of embassies and companies. Our offices have been the honorary legal advisors to the British Embassy for over 25 years. The firm has very long standing relationships with leading law firms around the globe and in particular the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The major part of the international work of the firm comes from or is channeled through international law firms in London, and recently their Middle East offices.

The firm can advise their foreign clients in every area of law in the Republic of Yemen and more importantly to provide practical advice, and through its extensive experience has the expertise in solving any problem or matter that may concern a company operating in Yemen.

Year this Office was Established: 1927

Languages: Arabic; English

Areas of Law

Additional Areas of Law: Mining; Shipping; Free Zone; Investment; Tax; Due Diligence

Areas of Law Description

Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Sons offers legal advise on issues related to the following areas of practice:

- Oil, Gas and Mining

The firm currently represents the largest oil producing companies operating in Yemen, and is the exclusive advisors of the first Liquid Natural Gas Project in the country, the largest industrial project in the history of Yemen. Further, the firm is advising a number of mining companies and has proudly drafted the first Exploitation Contract for the first and only mine that recently opened in the country. Over the course of time the firm advised a number of oil companies starting in the late forties with the Anglo Iranian Oil Company and subsequently with B.P., Caltex, Mobil, Gesso, Shell, Agip, Elf, Canadian Oxy, Occidental and Total, to name but a few.

- Shipping

Along with being the exclusive legal advisors for a number of Protection and Indemnity Clubs as well as prominent shipping lines operating regularly to the ports of Aden, Hodeidah and Mukallah, the firm also advises the Al-Shihr Marine Oil Terminal and the Belhaf Liquid Natural Gas Terminal. The firm efficiently handled, negotiated and released the M/T Limburg that was subject to an attack off the Al-Shihr Marine Oil Terminal, and has effectively negotiated and settled hundreds of claims and cases including but not limited to cases related to pollution, collation, cargo claims and salvage, to name but a few.

- Free Zone, Investment and Joint Ventures

Our firm has developed strength in advising on all aspects of Investment in Yemen advising both state owned investment companies as well as private sector companies. The firm is the exclusive legal advisor of the state owned Property Development and Investment Company. With the growth of commercial activity in the Aden Free Zone the firm represents international and national clients and provides complete comprehensive advice during all stages of a project from the initial due diligence stage, through incorporation and the initiation of the project, through construction and later operation.

- Company and Commercial

The firm provides comprehensive advice to foreign and local companies in connection with establishing a business in Yemen whether through incorporating a company or a branch office, entering in to an agency, distributorship or representative arrangement, or registration of the same. The firm further advises companies after they have been incorporated and set up on related matters such as employment, tax and other aspects of local laws that are applicable to the working of the company, partnerships, management agreements, license arrangements, company secretarial services, and other related matters.

- Banking, Insurance and Finance

As Banking and Insurance are interconnected and interrelated with our Shipping, Oil & Gas, International Trade, Company & Commercial and Investment Projects practice, we automatically are expected by our clients to cover and advise on all such areas. The firm successfully represented a number of leading banks as well as the International Finance Corporation to negotiate and close a number of deals for projects, as well as representing a number of financing entities in litigation against defaulting parties, and foreclosures.

- Property and Construction

Our firm has a strong Land Department that deals with commercial and agricultural property. We are in a position to advise companies of every description, investors, developers, banks and individuals who may be embarking on their first commercial or agricultural property transaction from the inception to the conclusion. We arrange for surveys and valuations of land and built properties and are able to offer all related legal services. The firm offers every aspect of property and construction-related legal work which includes contract negotiating, contract drafting, contract vetting and contract disputes.

- Due Diligence

Our lengthy legal tradition coupled with our deep knowledge of the economical and political situation in Yemen and our extensive knowledge of the business houses and businessmen in Yemen qualifies us to carry out Due Diligence accurately for Joint Ventures or any form of international activity. Our offices are frequently assigned by the International Finance Corporation, The World Bank, international commercial banks, international firms of chartered accountants, oil companies and multinationals as well as business concerns of different types to carry out Legal, Commercial, Financial, Environmental, Employment and Marketing Due Diligence.

- Arbitration

Our arbitration practice is mostly to advise foreign clients when in dispute with Yemeni Nationals or the Government of the Republic of Yemen and to coordinate with and support foreign counsel in arbitration proceedings abroad. We also advise clients on local arbitrations.

- The Public Sector

The advanced countries of the Western World have complex societies and complex laws. Yemen is among the least developed countries of the World. It has a complex society but simple elementary laws inadequate to satisfy the needs of the international business community. The legal system is, however, in the process of being speedily reformed in order to meet the needs of the outside World. Often the foreign private sector finds dealing with the public sector, the central government departments, the local authorities and the civil service a frustrating and exasperating experience. This is known to be typical of Yemen. Our office has a long and diverse history of easing and lessening such frustrations. We understand the sensitivities of decisions in a political context, the exact procedures required to be followed, the right consultation and the need for confidentiality.

- Litigation

Yemen is not among the countries where litigation is recommended. However, when an amicable settlement cannot be reached we are equipped to offer the only other choice left, litigation. We are particularly strong in Commercial Civil litigation of every description before the Commercial Courts including property litigation up to the final appeal before the Supreme/Cassation Court of Yemen. Our legal advisors/consultants dealing with the matter are the ones who would appear before the courts along with a junior litigation lawyer. Every member of the firm from the very start of practicing as a lawyer is involved in litigation and continues it throughout his career.

Lawyers

Khalid T. Abdullah Attorney Commercial Law, Corporate Law

More Information on Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah Sons

Sana'a, Yemen Oil, Gas & Mining Lawyer
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Sana'a, Yemen Joint Venture Law Firm
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Banking Solicitors in Sana'a, Yemen
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Sana'a, Yemen Due Diligence Law Firm