Qatar’s US$25bn rail project is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the Middle East. Cited as a lucrative contract for German rail operator Deutsche Bahn, it will also yield results for the two international law firms advising on the deal, Denton Wilde Sapte and Patton Boggs.
Denton’s has been chosen as the chief legal advisors to Deutsche Bahn. Doha managing partner Leigh Hall is working alongside Amman managing partner Safwan Moubaydeen, on Qatari laws, structuring corporate and finance models, and PPP arrangements.
“This is a huge project [which] will transform the country’s transport system … and is expected to take up to 15 years to fully complete,” said Hall. “It is also seen as an integral component in Qatar's bid for the 2022 football World Cup.”
Deutsche Bahn has formed a JV with the state-owned investment firm Qatar Diar in a 49/51% ownership structure. Patton Boggs’ Doha managing partner Rob Hager is advising Qatar Diar, which is also being led in-house by its legal director Ahmed Elbagir.
Infrastructure projects in the Middle East have been a lucrative practice area for large firms in the region, and this is the latest multi-billion dollar construction project to be announced by Denton’s in just under a month. The firm has also been retained on the US$1bn Salalah IWPP in Oman, and after Deutsche Bahn said it hoped to win more contracts in the Middle East, this may be the beginning of a longer-term relationship for the law firm.
Qatar Diar has also taken advice from a variety of law firms on different matters throughout this year. In January it looked to Baker & McKenzie when it sold its stake of a subsidiary to Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels; while in November the investment firm engaged Lovells and Herbert Smith when it purchased a US Embassy building in London.
Related stories: