Clifford Chance has appointed its first antitrust lawyer in the UAE. Sabra Ferhat has relocated from the firm’s London office for the role of counsel, and will build upon the regional antitrust practice.
She has been with the firm for over six years, advising clients on international antitrust issues across a range of sectors including tech, telecoms, energy, consumer goods, insurance, and banking.
Her recent experience includes advising Nationwide Building Society on the antitrust aspects of its £2.9 billion acquisition of Virgin Money UK plc, which is the largest UK banking deal since the 2008 financial crisis. Additionally, her experience includes advising Coca Cola on its acquisition of Costa Coffee, as well as advising a consortium consisting of KIRKBI, Blackstone, and CPPIB on the £4.77 billion take-private of Merlin Entertainments plc.
She has also worked with clients based in the UAE and across the wider Middle East, such as DP World on several of its acquisitions across the globe.
“We are delighted to welcome Sabra to the region,” said Mohammed Al-Shukairy, Clifford Chance’s regional managing partner. “Her move will build upon our regional antitrust practice in Saudi Arabia, as well as complement our broader corporate offering in the Middle East and Türkiye at an important point in the development of merger control regimes as well as added regulatory scrutiny by regulators worldwide, including in the region.”
Before joining Clifford Chance in 2018, Ferhat worked as in-house competition counsel at British broadcaster Sky and prior to that in private practice in Brussels.
Commenting on her move, Ferhat said: “As the Middle East is experiencing unprecedented growth and expansion, the need for robust antitrust advice is crucial for both local and international clients navigating complex regulatory landscapes worldwide and in the region. I look forward to expanding our team while continuing working closely with my colleague counsel Selman Ansari in Saudi Arabia and the antitrust global network to deliver strategic, forward-thinking solutions that will help our clients thrive in this evolving regulatory environment.”
