Abdelhak El Kinany

Abdelhak El Kinany

Senior Associate

Abdelhak is an expert in restructuring, insolvency and banking law.

He has extensive experience in advising creditors, debtors, insolvency practitioners and other stakeholders on resolving complex and high-profile distressed situations, both in and out of court, across multiple jurisdictions.

Abdelhak also advises financial institutions and corporate borrowers on a wide range of financings, including acquisition finance, real estate finance, project finance and trade finance, using conventional and Sharia-compliant financing structures, as well as hybrid structures that combine both.

Abdelhak has been based in the UAE since 2017, where he has worked on some of the most significant restructurings and financings in the Middle East.

Experience

Representative matters

A syndicate of international and regional creditors in respect of claims against Emirates Hospital Group (including in relation to on-going formal bankruptcy proceedings in the UAE).

Arabtec Holding PJSC (a Dubai listed construction company) in relation to its group-wide insolvency issues and formal bankruptcy proceedings in the UAE.

The financial creditors to Gulf Marine Services (a group listed on the LSE whose core business is in the Middle East marine services industry) on the restructuring of its financial indebtedness.

A utility company in connection with the restructuring of its debt from a group of international and regional banks.

A UAE developer on the AED 17 billion facilities extended by a group of regional banks.

An international retail group on the AED3bn pre-acquisition financing provided by the proposed strategic purchaser of a 20% stake in the business.

 

Speaking Engagements

  • Presentation on the UAE Bankruptcy Law to the Lebanese Business Council, October 2020

Qualifications

Admissions

Solicitor, England and Wales, since 2020 

Avocat à la Cour, France, 2013-2022

Academic

University Degree in Restructuring and Insolvency, Sorbonne University, 2023

Master’s Degree in Financial Law, Sorbonne University, 2011

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.