Expertise
Luke is a Partner in the Dubai corporate practice and has experience advising corporates, financial institutions and private equity houses on a variety of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate re-organisations, joint ventures and disposals, including specific experience in the retail and consumer space. Luke joined Addleshaw Goddard in 2012, and has practiced in England, Hong Kong and Dubai. During 2022 and 2023, Luke worked as a Senior Legal Director at Kitopi (a multi-brand, tech powered, food and beverage operator with a valuation of over USD 1 billion), re-joining Addleshaw Goddard in June 2023.
- Experience
- Advising Gulf Capital and Mitsubishi Corporation in connection with their disposal of Metito Holdings Limited to Alpha Dhabi Holdings, a prominent Abu Dhabi based sovereign wealth fund.
- Advising an exiting shareholder on the arbitral tribunal order disposal of a significant shareholding in one of the regions leading food aggregators.
- Advising the Kent Family on the circa USD 300 million disposal of Kent Plc to Nesma & Partners Contracting Company Ltd., a PIF owned KSA based contracting company.
- Advising Kitopi, as in-house counsel, in respect Kitopi’s acquisition of the AWJ group, in one of the region’s largest food and beverage transactions. AWJ had operations throughout the GCC, Europe and the USA, and the transaction was a complex multi-jurisdictional acquisition.
- Advising the founder shareholder of the Elite Group, a leading fully integrated land freight and courier solutions providers in the Middle East, on its disposal to Greendome Investments. The transaction represented GDI’s first acquisition, and covered multiple geographies.
- Acting for du on the sale of their 26 per cent stake in Khazna Data Centre to Abu Dhabi’s Technology Holding Company (a Mubadala Investment Company company).
- Acting for The Carlyle Group and the founding shareholders of Nabil Foods on their majority disposal to Abu Dhabi Developmental Holdings.
- Acting for a major British plc, Reckitt, (formerly Reckitt Benckiser) a producer of health, hygiene and home products on a significant strategic joint venture in respect of its distribution operations in the UAE with the aim of consolidating its distribution network.
- Advising Bindawood Holding Company on the acquisition of Zahrat Al Rawdah Pharmacies in Saudi Arabia from Julphar. Zahrat Al Rawdah operates a portfolio of circa 200 pharmacies.
- Advising the shareholders of Royal Catering on the sale of the entire issued share capital of Royal Catering to ADNEC Group. Royal Catering are an Abu Dhabi-based catering service provider that serves 50,000 meals per day.
- Dubai Green Fund, a wholly owned subsidiary of DEWA, in connection with its investment into a special purpose vehicle established to generate energy from landfill gas.
- CedarBridge Capital Partners on the USD 110 million sale of the entire issued share capital of The Grooming Company to Multiply Group. The Grooming Company are a prominent player in the retail and beauty industry.
- 3S Capital (a UAE based private investment fund) on two separate joint venture with Westcore (a US based asset manager) to acquire and manage significant real estate developments in the United Kingdom.
- Emirates Flight Catering on their $40,000,000 joint venture with Crop One (a US based vertical farm specialist), to build and operate the world's largest vertical farm.
- Mizuho Gulf Capital, IFFCO and Oman Flour Mills on their joint venture to establish the largest egg production facility in the UAE and Oman. This transaction involved the establishment of a joint venture and the subsequent acquisition of an egg production facility in the UAE and in Oman.
- HLD Group, a UK based turnaround specialist, in connection with their acquisition of the QMI group (a door and fixture manufacturer). The acquisition involved the acquisition of three companies, two in the UAE and one in Qatar, from US listed company, Allegion.
- Kasamar Holdings on their majority acquisition of the largest pet supplies retailer in the UAE, The Pet Shop and subsequently advising Kasamar in respect of their acquisition of the remaining minority stake in The Pet Shop.
- Education
- 2011 – 2012 BPP Law School, LPC (Distinction)
- 2009 – 2011 University of Leeds, LLB Law (2:1)
- Testimonials
- Luke's agreements are precise and immaculate. His analysis is distilled and clear. He understands the intricacies of the law, but has a balanced commercial sense – Managing Director of a UAE based investment fund
- I have worked with Luke on a number of M&A situations over the years. Luke is very professional in his approach, takes a pragmatic approach to transactions looking for solutions to get the deal done. Not something I always come across – Managing Partner of the UAE arm of one of the big four accountancy firms
- Luke has worked successfully with me for the last number of years advising on a number of complex, multi party, cross jurisdictional transactions with notable competing interests. Luke has completed superb work assisting in crafting commercial strategy which has subsequently been reflected in the legal frameworks. He has also been careful to build relationships with the counter party’s legal team thus allowing him to act as an able foil for his client, balancing firmness with flexibility at the appropriate junctures – confidential
- I had the pleasure of working with Luke on the recent deal, and I must say his approach was exceptionally client-oriented and practical. Throughout the deal, he demonstrated a proactive attitude, both pushed hard and advised realistic solutions, ensuring the issues are handled efficiently and effectively. His ability to anticipate potential issues and address them promptly was truly impressive – confidential
- He just got things done - he would look at things with a problem solving mentality as opposed to simply pointing out the problems – Chief Legal Officer of a major UAE head quartered tech powered F&B operator
