Rajai KW Dajani & Associates

Senior Partner: Rajai K W Dajani

Managing Partner: Yousef S Khalilieh

Number of partners: 2

Number of other lawyers and consultants: 13

Languages: Arabic, English  

Firm Overview: 

Founded in 1990, Rajai K W Dajani is a pioneering law firm in Amman, Jordan that provides the highest quality of legal services on an international level. As a leading consulting law firm it continues to expand and gain comprehensive expertise in all areas of the law. The firm’s team has the local and international knowledge and expertise to serve as a gateway to Jordanian business and investment. The firm maintains a working relationship with top law firms worldwide. Its members, paralegals and counsels have the fluency to deliver quality legal services while maintaining an enthusiastic client-service culture. This diverse team of lawyers and associated offices in PNA and Iraq brings together decades of combined experience to offer clients the representation they need to conduct business in those territories and beyond. The firm’s scope has expanded to Iraq where it works with associated offices in Kurdistan, Basra and Baghdad on legal matters relating to oil and gas development and licensing, corporate restructuring and registration, media and real estate developments.

Main Areas of Practice:  

Agency

Arbitration

Aviation

Banking

Civil & Commercial

Construction

Contracts

Corporate

E-Commerce

Finance & Debt Restructuring

Foreign Investment

Franchise & Distribution

Government Contracts

Insurance

Intellectual Property

International Trade

Labour

Litigation

Maritime

Media

Mergers & Acquisitions

Restructuring

Securities

Taxation

Technology & Telecommunications Projects & Privatization: 

As part of a team consisting of international technical and legal firms, the firm advises corporations in the fields of water, energy, telecommunication and privatisation projects taking place in Jordan. The firm provided its legal advisory consultancy services to the Ministry of Education in Jordan relating to the Ministry’s e-Learning and Educational Management Solution system. The firm is also involved in the relocation of the container and shipping port in Aqaba, Jordan, the only port in Jordan. BAM International in the marine works related to the construction of the ports for a value exceeding US$45 million. The firm is engaged with Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US government development agency (MCC). One of MCC’s missions is to provide funding to qualifying countries to support economic development through infrastructure development to assist them with their legal work in Jordan. MCC has granted Jordan approximately US$280 million. In collaboration with the internationally renowned firm of White & Case, Rajai K W Dajani and Associates provided on-ground legal consultancy services for the expansion, rehabilitation and privatisation of Queen Alia International Airport as requested by the Executive Privatization Commission. The firm also advised the Public Transportation Regulatory Commission on establishing a public outbound land terminal for passengers on a BOT basis. The firm is also selected as the local legal counsel for the Build-Operate–Transfer (BOT) Red Sea-Dead Sea Project (Phase 1). The Red -Dead project is part of a landmark regional water sharing initiative between Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel. It aims at conveying water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea and desalinating some of the seawater. Red-Dead project comprises of an intake facility and desalination plant near Red Sea, and a brine pipeline connecting the desalination plant to the Dead Sea. The firm is acting as counsel to the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, reviewing and advising on the transaction and tender documents, the regulations and the overall process related to the project.

Aviation, Transactions, Corporate & Commercial: 

Jordan is located in the heart of the Middle East, and recent governmental moves to facilitate foreign investment make it an even more desirable place to conduct business. With years of experience and a wide range of contacts, the firm guides clients through all local requirements. The firm represented ICBC International Leasing Company Limited in connection with the purchase of several aircrafts and leased by the Royal Jordanian Airlines PLC and advised on regulatory and taxation issues pertaining to the aircraft sale and lease novation transactions.

Through the involvement of its managing partner as a mentor with Endeavour Jordan, the firm has been involved in mentoring and providing legal advice to many new corners in the IT and portal services business. The work is on-going with several gaming, education, health, kids and general interest services.

The firm has well established expertise in all aspects of business restructurings. It demonstrated leadership in developing novel ways to help its clients achieve their business objectives.

One of the firm’s most significant transactions was the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Swicorp’s acquisition of a 33% stake in Luminus Group. The Luminus Group is a dynamic company delivering Technical and Vocational training in the MENA region, Luminus Media/SAE, Luminus Trading and Service and Luminus for Oil and Gas. The acquisition involved a transaction amount of JOD13 million (approximately US$19 million equivalent). In this deal the firm represented Luminus Group to support its transformation from a family business to a globally-recognized institution with sound corporate governance that is accountable to its shareholders and end users.

The deal the firm supported was cited in the Education Investment MENA 2014 Annual Report as one of the most significant deals of 2014.

The firm is also heavily involved in the ‘portal’ mergers and acquisition sectors for which it worked on several acquisition and capital venture deals at the same time. The deals ranged in size, putting the firm on the top list of lawyers that specialise in IT and portal related businesses.

Banking & Finance: 

The firm has been engaged with the Arab Bank Switzerland, among other banks, in connection with the securitisation and lending related matters. Its role is to ensure that their lending process is enforceable in Jordan and that the securities they receive are legally binding and enforceable in Jordan. The firm has also advised on securities laws and regulations in Jordan. The firm advised and represented international banks on a wide range of securities related transactions before the Securities Depository. The firm has provided its legal advisory consultancy services to the Arab Bank (Switzerland) with regard to the enforceability of the ISDA and the implementation of the Closing out Netting Agreement in Jordan. It has also represented the Arab Bank in transactions related to the Saudi Oger $1.03 billion refinancing syndicated loan, which will be used to replace debts related to the construction group’s investment. The firm acted as lead legal adviser for the syndicate banks engaged in a restructuring of debt and loan to one of the leading companies, MESC Cables and its subsidiaries by way of a syndicated loan and restructuring deal in the amount of US$100 million

Energy, Oil & Gas: 

The firms is advising Amec Foster Wheeler in Jordan where the client, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission, requires a service provider to supply technical, commercial, financial and legal advice in relation to a nuclear new build project. The firm is advising on the building of the first LNG terminal at the port of Aqaba, Jordan where the construction is expected to take place in early 2014 at a total value of US$65 million dollars. The firm is also advising Korea Electric Power Corporation in relation to their bid for the Fujeij Wind Independent Power Producer project in Jordan. Another renewable energy project is that of Korea Southern Power to develop, design, construct, own, operate and maintain the wind farm facility of 51.75 in Tafila, Jordan. This is a part of the renewable energy scheme as Wind Independent Power Producer (IPP). The firm provided a full range of legal services which included, among others, advising, developing and refining the legal aspects of and the implementation of the appropriate ownership and organisation structure for the project company (including the formation of the project company, preparing the Memorandum and Articles of Association, by-laws etc.; registration of the company; all local licenses and filings etc.); advising on the application for obtaining licenses, permits, approvals; reviewing and advising on financing matters and local law security documents. The firm advised StatoilHydro in negotiating with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resource a concession for the exploitation of Al Risha Gas Fields in Jordan.

Alternative Dispute Resolution, Litigation & Arbitration: 

One of the progressively emerging forms of mediation. The dispute settlement procedure keeps parties out of the courtroom in an attempt to avoid the formal litigation process. The firm is involved and participates in this non-binding procedure with a diverse array of clients. The litigation department provides comprehensive services in any dispute-resolution matter before the Jordanian courts and/or arbitration panels. The firm is experienced in handling claims and disputes ranging from breach of contract, distributor, agent and franchise disputes, insurance and maritime claims to the general contractual and construction disputes.