People
Nabil A. Issa is a partner in the Corporate, Finance and Investments Group of King & Spalding, working from the Dubai and affiliated Riyadh offices. Mr. Issa's experience includes work in the areas of Shari'ah-compliant funds, joint ventures, foreign investment, private wealth, private equity, privatizations, venture capital, healthcare and real estate industry transactions. He is particularly known for his development of innovative Shari-ah-compliant CMA funds and investment structures for real estate and private equity investments in Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E.
Nabil is regularly cited by independent legal directories and client-based surveys. Chambers Global 2020 highly ranks Nabil for his corporate and investment funds work (Band 1) in the Middle East and recognizes him as an expert in Saudi corporate and capital market matters. Chambers GlobaI, identifies Nabil as a “renowned M&A and investment funds practitioner who splits his time between Dubai and the firm's associated office in Riyadh”. Clients describe him as an "excellent business lawyer” and commend him for “his knowledge and understanding of the business environment in Dubai and Saudi”, mentioning that this “makes him one of the most valuable mentors for business managers in the region.”
Moreover, Nabil is listed as a “Leading Individual” for his corporate work in the Middle East region by Legal500 EMEA 2019. He is listed among the "Leading Lawyers" by Islamic Finance News and IFLR1000 for his work in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Nabil is also included in the inaugural editions of Euromoney's "Guide to the World's Leading Islamic Finance Lawyers" as well as Euromoney’s "Guide to the World’s Leading Emerging Markets Lawyers".
Following graduation from the University of Pennsylvania, Nabil was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to UAE University to study the effects of membership in the World Trade Organization on the financial laws of the United Arab Emirates. Nabil was a founding member and senior editor of the Journal of Constitutional Law at the University of Pennsylvania. Nabil is proficient in Arabic as well as being fluent in English.
J.D., University of Pennsylvania
B.A., University of California-San Diego, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
District of Columbia
New Jersey
New York
American Bar Association
Arabic
February 19, 2021
Chambers Global Again Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
January 20, 2021
King & Spalding Advises on Two of Islamic Finance News’ 2020 Deals of the Year
Private Equity/Venture Capital
Western Union – counsel in relation to structuring and acquisition of a minority stake in stc Pay, creating the first Unicorn in Saudi Arabia and the first fintech Unicorn in the Middle East (awarded “M&A, Equity & IPO Deal of the Year” for 2020 by Islamic Finance News).
Gateway Fund I- counsel in relation to acquiring a stake in the Tim Horton’s franchise throughout the GCC (awarded “Cross Border Deal of the Year” for 2020 by Islamic Finance News).
Gulf Capital – counsel in relation to the sale of a chain of radiology clinics in Saudi Arabia to Mediterranea Capital through a fund structure and restructuring of the same (shortlisted for IFLR “M&A Deal of the Year” in 2020).
December 17, 2020
Saudi Arabia Under Rapid Transformation
November 18, 2020
Enforcement of Capital Commitment Structures in Saudi Arabia
October 12, 2020
NMC Health PLC’s Subsidiaries Enter Groundbreaking Administration Under the Jurisdiction of the ADGM Courts
February 19, 2021
Chambers Global Again Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
January 20, 2021
King & Spalding Advises on Two of Islamic Finance News’ 2020 Deals of the Year
Private Equity/Venture Capital
Western Union – counsel in relation to structuring and acquisition of a minority stake in stc Pay, creating the first Unicorn in Saudi Arabia and the first fintech Unicorn in the Middle East (awarded “M&A, Equity & IPO Deal of the Year” for 2020 by Islamic Finance News).
Gateway Fund I- counsel in relation to acquiring a stake in the Tim Horton’s franchise throughout the GCC (awarded “Cross Border Deal of the Year” for 2020 by Islamic Finance News).
Gulf Capital – counsel in relation to the sale of a chain of radiology clinics in Saudi Arabia to Mediterranea Capital through a fund structure and restructuring of the same (shortlisted for IFLR “M&A Deal of the Year” in 2020).
December 17, 2020
Saudi Arabia Under Rapid Transformation
November 18, 2020
Enforcement of Capital Commitment Structures in Saudi Arabia
October 12, 2020
NMC Health PLC’s Subsidiaries Enter Groundbreaking Administration Under the Jurisdiction of the ADGM Courts
February 19, 2021
Chambers Global Again Recognizes King & Spalding as a Leading International Law Firm
January 20, 2021
King & Spalding Advises on Two of Islamic Finance News’ 2020 Deals of the Year
J.D., University of Pennsylvania
B.A., University of California-San Diego, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
District of Columbia
New Jersey
New York
American Bar Association
Arabic