Associates

Silvia Anna Pretorius

Senior Associate, Abu Dhabi Office

Ms Pretorius joined Afridi & Angell in 2008. She has extensive experience advising foreign and local clients on setting up companies and joint ventures in the UAE. She also regularly advises clients on general corporate, commercial and other matters related to the conduct of business in the region including regulatory compliance, real estate, and employment law. Ms Pretorius has also advised l

Ms Pretorius joined Afridi & Angell in 2008. She has extensive experience advising foreign and local clients on setting up companies and joint ventures in the UAE. She also regularly advises clients on general corporate, commercial and other matters related to the conduct of business in the region including regulatory compliance, real estate, and employment law. Ms Pretorius has also advised local and foreign entities on UAE securities law issues.   

Prior to joining Afridi & Angell Ms Pretorius was a senior member in the English Law Department of a leading law firm in Doha, Qatar. Prior to that, she spent her career as an attorney in South Africa where she focused primarily on litigation for major financial institutions and the telecommunications industry. 

Her notable transactional experience includes:

  • advising buyer in respect of the proposed acquisition by Aker's Solutions of an oil and gas services group;
  • acting as local counsel for (i) Qatalum aluminim smelter and IWPP project; (ii) Qatar Gas 4 project in respect of the expansion/sharing of the Ras Laffan facilities; and (iii) the Mesaieed InternationalPower Project;
  • providing general advice and assistance to foreign firms in the engineering, construction, and consultancy industry operating large projects;
  • representing a major international manufacturer of telecommunications handsets in connection with various UAE legal and regulatory issues; and
  • advising local and foreign parties on UAE securities law issues.   

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Oil and Gas
  • Technology, Media and Telecommunications
  • Banking and Financial Services

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS 

  • Natal, South Africa, 1992 Member of Side Bar, both Natal and Transvaal Provincial Divisions, South Africa

EDUCATION

  • LLB, University of Natal, South Africa, 1990
  • BA, University of Natal, South Africa, 1987

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Afrikaans
  • Italian
  • German (basic)

PUBLICATIONS

 

Abdus Samad

Senior Associate, Dubai Office

Mr Samad joined Afridi & Angell in 2012. He specialises in M&A and transactional work, as well as general corporate/commercial matters. He has extensive knowledge and experience in cross-border transactional and corporate advisory matters, including complex acquisitions and divestures, for a broad range of public and private clients. Mr Samad has been ranked as “Rising Star” f

Mr Samad joined Afridi & Angell in 2012. He specialises in M&A and transactional work, as well as general corporate/commercial matters. He has extensive knowledge and experience in cross-border transactional and corporate advisory matters, including complex acquisitions and divestures, for a broad range of public and private clients.

Mr Samad has been ranked as “Rising Star” for commercial, corporate and M&A, in Legal 500 EMEA.

Some of his notable transactions include:

  • Advising the Kering Group on a review of their privacy policy for compliance with UAE law. The matter involved over 50 jurisdictions and Afridi & Angell acted as UAE counsel.
  • Advising SAP Ariba on compliance obligations in the UAE including requirements to comply with UAE data protection and privacy laws. This was also a global matter where Afridi & Angell acted as UAE counsel. 
  • Advising Yoox Net-a-Porter in preparing a privacy policy for their UAE operations. 
  • Advising the seller in the sale of three related schools in the Emirate of Sharjah for US$100 million. The seller will continue to own the property on which the schools are built and will lease the property to the purchaser as part of the completion requirements. 
  • Advising the vendors on the sale of an eighty percent stake in a Dubai-based school to a GCC private equity firm for AED 200 million. 
  • Advising the vendor on the sale of its interest in a UAE based manufacturer of aerosols and sealants. 
  • Advising a group of investors on their investment in a Dubai based food and beverage business. Advising a client on the structuring and set-up of its joint venture operations in the DIFC. 
  • Advising an international real estate brokerage on the set-up of its UAE franchise. 
  • Advising multiple banking clients on the implementation of the UAE Direct Debit System.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Banking and Financial Services
  • Corporate and Commercial

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Punjab Bar Council

EDUCATION

  • LLB, Kings College London, 2011

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Urdu

PUBLICATIONS

 

Sulakshana Senanayake

Senior Associate, Dubai Office

  Mr Senanayake practices in the firm's dispute resolution group and advises and represents clients in litigation disputes. His experience and specialties include advising on and assisting with disputes relating to international law, commercial law, banking, labour law, fundamental rights and intellectual property.  Prior to joining Afridi & Angell in 2017, Mr Senanayake was a

 

Mr Senanayake practices in the firm's dispute resolution group and advises and represents clients in litigation disputes. His experience and specialties include advising on and assisting with disputes relating to international law, commercial law, banking, labour law, fundamental rights and intellectual property. 
Prior to joining Afridi & Angell in 2017, Mr Senanayake was a practicing counsel in the private bar of Sri Lanka and worked with eminent President’s Counsel in Sri Lanka. He has contributed to a number of leading judgments by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal on areas including intellectual property, labour and fundamental rights. He has also been involved in policy making with international organisations and acted as a legal consultant to a leading bank in Sri Lanka. 

Mr Senanayake practices in the firm's dispute resolution group and advises and represents clients in litigation disputes. His experience and specialties include advising on and assisting with disputes relating to international law, commercial law, banking, labour law, fundamental rights and intellectual property. 

Prior to joining Afridi & Angell in 2017, Mr Senanayake was a practicing counsel in the private bar of Sri Lanka and worked with eminent President’s Counsel in Sri Lanka. He has contributed to a number of leading judgments by the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal on areas including intellectual property, labour and fundamental rights. He has also been involved in policy making with international organisations and acted as a legal consultant to a leading bank in Sri Lanka. 

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Litigation  
  • DIFC Courts' Litigation
  • Dispute Resolution

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Registered Wills Draftsman with the DIFC Wills Service Centre
  • Registered Practitioner of the DIFC Courts with full rights of audience
  • Attorney-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka, called to the Bar in 2013

EDUCATION

  • Masters in International Relations, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2017
  • LL.B. (Hons.) University of London, United Kingdom, 2012

LANGUAGES

  • English
  • Sinhalese

PUBLICATIONS

 

Alex Vromans

Associate, Dubai Office

Ms Vromans advises on a wide range of corporate, commercial, and real estate matters. She assists clients with the incorporation of new companies in the UAE (including UAE free zones), maintenance of existing companies, liaising with government departments, drafting memoranda, and conducting research.     Prior to joining Afridi & Angell, Ms Vromans followed a summer internship

Ms Vromans advises on a wide range of corporate, commercial, and real estate matters. She assists clients with the incorporation of new companies in the UAE (including UAE free zones), maintenance of existing companies, liaising with government departments, drafting memoranda, and conducting research.    

Prior to joining Afridi & Angell, Ms Vromans followed a summer internship at the firm. Prior to that, she gained extensive experience during several internships with law offices in Canada.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Real Estate

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Law Society of Ontario

EDUCATION

  • Juris Doctor, Queens University, Kingston, Canada, 2019
  • BA, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 2016

LANGUAGES

  • English

PUBLICATIONS

 

Anna White

Associate, Dubai Office

Ms White practises real estate law and has considerable experience in all areas of real estate and land development law. She advises property developers, real estate companies, and government entities in all stages of the real estate transaction (i.e. due diligence, drafting the sale and development documentation and negotiating complex settlements).   Ms White has wealth of knowledge in com

Ms White practises real estate law and has considerable experience in all areas of real estate and land development law. She advises property developers, real estate companies, and government entities in all stages of the real estate transaction (i.e. due diligence, drafting the sale and development documentation and negotiating complex settlements).  

Ms White has wealth of knowledge in commercial and retail leasing, including drafting ground leases, long term sub-leases, car parking licenses, disclosure statements, and default notices. She has represented both landlords and tenants.

Prior to joining Afridi & Angell, Ms White was an associate at a top tier law firm in Perth, Australia.

Ms White has been ranked as "Rising Star" for real estate in Legal 500 EMEA.

AREAS OF PRACTICE

  • Real Estate

QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSIONS

  • Admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand
  • Admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Western Australia
  • Admitted as a lawyer of the Federal Court of Australia

EDUCATION

  • LL.B., (Hons.), University of Otago, New Zealand
  • Bachelor of Commerce, University of Otago, New Zealand 

LANGUAGES

  • English

PUBLICATIONS

 
Home About Us
EXPERTISE
OFFICES
PEOPLE CONTACT US CAREERS
KNOWLEDGE EVENTS MEDIA
©2021 Afridi & Angell Legal Consultants. All rights reserved.