People

“Afridi delivers international quality advice on local law matters. The team meets deadlines and bring a commercial understanding to their work product. They are also responsive and personable in their dealings.” - Legal 500 EMEA

Areas of Expertise

  • Acquisitions
  • Banking and Finance
  • Corporate and Commercial
  • Infrastructure and Projects
  • Private Equity

Qualifications

  • Professional
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Punjab Bar Council
  • International Bar Association
  • Languages
  • English
  • Urdu
  • Academic
  • LL.M., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, 1982
  • LL.B., Punjab University Law College, Lahore, Pakistan, 1979
Speaking Engagements
  • Moderator, Regional Bank Lending, Syndicated Lending Middle East – Financing & Re-financing in a New Era, Dubai, 28-29 January 2014
  • Panellist, Are Sukuk the Next Eurobond? Outlook for the Sukuk Market for 2014 – Opportunities, Risks and Challenges, Global Islamic Economy Summit, Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai, 25-26 November 2013
  • Impact of Mandatory Distribution under Shariah Principles of Inheritance Law on Private Client Structures, Client Symposium Middle East, November 2009
  • Forming Alliances and Partnerships – the Indigenous Law Firm Perspective, Business Development in the Middle East, The Lawyer Conferences, Dubai, April 2009
  • Establishing and Marketing Investment Funds in the Six Gulf Cooperation Council States, IBA 20th Annual Conference on the Globalisation of Investment Funds, May 2009
  • Common Legal Issues of Incoming and Outbound Investments from the U.A.E., April 2008
  • Estate Planning for U.A.E. Investments: Use of Insurance as a Tool for Estate Planning, 3rd Middle East Tax and Trust Training Programme, Dubai, January 2007
  • Private Equity and Real Estate Investment in the U.A.E.: Relevance of Shari’a law, 2nd Annual Middle East Tax and Trust Training Programme, February 2006
  • Money Laundering Laws and Regulations in the Gulf Cooperation Council States, May 2005
Awards and Testimonials

Amjad is ranked as “Senior Statespeople” in Banking and Finance.

Chambers Global

 

“A very good person, a senior fellow from an experience point of view.”

Chambers Global 2019

 

Sources revere him as “one of the deans” of the market.

Chambers Global 2019

 

“Very respected in the market.” He possesses a wealth of experience in both conventional and Islamic finance, and sources describe him as “very knowledgeable.”

Chambers Global 2018

 

He is very effective.

Chambers Global 2018

 

“He is approachable in spite of his seniority.”

Chambers Global 2018

 

Amjad Ali Khan is “an authority on banking and finance.”

Legal 500 EMEA 2018

 

“Leading individual.”

Legal 500 EMEA 2017

 

He is very effective.

Chambers Global 2017

 

“Very good understanding of UAE and English law.”

Chambers Global 2017

 

“UAE banking guru.”

Legal 500 EMEA 2016

 

The “vastly experienced and respected” Amjad Ali Khan is “a grandee of the UAE finance market.”

Legal 500 EMEA 2016

 

“Brilliant and helpful – he manages the work with passion and understanding of the issues.”

Chambers Global 2015

 

“Really cares about the implications and takes a long-term view – we don’t hesitate to contact him.” Another described him as “simply outstanding.”

Chambers Global 2014

 

“Very knowledgeable and very experienced.”

Chambers Global 2014

 

Peers describe him as “respected and of high quality.”

Chambers Global: The Client’s Guide 2009

 

Amjad Ali Khan is both a valuable rainmaker and a frequent presence on deals, with peers saying: “We all respect him, and he attracts some big international users.”

Chambers Global: The Client’s Guide 2009

 

Amjad Ali Khan stands out as “a sharp, progressive lawyer,” who combines conventional and Islamic work. In line with the firm’s “impressive” links with the US, Gulf States and India, Khan’s cross-border work is much admired in the region.

Who’s Who Legal – UAE 2008 – Banking – The Official Research Partner of the IBA

 

“One of the best lawyers there,” Amjad Ali Khan has built a conventional and Islamic practice that is universally admired. Peers portray him as “an unheralded great – so many leading banks and lawyers go to him direct.”

Chambers Global: The Client’s Guide 2008

 

Amjad Ali Khan is “an excellent lawyer who certainly knows his stuff” across the finance and corporate spectrum.

Chambers Global: The Client’s Guide 2008

 

Partner, Amjad Ali Khan is the “streetwise and smart” figure who has won the group many plaudits. An “easygoing, knowledgeable and experienced” attorney, his understanding of the market is highly valued.

Chambers Global – The Client’s Guide 2007

 

Named as a “Leading Individualin Banking and Finance

Legal 500

 

Consistently recognised as one of the ‘Leaders in their Field’ in Banking and Finance, Islamic Finance, Corporate/Commercial (United Arab Emirates).

Chambers Global

 

“Clients continually praise Dubai partner Amjad Ali Khan as “professionally proficient, courteous and contactable for urgent matters.” His excellent attention to detail makes him a main choice for complex issues.”

Chambers Global

 

“Amjad Ali Khan is another favourite of clients and peers. He has an active transactional practice and is “excellent – very professional and attentive.”

Chambers Global

Board Membership and Corporate Directorship
  • Former Lex Mundi Board member
  • Cadet College Hasan Abdal Endowment Fund Trust
  • Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust
  • Pakistan Professional Wing, Dubai
  • Pakistan Auditorium, Dubai
Community Involvement
  • Former Pro Bono Foundation Member
Go Back

About

Amjad is a co-founder and former managing partner of Afridi & Angell. He has represented the firm’s international and local clients including banks and leading multinationals as well as private equity firms, in corporate, banking and financial transactions in Dubai and abroad.  He also represented clients in relation to investments in the GCC, US, UK, and India.

 

Amjad has considerable experience advising private equity firms on cross border acquisitions.  He has advised clients on private placements, management buy-outs and sale of businesses, and has advised clients extensively on cross border and GCC-wide acquisitions and divestitures. His most recent transactions involved the sale of the Fitness First franchise in the Middle East; the sale of a logistics company to Toll group, Australia and of another logistics company to Barloworld, South Africa. He also represented the National Bank of Fujairah in arranging acquisition financing for the purchase by the buyer of a majority interest in the Dubai Wire Group; and represented Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in its acquisition of the retail and SME business of Royal Bank of Scotland.

 

In addition to his private equity and M&A practice, Amjad acted for several banks and borrowers in major restructurings of debt. He’s also been involved in launching various banking related products and services for clients in the UAE including the most recent Direct Debit System introduced by the UAE Central Bank in the fourth quarter of 2013.