International law firm Reed Smith today announces that three of its UAE lawyers have been shortlisted for the 2025 LexisNexis Women in Law Awards—an esteemed recognition of outstanding women in the legal sector across the Middle East and Africa.

Related Professionals: Alison Eslick Umbreen Meenai Adela Mues

The Reed Smith finalists are: 

  • Adela Mues – M&A Lawyer of the Year 
  • Umbreen Meenai – Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year 
  • Alison Eslick – Senior Associate of the Year 

The awards celebrate women who have demonstrated exemplary leadership, dedication and innovation in the legal sector, while making significant contributions to advancing the legal profession, breaking barriers and inspiring others.

Adela Mues is a partner in the firm’s Global Corporate Group who has been based in the UAE for more than 14 years. She advises on a broad range of local and cross-border transactions, including M&A, JVs, private equity, venture capital, corporate reorganizations, and corporate inward investment structures. She also advises on a range of financial services regulatory matters, including fund management, investment management and virtual assets, as well as fund formation.

Umbreen Meenai is a seasoned finance lawyer with more than a decade of experience advising banks, financial institutions, private equity houses, and corporate and government-related borrowers in relation to investment-grade and leveraged finance, asset finance, project finance, trade finance, and real-estate finance transactions, based on conventional and Islamic structures. She has been based in the UAE for over five years.

Alison Eslick is a disputes lawyer with a focus on international arbitration for major infrastructure projects. Practicing in Dubai since 2008, she advises local and international clients on complex cross-border disputes covering a range of industries, including oil and gas, renewable energy, construction, hospitality and real estate.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on 20 February.