Reed Smith provides excellent service to clients in the Middle East through offices in the UAE and globally. The firm is honored to have the following lawyers recognized in their respective categories:
- Michelle Nelson, Construction Lawyer of the Year
- Chris Edwards, Construction Leading Associate of the Year
- Umbreen Meenai, Banking and Finance Leading Associate of the Year
Michelle Nelson – Construction Lawyer of the Year
Nelson is a partner in Reed Smith's Energy and Natural Resources Group, specializing in arbitration with over 25 years of experience. She is most accomplished in projects involving oil and gas, construction and infrastructure disputes. Nelson represents clients in arbitration proceedings under major international and regional arbitration rules, including ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL, DIAC, and ADCCAC. She is a qualified Solicitor Advocate with rights of audience before the DIFC Courts and is an arbitrator for regional and international institutions. Nelson was shortlisted last year for the same award and also for UAE Lawyer of the Year. She is also the only woman ranked in the Hall of Fame for Construction in the UAE in the Legal 500.
Chris Edwards – Construction Leading Associate of the Year
Edwards brings more than a decade of experience advising on complex construction projects and disputes. Ranked in the Legal 500 for UAE Construction, Edwards' practice spans the entire lifecycle of construction projects. That includes bid process assistance, drafting and negotiating project agreements and managing formal disputes through arbitration, adjudication and litigation. He has been seconded to clients, including an American international engineering firm and one of the UAE's largest property developers. Edwards is counsel in Reed Smith's Energy and Natural Resources Group.
Umbreen Meenai – Banking and Finance Leading Associate of the Year
Meenai is a seasoned finance lawyer with more than 10 years of experience advising on investment grade and leveraged finance, asset finance, project finance, trade finance and real-estate finance transactions. Based in the UAE for over five years, she is ranked as a 'Rising Star' in Legal 500 EMEA 2024 for UAE Banking and Finance and has been a key adviser on numerous landmark finance transactions in the UAE and the wider Middle East region. She is counsel in Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group.
About the awards
The Legal 500 Middle East and North Africa Awards celebrate the achievements of lawyers, barristers, law firms, sets, and in-house legal departments across the region. The awards highlight the outstanding contributions and excellence in the legal profession, with winners being announced at a ceremony on January 30, 2025.