Nima Fath's practice focuses on cross-border finance transactions across a variety of sectors and asset classes. He has worked on deals throughout Europe, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), and Africa and advises clients on conventional and/or Shari'ah compliant finance structures.
Nima's broad experience includes representing arrangers, lenders, equity sponsors, developers, and corporate borrowers on secured and unsecured corporate loans; acquisition, project, asset, and real estate financings; and consensual debt restructurings. Since moving to Dubai in 2013, he also has advised financial institutions on Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) regulatory matters and corporates on general commercial contract issues and the laws of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
Prior to joining Jones Day, Nima practiced in the area of general banking & finance at a U.S. firm and before that in leveraged finance at a Magic Circle firm in London.
Experience
The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.
Represented Al Futtaim Private Company in the financing of an AED3.942 billion multitranche facilities agreement with a club of regional and international banks to fund the development of a mall in Dubai Festival City.
Represented Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank in the US$300 million co-financing (conventional and Islamic) of a hotel and residential project in Dubai.
Represented Standard Chartered Bank as mandated lead arranger in relation to the US$650 million acquisition financing of U.S.-based Decision Resources Group by the Piramal Healthcare Group.
Represented a coordinating committee (representing 36 lenders) of international and regional banks in relation to the Al Jaber Group's AED18 billion debt restructuring.
Projects & Infrastructure Finance
Represented a syndicate of international lenders in the US$1.7 billion project financing of the expansion of the UAE's first fully integrated steel manufacturing works for Emirates Steel Industries (comprising conventional and Islamic facilities).
Represented the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi in relation to its acquisition of a US$4 billion project finance portfolio purchased from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Islamic Finance
Represented GFH Capital in relation to the Shari'ah compliant refinancing of long-term and short-term loans to Leeds United Football Club totallng approximately £30 million.
Represented Gulf Marine Services PLC in relation to the US$530 million multi-vessel Ijara refinancing tied to the company's IPO on the London Stock Exchange.
Corporate Lending and Acquisition Finance
Lender-side:
Represented JP Morgan in relation to a £1.3 billion acquisition financing of a gas company.
Represented Goldman Sachs on behalf of a syndicate of lenders providing a secured US$320 million margin loan to a Portuguese conglomerate (through a Dutch holding company).
Represented Barclays Bank plc as the mandated lead arranger on a £400 million revolving credit facility for a FTSE 100 global technology company.
Represented Mubadala GE Capital in relation to a US$35 million borrowing base facility to a major GCC-based telecoms company.
Represented BNP Paribas S.A, on behalf of a syndicate of international banks, in relation to the amendment and restatement of a US$300 million syndicated facility for Emirates Trading Agency.
Represented Citibank N.A, on behalf of a syndicate of international and regional banks, in relation to a US$1.3 billion facility agreement for MTC Kuwait.
Represented a major syndicate of international banks in relation to a US$5.5 billion revolving facilities agreement for Saudi Aramco.
Represented Emirates NBD Bank, on behalf of a syndicate of international and regional banks, in relation to various amendments of an AED361 million syndicated term loan facility for Emirates Float Glass.
Sponsor / Borrower-side:
Represented Gulf Capital in relation to the US$80 million acquisition financing of the Chef Middle East Group and its post-acquisition corporate restructuring.
Represented Abraaj Capital on the acquisition financing of a telecoms company.
Represented GEMS Education in relation to a US$3 million syndicated accordion facilities agreement, the rearrangement of its corporate structure, and the release and regranting of certain security interests.
Restructuring
Represented the Royal Bank of Scotland and Noor Islamic Bank as the coordinating committee representing the lenders of the Dubai government's investment companies, Dubai International Capital and their holding company Dubai Holdings, in relation to the restructuring of US$700 million of debt.
- BPP Law School, London (Legal Practice Course 2007); London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.B. with upper second class honours 2005)
- Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales