Profile

Ali is a dual-qualified (New York and England & Wales) corporate lawyer. His practice covers a broad spectrum of cross-border corporate transactional matters, with a strong focus on M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

He represents private equity sponsors, regional family conglomerates and corporate clients on acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures and strategic investments. Ali has acted for clients investing and operating in various sectors, including financial services, energy and infrastructure, technology, life sciences and telecommunications. He also regularly advises venture capital firms and startups on early / mid-stage financing and bridge rounds and corporate governance matters, including corporate restructuring, equity incentive plans and employment agreements.

Ali is experienced in advising on US and European securities law matters in connection with complex, cross-border corporate financings, including debt and equity capital markets transactions, leveraged buyouts, high yield debt offerings and other private placement exemptions.

Prior to joining Hourani & Partners, Ali practiced at distinguished international law firms in London and New York, including Curtis, Linklaters and Debevoise & Plimpton.

Ali received a JD cum laude from Georgetown Law in 2015, where he was a member of The Tax Lawyer journal. He received a BA cum laude from Northwestern University in 2011.

Expertise
  • Corporate
  • Commercial
  • Joint Ventures
  • Mergers & Acquisition
  • Private Equity
  • Venture Capital
  • Capital Markets
Experience

Ali’s experience includes advising:

Mergers & Acquisitions

  • A consortium of investors led by RRJ Capital, in connection with their $600 million investment in VistaJet, the world’s leading global private aviation group
  • Avilog, an affiliate of Albawardi Group and Al Muhaidib Group, in connection with its acquisition of a 49% interest in SATS Saudi Arabia, a global leader in gateway services and a leading food solutions provider in Asia
  • Americana, a PIF portfolio company, in its joint venture with Farm Frites, including a $100 million investment in a greenfield manufacturing plant in Riyadh, KSA
  • Humania Capital on its acquisition of Kaya Middle East, a leading provider of specialized beauty and skincare treatments in the Middle East
  • American Securities and P2 Capital Partners in their $855 million take-private acquisition of Blount International, a US-based manufacturer of forestry, agriculture and construction products
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in the acquisition of BUT, the largest furniture retailer network in France, including a high yield offering of €380 million

Venture Capital

  • RZM Investment as lead investor in the Series A financing of Home Cotton for Wholesale and Retail Trade (Baytonia)
  • Merak Capital with respect to preparing a full suite of template investment documentation in relation to investing in international and KSA-based startups as well as a full suite of template operational documentation in relation to its Exel Gaming Accelerator in KSA
  • SEEDRA Ventures in connection with its SAFE investment in Lamar Aloula for Information Technology
  • SEEDRA Ventures in connection with its acquisition of a minority stake in Dhaifallah Bakhit Alwadani (Dinar)
  • Novus Aviation Capital in connection with its ASA bridge round of financing.
  • A KSA giga project in multiple venture capital financings of US-based startups.
  • Btomorrow Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of British American Tobacco, in multiple venture capital financings of US-based startups
Qualifications

Education

  • JD, cum laude, Georgetown University Law Center, USA
  • BA, cum laude, Northwestern University, USA

Admission

  • Law Society of England & Wales, UK
  • New York State Bar Association, USA
  • Dubai Legal Affairs Department, UAE
Languages
  • English
  • Urdu