Profile

Rudolf is a partner at Hourani & Partners and a French qualified attorney. He represents multi-national and regional groups, private equity funds and financial institutions, including Delivery Hero (and its portfolio companies in the Middle East), Kitopi, CMA CGM, Havas, PetroRabigh, Al Muhaidib Group, Investcorp, and ECG. Rudolf’s practice covers mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate governance, commercial litigation and arbitration, and internal investigations. He combines transactional and disputes experience, providing comprehensive strategic advice in anticipating the risks of future potential disputes and corporate governance advice to shareholders of a running business in the context of an ongoing dispute.

He is currently advising a multi-national group in the context of a multi-billion dollar shareholders’ dispute, which included conducting a large internal investigation and advising on a Dubai-seated international arbitration (DIFC-LCIA rules), litigations in various jurisdictions (including the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and providing corporate governance, M&A, antitrust, and commercial advice in relation to the underlying business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Rudolf’s diverse practice and skills are recognized by the legal industry since he is ranked in:

  • Chambers and Partners Global for Venture Capital & Emerging Companies in the United Arab Emirates
  • IFLR1000 as a notable practitioner for M&A in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
  • Legal 500 as a litigation expert for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Prior to joining Hourani & Partners, Rudolf practiced at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP’s Paris and New York offices, where he specialized in M&A and capital markets.

Expertise
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Corporate Governance
  • International Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
  • Investigations
  • Capital Markets
Experience

Rudy’s experience in the Middle East includes advising:

  • Delivery Hero SE on several M&A transactions, including the investments into or acquisitions of Hungerstation, Talabat, Carriage, Zomato, SweetHeart Kitchen
  • A significant investor in Kitopi’s US$ 300 million Series C round extension
  • Al Muhaidib Group on several M&A transactions, including Abyat, BATIC, and HimmahLogistics (aborted)
  • Energy Capital Group in connection with multiple acquisitions
  • Kitopi on various aspects of several M&A transactions, including Shobak, Taxi Restaurants, and Awj Investments
  • Rani Hammad H, the founder of Tarboosh Games, in the sale of a majority stake in Tarboosh Games to Voodoo SAS
Qualifications

Education

  • Masters (post-graduate) in European Business Law, Université Panthéon Assas (Paris II) France
  • Masters in Business Law, Université Panthéon Assas (Paris II), France
  • M. Eur., European Business Law, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Germany
  • M. German Law, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Germany
  • Master in Management from ESCP Business School (Programme Grande Ecole)

Admissions

  • Paris Bar (Avocat à la Cour), France
  • Dubai Legal Affairs Department, UAE
Languages
  • English
  • French
  • German