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Paul Scarr

Principal - Corporate

Paul is an experienced senior corporate lawyer with over 25 years of international experience supporting clients in Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East.  He has been based in Dubai since 2007.

 

Paul advises on a wide range of corporate matters including M&A and joint venture transactions, venture capital fund raisings, share incentive plans, commercial contracts, corporate structurings and corporate governance matters.  He works with a wide range of clients including regional and international corporates, private equity and venture funds, and founders. He likes to work in long term partnership with his clients, often operating as an integral part of their senior decision-making teams. 

  • LinkedIn

Contact

paul.scarr@supportlegal.com

+971 50 902 2969

Experience

  • Advising a Bahrain based private equity fund on its acquisition of an international school based in Abu Dhabi

 

  • Advising a Saudi Arabian food company on its investment by way of convertible note in a UAE based healthy snacks manufacturing business

 

  • Advising a UAE based management team on its management buyout of a Middle East electrical product supply business

 

  • Advising an Egyptian fintech on its $5m seed fund funding investment by a US based venture capital fund

 

  • Advising the shareholders of EER Corporate Services on their management buyout of the business

 

  • *Advising GEMS Education on its joint venture with Hassana Investment Company (a subsidiary of the Saudi pension fund, GOSI) and the subsequent SAR2.3bn acquisition of Ma’arif Education, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest private schools’ group

 

  • *Advising Investcorp Corporate Investments – MENA on multiple investments, bids and exits

 

  • *Advising a consortium comprising JFE Steel Corporation and Marubeni-Itochu Steel on their joint venture with Senaat GHC to develop a $300 million steel pipe manufacturing plant in the Khalifa Industrial Zone of Abu Dhabi

  • *Advising Temasek Holdings on its US$2bn acquisition of an interest in Bharti Airtel

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(*work undertaken whilst in previous roles)

Accolades

  • Recognised by Chambers Global, 2017 as one of the "Leaders in their field" for Corporate/M&A (Middle 
    East-wide) and Corporate/M&A (United Arab Emirates)
     

  • Chambers Global 2017 - “Paul Scarr impresses peers with his cross-border M&A practice” and 
    clients cite that ”he knows all the nuances of transactions."
     

  • Commended for "excellent expertise in cross-border M&A and joint venture matters" and clients have 
    cited "he is very smart and can always think through issues very well and come up with solutions." -
    Chambers Global, 2016
     

  • "Paul Scarr leads the firm in a number of its big-ticket M&A deals. Clients appreciate his experience 
    and pragmatism." - Chambers Global, 2013

Previously

  • Senior Consultant and Acting General Counsel, GEMS Education, Dubai 

  • Partner, Herbert Smith Freehills, Singapore & Dubai 

  • Senior Associate, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Sydney 

  • Associate, Dentons, UK 

Credentials

ADMISSIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS​​

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  • Registered Legal Consultant, Dubai

  • England & Wales

  • Scotland

  • New South Wales, Australia

EDUCATION

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  • Post Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, University of Edinburgh, 1996

  • LLB, University of Edinburgh, 1995

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