BACKBachir Nawar is a Partner and the Head of the Eptalex ADGM office. With over two decades of experience in the UAE and internationally he has served both in in-house and private practice. Most recently, he was the Chief Legal Officer of a publicly listed asset management firm in the UAE.
Bachir’s expertise encompasses mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activism, distressed situations, restructuring, compliance, governance, and litigation management. He has led across multiple asset classes, including technology, real estate, financial services and commodities technology and worked with regulators in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Europe.
As the head of the Eptalex ADGM office, Bachir’s focus is on assisting technology start-ups. He has played a key role in setting up incubators and helping technology start-ups navigate the legal and regulatory challenges of establishing and growing their businesses. His guidance has been instrumental in securing funding, protecting intellectual property and ensuring compliance with local and international laws.
In the realm of shareholder activism, Bachir has been a pioneer within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, advocating for shareholders rights and corporate governance at a time when activism was nascent in the region. His efforts include establishing the first ADGM open-ended shareholder activist fund, acquiring key stakes across the GCC and Asia and orchestrating structured campaigns against one of the largest commodity traders in Singapore and Hong Kong.
Bachir is adept at handling special situations. He has advised on reputational damages in high-profile disputes in the GCC and the UK and run sensitive multi-jurisdictional litigations involving DSAR as well as broader aspects of data protection. He has extensive experience in forensics and white collar litigation both internationally and within the GCC. He has successfully led for stakeholders in complex cases involving fraud, embezzlement and regulatory violations. His keenness to always understand the legal landscape and regulatory frameworks across different jurisdictions has been crucial in achieving favorable outcomes including filing and fending off against disgruntled executives in the UAE, Malaysia, Seychelles, KSA, and Egypt.
Bachir has a robust background in compliance and governance. He has assisted with drafting governance and compliance policies and their maintenance, interpretation, and application to complex cases. Aware of the media importance to listed entities, he has consistently assisted with disclosures across different sectors significantly impacting markets and managed reputational risks for issuers and their portfolios.
Bachir has a distinguished track record in mergers and acquisitions. He has led the acquisition of London trophy assets (managing the sale, purchase, and financing aspects), established funds and advised on restrictions surrounding promotion and investments, advised on share swaps and reverse takeovers and assisted with the establishment of property and asset managers for large-scale estates. He also assisted with the setup of a stud farm in Ireland and the purchase of the seed estate.