Clifford Chance appoints antitrust counsel
Sabra Ferhat has relocated from the London office of Clifford Chance to become the firm’s first dedicated antitrust expert based in the UAE.
Ferhat brings a breadth of experience advising clients on international antitrust issues across a range of sectors including tech, telecoms, energy, consumer goods, insurance and banking.
Her recent experience includes advising Nationwide Building Society on the antitrust aspects of its £2.9 billion acquisition of Virgin Money UK plc, which is the largest UK banking deal since the 2008 financial crisis. Additional notable experience of Sabra’s includes advising Coca Cola on its acquisition of Costa Coffee, as well as advising a consortium consisting of KIRKBI, Blackstone and CPPIB on the £4.77 billion take private of Merlin Entertainments plc. Sabra has also worked with clients based in the UAE and across the wider Middle East, such as DP World on several of its acquisitions across the globe.
“We are delighted to welcome Sabra to the region,” said Mohammed Al-Shukairy, Clifford Chance’s regional managing partner. “Her move will build upon our regional Antitrust practice in Saudi Arabia, as well as complement our broader corporate offering in the Middle East and Türkiye at an important point in the development of merger control regimes as well as added regulatory scrutiny by regulators worldwide, including in the region.”
Marc Besen, partner and chair of Clifford Chance’s Global Antitrust Group, added, “Sabra’s appointment is testament to our commitment to meeting the complex antitrust and competition needs of our clients globally. Her deep expertise is set to further bolster our Middle East and global Antitrust team’s capacity to guide clients through the intricate and rapidly evolving landscape of competition as well as associated regulations.”
Ferhat said, “I am delighted at this opportunity to contribute to such a dynamic regional team and to advise on cutting-edge competition law matters. As the Middle East is experiencing unprecedented growth and expansion, the need for robust antitrust advice is crucial for both local and international clients navigating complex regulatory landscapes worldwide and in the region. I look forward to expanding our team while continuing working closely with my colleague Counsel Selman Ansari in Saudi Arabia and the antitrust global network to deliver strategic, forward-thinking solutions that will help our clients thrive in this evolving regulatory environment.”
Before joining Clifford Chance in 2018 as a member of the firm’s London antitrust practice, Ferhat worked as in-house competition counsel at British broadcaster Sky and prior to that in private practice in Brussels. She is a dual qualified lawyer (France and UK). She is fluent in French, English and German.
