The Law Middle East Awards 2026 shortlist has been announced, featuring firms and individuals nominated across 13 distinct categories. The shortlist was selected by the Law Middle East editorial team from over 470 nominations submitted by 121 firms, presented in alphabetical order without ranking.
Private Equity and Capital Markets Lead Early Categories
Five firms have been shortlisted for Private Equity Team of the Year: Baker Botts, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Gibson Dunn, Kirkland & Ellis, and White & Case. The Capital Markets Team of the Year category includes Akin, Baker Botts, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Dentons, Eversheds Sutherland, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Linklaters, and Meysan.
The Corporate M&A Team of the Year list comprises ADG Legal, Akin, Covington, Dentons, Eversheds Sutherland, Herbert Smith Freehills, Kramer, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, and Paul Hastings. In Dispute Resolution Team of the Year, the nominees are 33 Chambers, Akin, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, BSA Law, Charles Russell Speechlys, Dentons, Gibson Dunn, M&CO Legal, Mishcon de Reya, and Stephenson Harwood.
Regulatory and tax teams also received recognition. The Regulatory and Compliance Team of the Year shortlist includes Al Aidarous Advocates, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Dentons, Hadef & Partners, Herbert Smith Freehills, Kramer, Mishcon de Reya, Simmons & Simmons, Stephenson Harwood, and Trowers & Hamlins. The Tax Team of the Year category features Akin, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Eversheds Sutherland, Gibson Dunn, GLA & Company, Hadef & Partners, K&A, NeosLegal, PwC Middle East, and Simmons & Simmons.
The Private Wealth Team of the Year category includes Charles Russell Speechlys, Gateley Middle East, Habib Al Mulla and Partners, Hadef & Partners, Hourani & Partners, NeosLegal, TWS Legal Consultants, White Square Partners, Willow Tax & Legal, and Winston Taylor.
Individual Achievements and Legal Innovation
The awards also recognize individual lawyers for their contributions. The Lawyer of the Year category includes James Abbott, CMS, Salman Al-Sudairi, Latham & Watkins, Mark Bisch, Baker Botts, Ronald Graham, Winston Taylor, Darren Harris, Gateley Middle East, Amjad Hussain, K&L Gates, Alexander Malahias, Akin, Melissa Murray, Bird & Bird, Stuart Paterson, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, and Tom Thraya, Mayer Brown. The In-House Legal Team of the Year category features ADNOC Group, Almana Hospital Group, Bidfood Middle East, DNV Group, Equiti Group, G42, MUFG Bank, Riyadh Development Company, Seddiqi Holding, and Velora.
Legal innovation is highlighted through the Legal Support Service of the Year category, which includes Arbitra International, Autem, CoCounsel, Counsel by Thomson Reuters, Datasite, LEGALFLY, Lockton, Peerpoint, RAYNESS, and Titanium Escrow.
Emerging firms are recognized in the Breakthrough Law Firm of the Year category, which includes ADG Legal, AX Law, Greenberg Traurig, Kirkland & Ellis, Mishcon de Reya, OBH Lawyers, Paul Hastings, Simmons & Simmons, Skadden, and Triumph & Co. The International Law Firm of the Year category features Akin, Baker Botts, Bird & Bird, Clyde & Co, Eversheds Sutherland, Gateley Middle East, Gibson Dunn, Latham & Watkins, Simmons & Simmons, and White & Case.
There will be further awards, including the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award, with the winners announced at the ceremony.