Eversheds Sutherland Expands Dubai Team With Finance and Restructuring Partners Mike Rainey and Asal Saghari From King & Spalding
The global corporate law firm Eversheds Sutherland has announced the appointment of Mike Rainey and Asal Saghari as partners in its finance and restructuring practice, based in Dubai. The appointments form part of the firm’s ongoing investment in building market-leading capabilities across strategic practices and geographies. Both partners join from King & Spalding.
Mike Rainey brings over two decades of experience in the Middle East, advising on conventional and Shari’ah-compliant financings. His practice spans real estate finance, corporate lending, and special situations, acting for lenders, borrowers, and sponsors. Mike led the first Perpetual Sukuk restructuring under Saudi Arabia’s bankruptcy law and continues to advise on high-value cross-border transactions involving Middle East capital. He is ranked by Legal 500 EMEA and IFLR1000, and frequently speaks and writes on emerging trends in finance and restructuring.
Asal Saghari has more than 15 years of experience leading complex conventional and Shari’ah-compliant financing transactions across Europe and the Middle East. Her practice emphasizes private credit, leading both domestic and cross-border private credit financing transactions for regional and international lenders and investors. With prior experience in London and Frankfurt, Asal has acted on inbound and outbound transactions into and from the Middle East and on a wide range of real estate finance matters. She is ranked by Legal 500 EMEA as a “key lawyer” in Islamic finance and is recognised as a thought leader on legal innovation and diversity.
Keith Froud, International Chief Executive, Eversheds Sutherland, commented,
“Our continued investment in exceptional talent of the likes of Mike and Asal is a core part of driving our global strategy. We continue to attract partners of the highest calibre, and this record year for lateral hires across our International business demonstrates both momentum and confidence. Looking ahead, we remain focused on building further strength in depth to help drive our strategy forward.”
Tawfiq Tabbaa, Managing Partner, Middle East, Eversheds Sutherland, said,
“The appointments of Mike and Asal exemplify our continued commitment to the strategic expansion of core capabilities in the Middle East. Their established presence in the region, coupled with deep technical proficiency and trusted relationships across key financial institutions, directly supports our commercial trajectory. These appointments not only reinforce the credibility of our corporate finance offering, they position us to capture new market opportunities, whilst continuing to deliver high-value client solutions, but with additional agility and depth.”
Zeid Hanania, Partner and Head of Corporate Finance, Middle East, Eversheds Sutherland, said,
“We’re delighted to welcome Mike and Asal to the team. Their arrival reiterates our strategic focus on deepening and enhancing our corporate finance offering in the region, while their comprehensive experience and deep market insight will be invaluable as we continue to support our clients in achieving their commercial objectives within this increasingly complex and highly specialised space.”
Mike Rainey, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said,
“Joining Eversheds Sutherland is an exciting step. The firm’s established Middle East platform provides a strong foundation to grow its banking, finance, and restructuring practice. I’m looking forward to working with my new colleagues to build on the practice I’ve developed and to explore new opportunities—particularly in real estate finance, corporate finance and complex restructurings.”
Asal Saghari, Partner, Eversheds Sutherland, said,
“I am genuinely excited to be joining Eversheds Sutherland at a time of real growth and opportunity across the Middle East. The firm’s platform enables me to support my existing clients more effectively and to build new relationships as we strengthen our presence in the region. I am deeply committed to this market and pleased to be joining a firm that shares that same genuine commitment. I look forward to playing an active role in shaping the next phase of the firm’s and our finance practice’s growth in the region.”
These strategic appointments reinforce Eversheds Sutherland’s commitment to strengthening its Middle East platform and underscore the firm’s focus on delivering high-value, market-leading solutions in finance and restructuring. With Mike Rainey and Asal Saghari joining the Dubai team, the firm is well-positioned to support complex cross-border transactions, expand its client base, and drive growth across the region’s dynamic financial markets.
Eversheds Sutherland is a major global corporate law firm that provides a full range of legal services to a diverse international client base, from medium-sized businesses to large multinational corporations. It is a result of a combination between UK-based Eversheds LLP and US-based Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP in 2017.
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