Areas of Practice

The following is a brief list of our areas of practice and legal services we are able to provide

Arbitration and Litigation

Our arbitration and litigation practice combines international experience with local Omani law expertise. Our lawyers have a considerable amount of experience handling litigation and arbitration matters in both Arabic and English for local and international clients. Our lawyers routinely appear in sophisticated local court litigation in Oman and have acted as counsel in some of Oman’s highest profile court cases and arbitrations. Our firm also acts in proceedings for enforcement of arbitral awards in Oman. Our firm’s experience includes litigation in relation to administrative, criminal, civil, labour, commercial agencies, commercial, construction, debt recovery, financing, family, insurance, tax, shipping and air transport matters. 

Our lawyers have acted as counsel in some of the most significant disputes and international arbitrations in Oman. Our expertise includes handling disputes in relation to construction, energy, foreign direct investment and corporate matters. Our lawyers have also acted on international institutional arbitrations, including International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) and Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (ADCCAC) arbitrations. Our lawyers are well experienced in acting as Omani law expert and local counsel for Omani law matters. They are routinely appointed as arbitrators in Oman related arbitration matters and our offering includes a licensed arbitrator registered in the Omani Administrative, Civil and Commercial Courts, as well as a registered arbitrator in the GCC Commercial Arbitration Center.  

With a busy disputes and commercial practice, our firm is also well versed in carrying out risk management and advisory in large commercial transactions.  

Corporate, M&A, and Commercial

MAR Law has a strong corporate and commercial practice. Our lawyers have experience of advising clients on a wide range of corporate/commercial matters and M&A matters. Our lawyers have particular experience in advising clients on the Omani FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) regime, company formation, shareholders and joint venture agreements and corporate structuring and restructuring.  

Our work in this respect (and in connection with M&As) often involves advising on matters relating to consumer protection, product liability and competition law issues. We also provide advice relating to consumer protection to both individuals and businesses and are well-versed in appearing before the Public Authority for Consumer Protection.  

Our lawyers have worked closely with the consumer protection and monopoly prevention authorities. We also assist entities by undertaking audits to identify key competition risks and putting in place effective competition compliance prograMs Our lawyers also advise businesses on discreet issues and potential arrangements for compliance with competition law. We routinely assist companies structure their joint ventures, patent licenses and other intellectual property arrangements to comply with competition laws and guidelines.  

Our lawyers regularly advise listed and other regulated entities on matters of corporate governance and compliance in addition to their day-to-day corporate and commercial matters. We advise and represent clients in all sectors of the Omani economy. We regularly advise joint stock companies and other regulated entities on a variety of corporate, commercial, supply chain and corporate governance matters. We also conduct corporate and executive seminars in corporate governance and related areas. We have assisted clients with drafting all of the relevant documentation pertaining to board policies and procedures manuals etc.  

The firm has extensive experience acting on mandates pertaining to mergers, acquisitions and divestments (M&A). The firm assists clients with due diligence matters, advising both sellers and acquirers and helping them in identifying key issues, risks, appropriate transaction structure and contractual mechanism. We have seen that M&A transactions are becoming more complex and require the involvement of sophisticated strategy and various advisers. We have been involved in intricate M&As transactions that often have cross border element.  

Our extensive M&A experience and understanding, combined with our considerable in-depth knowledge of the local laws and practice enable us to provide high quality and practical advice on sophisticated deals. We advise on the full range of deal structures, from public takeovers to divestments, leveraged buyouts and other forms of business combinations, acquisitions, divestitures etc. 

We regularly advise high net worth individuals, family offices, investment funds and pension funds on a variety of high value transactions and investment matters within Oman and abroad.  

Capital Markets and Corporate Finance

We have experience of advising companies both before and during the initial public offering (IPO) process involving the listing of shares on the Muscat stock exchange and the listing of units in open or closed ended local investment funds in the relevant market. Our lawyers have represented closed and public joint stock companies on bonds’ issue, rights issue, private placement and restructuring of capital and have been involved in due diligence, review and signing off of prospectus and issue documents.  

Our work often involves advising on matters relating to securities, insurance and investment funds and international financial investment products and dealing with related regulatory issues. We have substantial experience of advising international and local funds and companies on structuring the marketing and sale of cross border financial products, securities, insurance products and insurance underwriting activity.  

Banking, Finance and Project Finance

Conventional banking and finance

Our banking and finance lawyers advise on both conventional and Islamic finance matters. We are a trusted adviser to many leading companies on their banking and finance matters. We regularly advise clients on banking, finance, securities and related commercial matters. This involves advising borrowers and lenders on international finance agreements, common term agreements and term sheets along with review and drafting of onshore Omani security documentation. We have a very experienced banking, finance and project finance team. Our lawyers provide local legal services to lenders and Omani companies and are experienced in matters relating to corporate loans, mezzanine and leveraged finance, structured finance, asset finance, ship and aircraft finance and project finance.  

Regarding the financing of the project, based on the experience of our lawyers, we can assist in ensuring that the project is structured and the risks are allocated in such a manner as to ensure the project is bankable and, as we are aware of the key concerns of lenders and their credit committees, we can ensure such concerns are addressed appropriately in the project documents. Our lawyers have acted on numerous banking and finance transactions as Omani local counsel, undertaking Omani law review of the finance and security documents and advising on security packages that would be effective and enforceable under Omani law. As Omani local counsel, we are used to working closely with international counsel in relation to the Omani law review of finance and security documents. We are regularly involved in drafting, reviewing, advising and negotiating Omani law governed finance and security documents. 

Our lawyers have been involved in some of the most significant banking and finance transactions which have taken place in Oman in the past few years. Our lawyers have acted on major project and infrastructure finance transactions such as telecom, water and power projects (IWP and IPP), energy projects in the oil and gas sector, industrial and chemical plants, real estate development projects and throughput facilities. Our lawyers also advise on Export Credit Agencies (ECA) funded projects. 

Our lawyers are very familiar with various forms of LMA documentation, syndication, intercreditor arrangements, loan transfers and restructuring of facilities.  Our lawyers also have experience in supporting lenders and clients with the fulfillment of conditions precedents to drawdowns and in the issue of customary legal opinions.  

Our lawyers have advised leading local banks such as Bank Muscat, National Bank of Oman, Ahli Bank, Bank Dhofar, Alizz Bank and Bank Nizwa. Our lawyers have also represented numerous international banks such as China Development Bank, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Wells Fargo, Credit Agricola Corporate & Investment Bank, KFW, HSBC, Standard Chartered, J.P. Morgan. Our lawyers have acted for borrowers on mandates relating to projects funded by international financial institutions such as Asian Development Bank, World Bank, International Finance Corporation and Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank.

Bankruptcy and Restructuring

Our lawyers have experience of advising entities on solvent and insolvent restructuring of their business. Our lawyers routinely advise entities during time of financial distress to implement an effective restructuring. Our work includes renegotiation and refinancing of banking facilities, restructuring of equity stakes, as well as use of insolvency and enforcement processes. In addition to structuring and implementing refinancing arrangements and enforcements through legal documentation, our team also provides advice in relation to the operation of the underlying business.  

We are highly skilled in working in times of financial distress and understand the need for proactive and concise and practical advice. Our team is seamlessly linked with a wider offering including financial consultants in providing advice to all business stakeholders in a distressed context.

Full legal advisory mandates and outsourced general counsel services

We have experience advising clients on the full range of legal matters. We have realised that different clients have different needs and requirements. We have also realised that a traditional retainer concept does not work for all clients. We are engaged by several clients, in and outside Oman, to provide the full range of legal services, comprising corporate, commercial, employment, banking and finance, dispute resolution management and advisory services, acting as either statutory legal adviser or general counsel to those clients. 

We also provide company secretarial services and assistance in relation to general assembly meetings, board meetings and convening those meetings in compliance with provisions of applicable law and the memorandum and articles of association of the company.  

We are providing these services to limited liability companies, joint stock companies, Government owned companies and other public and private companies in Oman and overseas. As outsourced general counsel, the firm also acts as a strategic counsel to these companies, advising them on a mix of legal, commercial and risk matters.  

Government Affairs

Our government affairs practice works closely with our corporate and others lawyers in advising clients on issues pertaining to legal, regulatory and executive practices that may impact the way our clients intend to do business. Our lawyers work closely with government offices and Sanad offices to produce practical results for clients. Our team has substantial experience of handling and assisting with all government services. Our lawyers have extensive legal and regulatory experience and are abreast with key changes that impact doing business in Oman.  

Our government affairs practice is often the conduit between our clients and public functionaries. In addition to acting as representative and interface for clients on complex matters before the Government, the firm is also able to assist with day-to-day admin tasks such as renewal of commercial and other registrations, amendments to company’s registered information, assisting with visa applications, licensing and permits applications, carrying out public register searches, e.g. in the commercial register, commercial agencies register and trademarks register, and registration of documents before the relevant public registrars and related PRO services.

Intellectual Property, Franchising & Agencies

Our intellectual property (IP) practice focuses on all aspects of IP rights including patents, geographical indications, industrial designs, trademarks, and copyright. Our lawyers regularly help entities protect their IP by assisting with due diligence, registration and enforcement in Oman and other countries. We are also well-versed in providing advice relating to international conventions concerning intellectual property. We are also well connected with international specialist firms who may assist in protecting our clients’ IP rights globally.
We advise both foreign and local clients on a full range of commercial matters, including licensing issues and assistance in reviewing their commercial arrangements, technical assistance, technology and know-how transfer etc. Our lawyers are very familiar with franchising, distribution, licensing and commercial agency matters and are regularly called upon by international clients and law firms to advise on such matters.
Our lawyers are also experienced in handling IP claims in local courts in Oman.

Infrastructure and Natural Resources

Our lawyers advise on the full lifecycle of major projects. They advise joint ventures, procurers, developers and lenders on large scale infrastructure and natural resources projects such as water treatment plants, pipelines, roads, ports and airports and telecommunication networks.  

Our lawyers have experience in advising on oil and gas concessions, the new form of the Omani exploration production and sharing agreement and joint operation arrangements. Our lawyers routinely advise on mining licenses and concessions. Our natural resources experience covers acting for clients on the upstream, mid- and downstream side together with advising on environmental issues involved. 

We have substantial experience of Public Private Partnership (PPP) models and advise on models such as build-own-operate (BOO) and BOO-transfer (BOOT) projects.

Islamic Finance

Our lawyers are very familiar with and have advised on numerous Islamic finance transactions, including Islamic project finance mandates. Our lawyers have experience in advising on Diminishing Musharaka-cum-Ijarah facilities, Istisna and Musharaka, Mudaraba and structuring of sukuk structures amongst other Sharia compliant facilities. We are also experienced in using such structures for legacy and succession planning.

Labour and Immigration

Be it a new innovative project or an existing one – we understand that commercial and legal issues and government affairs are very often intertwined and interface with various governmental agencies. In such cases, practice and unwritten procedures of the executive branch of the Government play an important role. 

Our labour law and immigration practice covers all aspects of employment matters and immigration rules. We assist clients in structuring their employment relationships to comply with Omani law, dealing with both expatriate and local employees. We understand that, at times, disputes are unavoidable in the labour market. The fundamental principle followed is a risk-based approach aimed at avoiding progress of disputes to litigation by effectively dealing with disputes at an early stage by having in place robust contracts, policies and procedures. We assist in negotiating settlements and, where a dispute is unavoidable, our lawyers represent clients before the Ministry of Labour and the courts.  

We also conduct corporate and executive seminars in labour and human resources matters. We have assisted clients with drafting all of the relevant documentation pertaining to labour matters, including expatriate and local offer letters and employment contracts, disciplinary manuals and termination letters etc, as well as in representing clients before the Omani courts, relevant Government agencies, and other foruMs Our labour law and immigration practice works hand-in-hand advising new employers on obtaining labour clearances and employment and residential visas for expatriate employees, business visa requirements, enrolment of Omani employees in government organised social insurance schemes and Omanisation.

Projects and Privatization

Our lawyers advise on the full lifecycle of major projects. They advise on joint ventures, acting for procurers, developers and lenders on large scale projects in the communications, transportation, power and water sector (IPP, IWP and IWP(P)), renewable energy projects such as solar PV and wind, chemicals and industrial projects.  

We assist lenders and developers of privatization projects advising on Public Private Partnership (PPP) models and development of project risk profile, project documents, tender documents and project closing reports. We have experience in working closely with other technical and financial advisers in modelling the best approach and structure for the project, while ensuring that the project risk allocation represents a practical and bankable project structure. We also assist in tender evaluation and assessment and responding to bidders’ comments.   

We assist bidders with project due diligence, preparation of reports on project documents and project risk matrix. We also advise bidders on corporate structure and provide other pre-bid and sector advice to present a bankable project structure to their lenders. 

Shipping and Aviation

Our lawyers have extensive of acting on shipping and aviation mandates. Our lawyers have been involved not only in financing of vessels and aircrafts, details of which are provided above in the Banking, Finance and Project Finance sectiona , but also regularly are the port of first call for number of international firms in respect of commercial matters relating to shipping and aviation. Our lawyers were involved in the restructuring of Oman Air and the Oman Aviation Group and its business.

We have also advised several clients on matters relating to shipping and carriage of goods by sea and air. Our lawyers have advised various project companies operating in the Sohar Industrial Port and Salalah Free Zone and Port in relation to matters related to land rights, port operations, health and safety, environment and related matters. Our lawyers have advised clients such as Oman International Container Terminal on various operational and commercial issues and advised Port of Duqm on matters relating to sub-usufruct. We provide a full range of legal services concerning, amongst other things:

  • arrest of vessels and aircrafts
  • calculation of general average
  • marine insurance obligations and liability claims
  • acting for shipowners and charterers in cargo damage claims
  • port regulations
  • demurrage claims
  • international trade documents
  • air carriage claims
  • war risk insurance claims

In addition, our lawyers have advised clients on charterparties and other regulatory matters involving compliance with Air Navigation Orders and disputes under charterparties and contracts of affreightment.

Tax & Customs

We have extensive experience, knowledge and expertise in handling complex and challenging tax litigation and customs disputes. We have consistently offered high-quality tax advice for businesses in the Sultanate throughout the past decade. We pride ourselves on offering customised solutions to support some of the world’s most prominent corporations with a presence in Oman. Our focus is on helping companies to achieve their objectives in a tax-efficient manner and providing them with the highest standard of representation in administrative tax controversies and tax litigation.

With the advent of VAT in Oman, we are currently helping companies understand the local law requirements and chart a way through the maze of VAT legal provisions. Advising across a wide range of VAT-sensitive sectors including real estate, financial services, retail, diversified industries, we deliver practical solutions and maximum tax efficiency for Omani businesses.

 VAT does not stop at national boundaries. Our lawyers provide standalone structuring advice however we are also occasionally called upon to deal with inquiries from entities with operations across the GCC, allowing us to offer integrated VAT advice across jurisdictions.

‘’We are in this together. Your team and ours. The Power of Collaboration.”