Energy & Natural Resources
Darren is a partner in Clyde & Co’s corporate group and is based in the Dubai office. He has more than 18 years of experience, 12 of those years in the Middle East, representing acquirers, sellers, founders, investors and management teams on cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, venture capital, joint ventures (JVs), and corporate advisory matters across the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the UK. Darren has been based in the Middle East since 2012.
Direct Lines
+971 4 384 4107 +971 56 4189 768 Darren.Harris@clydeco.comMain Office
Dubai
+ 971 4 384 4000 + 971 4 384 4004Regional experience
Full Profile
Darren has advised on a significant number of corporate transactions, working with clients operating in the retail and consumer, industrial, and technology sectors.
Darren is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.
Prior to joining Clyde & Co, Darren led the legal function and was head of corporate at PwC Legal Middle East.
Experience
- Advising the shareholders of The Talent Enterprise, a market-leading psychometric and talent assessment technology company in the Middle East, on the proposed sale of the business to Mercer.
- Advising the shareholders of Al Shirawi US Chillers on a 100 per cent sale of their regional and US chillers business to Dalkia (EDF Group).
- Advising the shareholders of the UAE’s Organic Foods and Cafe on a majority share sale to Gulf Japan Food Fund.
- Advising on the management buyout of Gymnation, the largest chain of fitness centres in the UAE, to a listed UK company.
- Advising Al Futtaim on an asset sale of their sports and retail division, Royal Sporting House, operating in East Asia, the GCC, and Egypt to Gulf Marketing Group.
- Advising Rentokil Plc on several acquisitions in the Middle East and Africa.
- Advising the sellers of UAE-headquartered Dear Systems, a leader in inventory management, to a US private equity investor.
- Advising Cheung Kong Infrastructure and Hong Kong Electric on its USD 9.1 billion acquisition of EDF Energy Networks in the UK.
- Advising TUV International on its acquisition of a global risk advisory business.
- Advising Actuant Corporation (now Enerpac Tool Group), a NYSE-listed company, on its acquisition of the business of an industrial group with operations in several Middle East, African and Caspian countries.
- Advising the founder-sellers of Hug Digital and Socialize on the disposal of digital and social media companies to global agencies.
- Advising a prominent UAE private equity investor on the acquisition of and equity investment in an IT and cyber security business.
- Advising the sellers and management team of a UAE food and beverages distributor to a private equity investor.
- Advising a private equity investor on the buyout of Clarke Energy, a global power generation business.
- Advising a private equity investor on the buyout of ghd, a leading hair products business.
- Advising the management team of Pets at Home on its management buyout with KKR.
- Advising the management team of Fircroft Engineering, a global outsourcing and recruitment firm in the energy sector, on its management buyout with Equistone Private Equity (formerly Barclays Private Equity).
*Experience gained prior to joining Clyde & Co.