Meet the Team
Alexander Forsythe
Managing Partner — Corporate & M&A
Called to the Bar of England & Wales and admitted in the DIFC, Alexander has over 22 years of experience advising on complex M&A, private equity, and corporate governance matters across the Gulf region. He previously led the corporate practice at a Magic Circle firm's Dubai office before co-founding Meridian Chambers. He has advised on over USD 3 billion in transactions.
Dr. Layla Al Rashid
Partner — International Arbitration
A dual-qualified lawyer (England & Wales and UAE), Layla holds a PhD in International Commercial Arbitration from King's College London. She has acted as counsel and arbitrator in over 80 arbitration proceedings under DIAC, LCIA, ICC, and UNCITRAL rules. Layla is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and sits on the DIAC Arbitration Court.
Marcus Webb
Partner — Banking, Finance & Regulatory
Marcus advises financial institutions, borrowers, and regulators on a broad range of banking and finance transactions. With 16 years of experience across London, Singapore, and Dubai, he has particular expertise in Islamic finance structures, DFSA regulatory matters, and fintech licensing. He was previously General Counsel at a leading DIFC-based investment bank.
Nadia Karimov
Senior Associate — Dispute Resolution
Nadia specialises in commercial litigation before the DIFC Courts and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards. Admitted in England & Wales and the DIFC, she has a background in commercial fraud and asset recovery, having previously practised at a leading disputes boutique in London. She is fluent in English, Arabic, and Russian.
Omar Bassiouny
Senior Associate — Corporate & Real Estate
Omar advises on corporate transactions, real estate acquisitions, and construction matters across the UAE and wider MENA region. He holds degrees from Cairo University and UCL, and is admitted in the UAE. He has particular expertise in cross-border structuring for family offices and private investors acquiring commercial assets in the DIFC and Dubai.
A Different Kind of Law Firm
Meridian Chambers was founded on a simple conviction: that the best legal advice comes from experienced lawyers who are genuinely invested in your outcome — not from large institutions where your matter is passed to a junior team. Established in the Dubai International Financial Centre, we operate at the intersection of common law expertise and deep regional knowledge. Our attorneys have been called to the bar in England & Wales, New York, and the UAE, and have practised at leading international firms before joining Meridian to build something more focused, more responsive, and more client-centred. We serve a select roster of clients — sovereign wealth funds, private equity houses, listed corporates, family offices, and high-growth technology businesses. Our size is deliberate. It means every client receives direct partner attention, and every matter is treated as if it were our most important one.
Our Mission: To provide internationally excellent legal counsel with the responsiveness, integrity, and commercial judgment that DIFC's most demanding clients deserve.
Commercial Judgment
We understand that legal advice must serve a business objective. We always frame our counsel in the context of your commercial goals, not just legal technicalities.
Unwavering Integrity
Our reputation is built on candid, honest advice — even when that means telling a client something they may not want to hear. We will never over-promise to win a mandate.
True Partnership
We invest in long-term client relationships. Many of our clients have worked with us across multiple matters and jurisdictions over many years. That continuity has real value.