James O'Connor

Preferred

Corporate Commercial Lawyer in Abu Dhabi

0.0(0 Reviews)

Abu Dhabi

19 years

Member since 2026

About

Irish-qualified solicitor (Law Society of Ireland, Roll 24819) registered with ADGM. Nineteen years of cross-border M&A and private-equity work across the GCC, with senior roles previously at top-tier firms in London and Dubai. Lead counsel on more than USD 2.3 billion in regional acquisitions since 2018, spanning logistics, fintech, healthcare, and energy-services targets. Member of the ADGM Pro Bono Advisory Group and the GCC chapter of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. Co-author of the Lexology GCC M&A Yearbook 2024. Counsels family-office sponsors on UAE-domiciled holding structures, deal-by-deal carry, and post-transaction integration. Active mentor in the ADGM Founders Programme.

Practice Areas

Corporate CommercialBanking FinanceCivil LitigationDispute Resolution Arbitration

Languages Spoken

English, Arabic

Office Location

Al Maryah Island, ADGM Square, Building 4, Level 11, Abu Dhabi

Website

james-oconnor.lex.ae

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Verified by LEXAI

Verified on 17 April 2026

Practitioner TypeDIFC / ADGM Registered

DIFC / ADGM RegistrationADGM/LP/000412

Licensed Until17 May 2028

Verification StatusVerified

This DIFC / ADGM Registered has been independently verified by LEXAI. Licence credentials and professional standing have been confirmed with the relevant UAE authorities.

Answered Questions (3)

Banking FinanceBest Answer8 helpful votes
Mortgage refinance — can my UAE bank prevent me from moving to a competitor at lower rate?
Central Bank of UAE rules cap early-settlement fees at 1% of outstanding balance or AED 10,000 (whichever is lower) for residential mortgages. The 1.5% quote is above cap and you should challenge it formally. 'Transfe…
Corporate CommercialBest Answer12 helpful votes
My business partner wants to exit — how do we value the company?
For a profitable 4-year trading SME, three valuation approaches are standard: (1) earnings multiple — typically 3-5x sustainable EBITDA for trading; (2) net-asset value if asset-heavy; (3) DCF if cash flows are predic…
Corporate CommercialBest Answer27 helpful votes
Director's personal liability when a UAE LLC defaults on payments
Default position: limited liability protects you from company debts. BUT three personal-liability triggers exist under Federal Decree-Law 32 of 2021 on Commercial Companies: (1) trading while insolvent (continuing to…