The 2026 Law Middle East Awards shortlist was selected by the Law Middle East editorial team from over 470 nominations submitted by 121 firms. The editorial team compiled the list, which remains unranked and is organized alphabetically by category. Firms may appear in multiple disciplines, but no single firm is listed twice within the same category. Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, for example, appears across several fields.
The Private Equity Team of the Year shortlist comprises Baker Botts, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Gibson Dunn, Kirkland & Ellis, and White & Case. In Capital Markets, Akin, Baker Botts, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Dentons, Eversheds Sutherland, K&L Gates, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, Linklaters, and Meysan are nominated. The Corporate M&A category includes ADG Legal, Akin, Covington, Dentons, Eversheds Sutherland, Herbert Smith Freehills, Kramer, K&L Gates, Latham & Watkins, Paul Hastings, and Simmons & Simmons.
Dispute Resolution nominations feature 33 Chambers, Akin, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, BSA Law, Charles Russell Speechlys, Dentons, Gibson Dunn, M&CO Legal, Mishcon de Reya, and Stephenson Harwood. Employment & Labor shortlists include Al Aidarous Advocates, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Dentons, Hadef & Partners, Herbert Smith Freehills, Kramer, K&L Gates, Mishcon de Reya, Simmons & Simmons, and Trowers & Hamlins.
For Real Estate, the shortlist covers Akin, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Eversheds Sutherland, Gibson Dunn, GLA & Company, Hadef & Partners, K&L Gates, NeosLegal, PwC Middle East, and Simmons & Simmons. Regulatory & Compliance features Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Clyde & Co, Greenberg Traurig, Habib Al Mulla and Partners, Herbert Smith Freehills, Kramer, King & Spalding, Kirkland & Ellis, Linklaters, Pinsent Masons, and Trowers & Hamlins.
Tax nominations include Baker Botts, Covington, Dentons, Eversheds Sutherland, GLA & Company, Greenberg Traurig, King & Spalding, Mayer Brown, PwC Middle East, and White & Case. The Private Wealth Team of the Year category includes Charles Russell Speechlys, Gateley Middle East, Habib Al Mulla and Partners, Hadef & Partners, Hourani & Partners, NeosLegal, TWS Legal Consultants, White Square Partners, Willow Tax & Legal, and Winston Taylor.
Individual Lawyer of the Year nominations highlight 17 lawyers from various firms, including James Abbott of CMSS, Salman Al-Sudairi of Latham & Watkins, Mark Bisch of Baker Botts, and Melissa Murray of Bird & Bird. The In-House Legal Team of the Year shortlist features ADNOC Group, Almana Hospital Group, Bidfood Middle East, DNV Group, Equiti Group, G42, MUFG Bank, Riyadh Development Company, Seddiqi Holding, and Velora.
Legal Support Service of the Year includes Arbitra International, AutemCo, Counsel by Thomson Reuters, Datasite, LEGALFLY, Lockton, Peerpoint by A&O Shearman, RAYNESSQT, and Titanium Escrow. Breakthrough Law Firm of the Year nominees are ADG Legal, AX Law, Greenberg Traurig, Kirkland & Ellis, Mishcon de Reya, OBH Lawyers, Paul Hastings, Simmons & Simmons, Skadden, and Triumph & Co.