Bio

Tahan Thraya is Chair of Mayer Brown's Middle East practice, is the Managing Partner of Mayer Brown's Dubai office, and is a member of the global Corporate & Securities practice. He has spent well over a decade practicing in the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East region. Tom advises both private and public clients in the areas of cross-border and domestic mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, international and domestic joint ventures, private equity and global corporate reorganizations. He also advises clients on international and domestic commercial agreements, foreign direct investment, regulatory and governmental matters, employment, including immigration matters, and compliance related advice and investigations, litigation/arbitration support and general corporate and commercial counseling. Tom has an international geographic focus on the Middle East (with particular emphasis on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Iraq) and is a fluent Arabic speaker and reader. Tom was ranked by Chambers Global in 2023, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 for M&A/corporate matters (“his experience and technical knowledge are incredibly impressive” – Chambers Global 2017), was ranked by IFLR1000 as a Leading Attorney in the Middle East for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 and was recognized by Legal 500 as "truly an expert in M&A, business-oriented and highly responsive." Tom also received special mention by Chambers Global in 2014, 2013 and 2012 for Corporate/M&A in the UAE under the “Highly Regarded” category and as a “key contact partner for M&A work". Additionally, Tom was recognized by IFLR1000 in 2013, 2012 and 2011 and by Legal 500 for UAE for having "an impressive transactional record". Tom also received special mention in 2012 and 2011 by Chambers Global rankings for corporate/commercial in Qatar for having “excellent work product and very hands-on". Finally, Tom was also listed in the 2012 MENA Fund Manager Service Provider Power 50.