Huw Thomas

Huw Thomas is an English qualified associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, based in the Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices. He is part of the firm’s Capital Markets, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Private Equity practice groups.

Huw advises on a wide range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, equity offerings, restructurings, and corporate governance. His experience spans work with listed companies, financial institutions, and private equity firms on complex international transactions.

Huw also completed a secondment to a UAE-government body, where he supported the Legal function on various mandates, further broadening his experience in high-level advisory roles.

Before joining Gibson Dunn, Huw worked as an associate in the Dubai office of a Magic Circle law firm, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and general corporate advisory matters.

Huw holds an undergraduate law degree (LLB) and a Master of Laws (LLM) from Cardiff University, and completed the Legal Practice Course (LLM) at BPP Law School, London. He is admitted to practice in England and Wales.

Selected M&A experience*:

• Checkout.com on its investment in the KSA-based fintech firm Tamara.
• Patterson-UTI Energy on its USD 370 million acquisition of Ulterra Drilling Technologies from affiliates of Blackstone Energy Partners.
• Aman on its joint venture with Cruise Saudi (a subsidiary of the KSA Public Investment Fund) to establish, own, and manage ultra-luxury cruise ships.
• A multinational investment bank on its disposal of a 29.1% stake in a leading real estate financing company in Saudi Arabia.
• e& on its collaboration with HTC to design and develop a white-labelled metaverse platform to be known as “e& universe”.
• Tawazun Strategic Development Fund on its acquisition of a 49.9% stake in VR-Technologies from Russian Helicopters JSC.

Selected Capital Markets experience*:

• Delivery Hero and talabat in connection with the $2 billion initial public offering (IPO) and listing of talabat on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), marking the largest technology sector IPO globally and the largest IPO in the GCC in 2024. 
• Helmerich & Payne on an accelerated book build offering of shares in ADNOC Drilling.
• ADNOC and ADNOC Gas in connection with the initial public offering (“IPO”) of ADNOC Gas, marking the largest-ever listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (“ADX”) and at the time, the largest IPO globally in 2023.
• Acted on the IPO and listing of Borouge plc on the ADX (Underwriters' counsel).
• TECOM Group on its corporate restructuring, IPO, and listing on the Dubai Financial Market.
• Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC and Mubadala on the IPO of Yahsat on the ADX.
• Network International Holdings plc, on its placing of ordinary shares in connection with its acquisition of DPO Group, a major African E-commerce platform and payments provider, for a total consideration of USD 288 million.
• TP ICAP on its redomiciliation to Jersey by way of introducing a new Jersey holding company through a UK scheme of arrangement.
• TT Electronics on its GBP 20 million 6.1% cash placing of new ordinary shares on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.
• The Gym Group on its GBP 41 million placing of new ordinary shares by way of an accelerated bookbuild.

*Includes experience prior to joining Gibson Dunn.

Capabilities

• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Capital Markets
• Private Equity

Credentials

Education:

• BPP Law School - 2019 Legal Practice Course
• Cardiff University - 2018 Master of Laws (LL.M.)
• Cardiff University - 2017 LL.B. (Hons)

Admissions:

• England & Wales - Solicitor