Partners & Senior Counsel

Distinguished King's Counsel, former tribunal members, and corporate tacticians dedicated to commercial protection and decisive advocacy.

Jonathan Sterling, KC

Jonathan Sterling, KC

Senior Partner / Head of International Arbitration
London Mayfair / DIFC Dubai
King's Counsel (England & Wales, 2012) • DIFC Courts Bar • LCIA Fellow

Over 25 years of advocacy representing sovereigns, national oil companies, and institutional investors in ICC, LCIA, and ICSID arbitral tribunals across Europe and the Middle East.

Layla Al-Sabah

Layla Al-Sabah

Managing Partner / Corporate & M&A
Riyadh KAFD / DIFC Dubai
Saudi Bar (KSA) • New York State Bar • LL.M. Harvard Law School

Advises sovereign wealth funds, multinational conglomerates, and PE sponsors on cross-border asset transfers, regional joint ventures, and capital market listings.

Dr. Marcus Thorne

Dr. Marcus Thorne

Partner / Antitrust & Financial Regulation
London / Abu Dhabi ADGM
Brussels Bar • Solicitor-Advocate (England & Wales) • Ph.D. Oxford

Specializes in multi-jurisdiction merger control clearances, financial market compliance, and cartel investigations before European and Gulf competition authorities.

Vivian Vance

Vivian Vance

Partner / Intellectual Property & Tech Governance
Singapore / DIFC Dubai
Singapore Supreme Court Bar • California State Bar • USPTO Registered

Leads cross-border patent portfolio acquisitions, AI licensing frameworks, and high-value technology transfer mandates for semiconductor and biotech enterprises.