Mike Taylor’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, public takeovers, and equity capital markets transactions.

He has advised on some of the highest profile and innovative M&A and ECM transactions in the Middle East, in particular in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He has notable experience in the healthcare, infrastructure, real estate, and telecoms sectors.

Mike joined the firm as a partner in 2025, having previously spent over 25 years at a leading Magic Circle law firm in London and Dubai.

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notable experience (prior to joining cleary)

Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Aster Healthcare on the $1 billion investment by, and joint venture with, Fajr Capital.

  • SAFCO International on the sale of 70% of its UAE food distribution business to Silal, owned by ADQ.

  • IFC, IFU and Proparco on the acquisition of 45% of Humania Capital.

  • Zain (MTC) on its proposed $1.3 billion sale of Zain Sudan to the DAL Group. 

  • The preferred bidder on its proposed acquisition of 30% of Starbucks Middle East.

  • Hassana Investment Company on (i) the $12.4 billion investment in Saudi Aramco’s oil pipelines business as part of a consortium of investors led by EIG Global Energy Partners and (ii) its proposed investment into ADNOC’s oil and gas distribution businesses.

  • The creditors of NMC Health on the UAE aspects of its $6 billion restructuring.

  • AXA Group and its joint venture partner in the Gulf region, the Kanoo Group, on the sale of their insurance operations in the Gulf region to Gulf Insurance Group for $475 million, which included the sale of: 100% of the shares of AXA Insurance (Gulf) B.S.C in Bahrain (with operations in Oman, Qatar and the UAE); directly and indirectly 50% of the shares of AXA Cooperative Insurance Company PJSC in Saudi Arabia; and AXA Group’s 28.05% shareholding in AXA Green Crescent Insurance Company P.J.S.C in the UAE.

  • Sahara Petrochemical Company on its $2.15 billion merger with Saudi International Petrochemical Company.

  • Mobily on the proposed disposal of its portfolio of c.9,600 telecoms towers in Saudi Arabia.

  • The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) on its $1.3 billion acquisition of the business and vessels of Vela International Marine Limited, part of the Saudi Aramco group.

  • Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions & Benefits Fund on joint venture arrangements with Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ) in relation to their $2.1 billion joint investment in ADNOC’s gas distribution business.

  • Al Jaber Group and Darwish Bin Ahmed & Sons on the sale of their majority shareholdings in United Eastern Medical Services LLC to Pearl Consortium SPV Ltd.

  • Jazeera Airways on the $507 million disposal of its airline leasing business to Investec Bank plc and certain co-investors.

  • Almarai Company on its takeover of Hail Agricultural Development Company, the first public takeover in Saudi Arabia.

  • Saudi Telecom Company on (i) its bid for the 3rd mobile license in Syria and (ii) the outsourcing of its 905 directory services to a new joint venture company formed between STC and Aegis.

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Equity Capital Markets

  • MBC on its $222 million IPO and listing on the Tadawul.

  • The banks on Dubai Taxi’s $315 million IPO and listing on the DFM.

  • Investcorp Capital on its $600 million IPO and listing on the ADX.

  • ADES Holding on its $1.2 billion IPO and listing on the Tadawul (underwriting aspects only).

  • Americana Restaurants on its $1.8 billion IPO and listing on the ADX and Tadawul, the first ever UAE/KSA dual listing.

  • The banks on Taaleem’s $205 million IPO and listing on the DFM.

  • The banks on Burjeel Hospital’s $300 million IPO and listing on the ADX.

  • Al Ansari Exchange on its $210 million IPO and listing on the DFM.

  • The banks on DEWA’s $6 billion IPO and $32 billion listing on the DFM.

  • ACWA Power on its $1.2 billion Saudi IPO and listing on the Tadawul.

  • The banks on Fertiglobe’s $795 million IPO and $5.8 billion listing on the ADX, which was the first ADGM company to list its shares on the ADX. 

  • The banks on ADNOC Drilling’s $1.1 billion IPO and $10 billion listing, the largest-ever IPO on the ADX.

  • The banks on Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC’s (Yahsat) IPO and listing on the ADX.

  • Dubai Parks & Resorts on its IPO and listing on the DFM and its subsequent rights issue.

  • The banks on the LSE primary listings of Network International, Gulf Marine Services, Al Noor Hospitals and NMC Health.

  • Emirates NBD on its $1.7 billion rights issue.

  • Saudi Ground Services Company and Saudi Catering Company on their respective IPOs on the Tadawul.

  • Zain KSA on its $1.9 billion IPO and subsequent capital reduction and $1.6 billion rights issue.

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