Ross Barfoot

Partner, Dentons

Ross is a corporate partner in the UAE with over 21 years’ experience – first in the UK and since 2008 in the UAE and wider Middle East Region.

Ross is generally regarded as the “go-to” lawyer for the education sector and has been involved in a significant number of school and university projects in the Middle East region, as well as some of the largest education M&A deals globally. He regularly advises investors and international operators on education investments, M&A, market entry, international expansion, corporate and regulatory matters. Ross is based in the UAE but operates on a global level, supporting clients on their international expansion.

In addition to advising both international corporations and local companies on a mix of M&A and private equity, joint ventures and corporate advisory work, he regularly advises his clients on business licensing, corporate reorganizations, commercial contracts and corporate governance mandates. He has advised on some of the largest M&A and joint venture transactions in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE.

He is ranked as a leading individual in the UAE for Commercial, Corporate and M&A in Legal 500. He has been recognized by the Legal 500 M&A Powerhouse as a leading corporate M&A lawyer and Thomson Reuters’ Asian Legal Business ‘MENA Super 50’ for outstanding client service.

Events Ross Barfoot has attended as a speaker: