Stage<\/th>\n	What happens<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Term sheet<\/td>\n	The parties agree the outline terms and price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Due diligence<\/td>\n	The buyer checks the target’s legal and financial health<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Structuring<\/td>\n	The deal is shaped as a share or asset purchase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Agreement<\/td>\n	The sale and purchase agreement is drafted and negotiated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Completion<\/td>\n	Approvals are secured and ownership transfers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n Because each stage carries its own risks and paperwork, having a lawyer manage the sequence keeps the deal on track from offer to completion.<\/p>\n Due Diligence: The Heart of Any Deal<\/h2>\n Due diligence is the investigation that tells a buyer what they are really getting, and it is where a deal is won or lost. A due diligence lawyer Dubai deals rely on reviews the target company’s contracts, debts<\/a>, licences, employees, disputes, and assets to find hidden problems before the deal closes. Discovering a lawsuit<\/a>, an unpaid tax bill, or a broken contract at this stage lets you renegotiate the price, demand protections, or walk away. Skipping or rushing due diligence is how buyers inherit liabilities they never expected. A thorough review also shapes the warranties and indemnities in the final agreement. Because due diligence turns a leap of faith into an informed decision, it is the single most valuable step a lawyer takes in any acquisition.<\/p>\n Buying, Selling, or Merging<\/h2>\n M&A work looks different depending on which side of the deal you are on, and each needs its own strategy.<\/p>\n Buy-Side Support<\/h3>\n For a buyer, a corporate acquisition lawyer<\/a> in the UAE runs due diligence, negotiates the price and protections, and structures the deal to limit the risks of what you are taking on.<\/p>\n Sell-Side Support<\/h3>\n For a seller, a business sale lawyer<\/a> in Dubai prepares the company for sale, presents it well to buyers, and negotiates terms that protect you after the deal closes.<\/p>\n Because buyers and sellers have opposite goals, having a lawyer who knows your side of the table secures the best outcome.<\/p>\n Why Deals Fail Without a Lawyer<\/h2>\n Many M&A deals collapse or cause losses because the legal side was handled poorly, and a few risks stand out:<\/p>\n \n Hidden debts or lawsuits discovered only after the deal closes<\/li>\n A poorly drafted agreement that leaves you exposed to claims<\/li>\n Missing regulatory or free zone approvals<\/a> that block completion<\/li>\n Weak warranties that give you no recourse if things go wrong<\/li>\n Overpaying because due diligence never uncovered the real value<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Because most deal failures trace back to legal gaps, having a lawyer close those gaps early protects your money and the transaction.<\/p>\n What a Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer Protects You From<\/h2>\n The real value of an M&A lawyer is in the problems they stop before they happen. They make sure you are not buying hidden liabilities, that the price reflects the true state of the business, and that the agreement gives you protection if something was misrepresented. They secure the approvals a deal needs in the UAE, including any free zone or regulatory sign-off<\/a>, so completion is not blocked at the last moment. They also plan how the two workforces and teams combine<\/a> after the deal, which is where many mergers quietly fail. An M&A legal advisor in Abu Dhabi, and across Dubai, turns a risky transaction into a controlled, well-documented process. Because the cost of a bad deal far outweighs the cost of good advice, a skilled M&A lawyer pays for themselves many times over.<\/p>\n The Documents Behind Every Deal<\/h2>\n Much of an M&A transaction lives in its paperwork, and we draft and review the documents that make a deal safe:<\/p>\n \n The term sheet or letter of intent that frames the deal<\/li>\n Non-disclosure agreements protecting sensitive intellectual property<\/a><\/li>\n The due diligence reports that reveal the target’s true state<\/li>\n The sale and purchase agreement with warranties and indemnities<\/li>\n The completion and transfer documents that close the deal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Because a deal is only as strong as its documents, having them drafted precisely stands between a clean transaction and a future dispute.<\/p>\n Why Choose Our M&A Team<\/h2>\n An M&A deal rewards the side with sharper preparation and better advice, and our team delivers both. With 35+ years of combined experience and more than 3000+ clients served, we have guided buyers and sellers, with the best legal advice<\/a>, through deals of many sizes and sectors. We work in English and Arabic, coordinate the due diligence, drafting, and approvals under one roof, and keep the deal moving to completion. Our team is registered with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department and works to UAE Bar standards, combining deal-making insight with legal precision. Because a well-run deal protects both your money and your peace of mind, an experienced M&A team beside you is a decisive advantage.<\/p>\n Plan Your Next Deal With Confidence<\/h2>\n Buying, selling, or merging a business is one of the biggest decisions you will make, and the right lawyer makes it a safe one. Salha Al Basti Advocates brings 35+ years of legal experience, more than 3000+ clients served, and a bilingual M&A team across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE, guiding transactions of every size. Our M&A lawyers, part of a full-service legal team<\/a>, run the due diligence, structure the deal, and negotiate the terms that protect your investment from start to finish. Get in touch to plan your transaction on solid legal ground. Call our Dubai office on +971 4-397-0701, email ask@albastiadvocates.com, or visit us at Business Venue Building (TAS-HEEL), Suite 510-512, Oud Metha, Dubai.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n \n \n What does a mergers and acquisitions lawyer do? \n+<\/span><\/summary>\n An M&A lawyer guides businesses through buying, selling, or merging companies. They run due diligence to check what you are really buying, structure the transaction, draft and negotiate the sale and purchase agreement, and manage the approvals and filings that close the deal. Their job is to protect your interests and reduce the risks of a large transaction.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n \n What is due diligence in an M&A deal? \n+<\/span><\/summary>\n Due diligence is the investigation a buyer runs before completing a deal \u2014 reviewing the target’s contracts, debts, licences, employees, disputes, and assets to uncover hidden problems. Finding an issue at this stage lets you renegotiate the price, demand protections, or walk away. It is the single most valuable step in any acquisition.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n \n Should I structure my deal as a share or asset purchase? \n+<\/span><\/summary>\n It depends on the target, the liabilities involved, and your goals. A share purchase buys the whole company including its history and liabilities; an asset purchase buys selected assets, often leaving liabilities behind. Each has different legal and tax effects. An M&A lawyer advises which structure best protects you for your specific deal.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n \n What approvals does an M&A deal need in the UAE? \n+<\/span><\/summary>\n It varies by the companies, sector, and whether they sit on the mainland or in a free zone \u2014 deals may need regulatory, licensing, or free zone sign-off, and sometimes competition clearance. Missing an approval can block completion at the last moment. A lawyer identifies and secures every approval the deal requires.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n \n How can a lawyer stop an M&A deal from going wrong? \n+<\/span><\/summary>\n By finding hidden liabilities through due diligence, drafting an agreement with strong warranties and indemnities, securing every required approval, and planning how the businesses combine afterward. Most failed deals trace back to a legal gap left unaddressed \u2014 an experienced M&A lawyer closes those gaps before they cost you.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n \n

Stage<\/th>\n

What happens<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Term sheet<\/td>\n

The parties agree the outline terms and price<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Due diligence<\/td>\n

The buyer checks the target’s legal and financial health<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Structuring<\/td>\n

The deal is shaped as a share or asset purchase<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Agreement<\/td>\n

The sale and purchase agreement is drafted and negotiated<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Completion<\/td>\n

Approvals are secured and ownership transfers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Because each stage carries its own risks and paperwork, having a lawyer manage the sequence keeps the deal on track from offer to completion.<\/p>\n

Due Diligence: The Heart of Any Deal<\/h2>\n
Due diligence is the investigation that tells a buyer what they are really getting, and it is where a deal is won or lost. A due diligence lawyer Dubai deals rely on reviews the target company’s contracts, debts<\/a>, licences, employees, disputes, and assets to find hidden problems before the deal closes. Discovering a lawsuit<\/a>, an unpaid tax bill, or a broken contract at this stage lets you renegotiate the price, demand protections, or walk away. Skipping or rushing due diligence is how buyers inherit liabilities they never expected. A thorough review also shapes the warranties and indemnities in the final agreement. Because due diligence turns a leap of faith into an informed decision, it is the single most valuable step a lawyer takes in any acquisition.<\/p>\n

Buying, Selling, or Merging<\/h2>\n
M&A work looks different depending on which side of the deal you are on, and each needs its own strategy.<\/p>\n
Buy-Side Support<\/h3>\n
For a buyer, a corporate acquisition lawyer<\/a> in the UAE runs due diligence, negotiates the price and protections, and structures the deal to limit the risks of what you are taking on.<\/p>\n
Sell-Side Support<\/h3>\n
For a seller, a business sale lawyer<\/a> in Dubai prepares the company for sale, presents it well to buyers, and negotiates terms that protect you after the deal closes.<\/p>\n
Because buyers and sellers have opposite goals, having a lawyer who knows your side of the table secures the best outcome.<\/p>\n
Why Deals Fail Without a Lawyer<\/h2>\n
Many M&A deals collapse or cause losses because the legal side was handled poorly, and a few risks stand out:<\/p>\n
\n
Hidden debts or lawsuits discovered only after the deal closes<\/li>\n
A poorly drafted agreement that leaves you exposed to claims<\/li>\n
Missing regulatory or free zone approvals<\/a> that block completion<\/li>\n
Weak warranties that give you no recourse if things go wrong<\/li>\n
Overpaying because due diligence never uncovered the real value<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Because most deal failures trace back to legal gaps, having a lawyer close those gaps early protects your money and the transaction.<\/p>\n
What a Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer Protects You From<\/h2>\n
The real value of an M&A lawyer is in the problems they stop before they happen. They make sure you are not buying hidden liabilities, that the price reflects the true state of the business, and that the agreement gives you protection if something was misrepresented. They secure the approvals a deal needs in the UAE, including any free zone or regulatory sign-off<\/a>, so completion is not blocked at the last moment. They also plan how the two workforces and teams combine<\/a> after the deal, which is where many mergers quietly fail. An M&A legal advisor in Abu Dhabi, and across Dubai, turns a risky transaction into a controlled, well-documented process. Because the cost of a bad deal far outweighs the cost of good advice, a skilled M&A lawyer pays for themselves many times over.<\/p>\n
The Documents Behind Every Deal<\/h2>\n
Much of an M&A transaction lives in its paperwork, and we draft and review the documents that make a deal safe:<\/p>\n
\n
The term sheet or letter of intent that frames the deal<\/li>\n
Non-disclosure agreements protecting sensitive intellectual property<\/a><\/li>\n
The due diligence reports that reveal the target’s true state<\/li>\n
The sale and purchase agreement with warranties and indemnities<\/li>\n
The completion and transfer documents that close the deal<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Because a deal is only as strong as its documents, having them drafted precisely stands between a clean transaction and a future dispute.<\/p>\n
Why Choose Our M&A Team<\/h2>\n
An M&A deal rewards the side with sharper preparation and better advice, and our team delivers both. With 35+ years of combined experience and more than 3000+ clients served, we have guided buyers and sellers, with the best legal advice<\/a>, through deals of many sizes and sectors. We work in English and Arabic, coordinate the due diligence, drafting, and approvals under one roof, and keep the deal moving to completion. Our team is registered with the Dubai Legal Affairs Department and works to UAE Bar standards, combining deal-making insight with legal precision. Because a well-run deal protects both your money and your peace of mind, an experienced M&A team beside you is a decisive advantage.<\/p>\n
Plan Your Next Deal With Confidence<\/h2>\n
Buying, selling, or merging a business is one of the biggest decisions you will make, and the right lawyer makes it a safe one. Salha Al Basti Advocates brings 35+ years of legal experience, more than 3000+ clients served, and a bilingual M&A team across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE, guiding transactions of every size. Our M&A lawyers, part of a full-service legal team<\/a>, run the due diligence, structure the deal, and negotiate the terms that protect your investment from start to finish. Get in touch to plan your transaction on solid legal ground. Call our Dubai office on +971 4-397-0701, email ask@albastiadvocates.com, or visit us at Business Venue Building (TAS-HEEL), Suite 510-512, Oud Metha, Dubai.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
What does a mergers and acquisitions lawyer do?
\n+<\/span><\/summary>\n
An M&A lawyer guides businesses through buying, selling, or merging companies. They run due diligence to check what you are really buying, structure the transaction, draft and negotiate the sale and purchase agreement, and manage the approvals and filings that close the deal. Their job is to protect your interests and reduce the risks of a large transaction.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n
What is due diligence in an M&A deal?
\n+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Due diligence is the investigation a buyer runs before completing a deal \u2014 reviewing the target’s contracts, debts, licences, employees, disputes, and assets to uncover hidden problems. Finding an issue at this stage lets you renegotiate the price, demand protections, or walk away. It is the single most valuable step in any acquisition.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n
Should I structure my deal as a share or asset purchase?
\n+<\/span><\/summary>\n
It depends on the target, the liabilities involved, and your goals. A share purchase buys the whole company including its history and liabilities; an asset purchase buys selected assets, often leaving liabilities behind. Each has different legal and tax effects. An M&A lawyer advises which structure best protects you for your specific deal.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n
What approvals does an M&A deal need in the UAE?
\n+<\/span><\/summary>\n
It varies by the companies, sector, and whether they sit on the mainland or in a free zone \u2014 deals may need regulatory, licensing, or free zone sign-off, and sometimes competition clearance. Missing an approval can block completion at the last moment. A lawyer identifies and secures every approval the deal requires.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\n
How can a lawyer stop an M&A deal from going wrong?
\n+<\/span><\/summary>\n
By finding hidden liabilities through due diligence, drafting an agreement with strong warranties and indemnities, securing every required approval, and planning how the businesses combine afterward. Most failed deals trace back to a legal gap left unaddressed \u2014 an experienced M&A lawyer closes those gaps before they cost you.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

\n