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Elliott Sawford

Partner

Email

Elliott.Sawford@aoshearman.com

Phone

+971 4 426 7162

Offices

Abu Dhabi

V-CARD
Elliott advises governments, developers, lenders and contractors on infrastructure and energy projects across all sectors, including utilities, oil and gas, social infrastructure and transport. 

He has particular experience of large-scale development projects, major PPPs (and associated legislative reform), and project-financings. Clients regularly praise Elliott for his solution-orientated, practical and personable approach to matters, his knowledge of the Middle East and his ability to solve issues to get deals done.

Elliott qualified in the UK and spent over five years practicing in London before relocating to the Middle East with the firm in 2014. He is recognized as a “Rising Star” for Middle East projects by IFLR.

Experience

Representative matters

  • Various GCC government clients on the establishment of regulatory and transaction frameworks to support PPP programmes, as well as the tendering and implementation of pathfinder projects including the KSA TBC Schools’ Building Programme, the Dubai Healthcare Authority’s CCOE PPP and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office’s programme of transport and social infrastructure projects.
  • A mix of sponsors and lenders on power (traditional and renewables), water (wastewater and desalination), waste (waste to energy and sewage treatment) and social infrastructure (health, education and municipal infrastructure) projects across the Middle East.
  • On significant re-generation projects across the Middle East. 
  • The Abu Dhabi Investment Office on all aspects of the establishment of its cross-sector PPP programme.
  • The KSA government on its pathfinder Schools PPP programme (the first social infrastructure PPP programme in the GCC region).
  • The Dubai Health Authority on all aspects of the first hospital PPP project in the UAE. 
  • Sponsor consortia on the KSA REPDO solar PV projects and various renewables programmes in the UAE and Jordan. 
  • Sponsors / Lenders on various ISTPs in KSA, including lenders on the Dammam ISTP, the first ISTP to reach financial close in the Middle East.
  • Sponsors / Lenders on various water projects (wastewater and desalination) across the UAE, KSA, Oman and Jordan.
  • A port operator on various port concession projects in the Middle East and Africa.
  • Sponsor governments and IOCs on refinery and petrochemical projects in Oman, Bahrain, Pakistan and Nigeria. 
  • An oil major on all aspects of its USD$45bn investment into infrastructure and greenfield / brownfield explorations in Iraq.
  • NOCs and IOCs on the development of upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas-related projects, including E&P, pipelines, refineries and petrochemicals.

Recognition

“Rising Star”
IFLR: Middle East Projects

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as lawyer, England and Wales, 2011

Academic

Legal Practice Course, BPP Law School, 2008-2009

Graduate Diploma in Law, Nottingham Law School, 2007-2008

Bachelor of Arts in Politics, University of Nottingham, 2004-2007

Languages

English
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.