Our people / Professional profile
Raed Karawani
Job TitleManaging Partner
- Email Address
- [email protected]
- Office
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Professional profile
Profile Bio
A seasoned legal professional and Managing Partner at Karawani & Co. (UAE) with over 25 years of Middle East experience advising on business restructuring, family enterprises, funds, intellectual property, and technology-driven growth. A strategic advisor operating beyond pure legal advisory, supporting clients in scaling, investment readiness, private equity transactions, and IPO-level structuring.
Professional Experience
Raed Karawani advises local and international companies on Intellectual Property and Corporate Law, with extensive experience in complex international agreements, corporate structuring, regulatory matters, and cross-border transactions.
He has led corporate structuring and restructuring projects for businesses across various industries, including family-owned enterprises, providing strategic legal guidance to support regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and long-term growth. His regulatory experience includes advising on the establishment and licensing of entities under the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) in mainland Dubai and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in the DIFC, including the structuring and launch of investment funds.
Raed has advised on significant cross-border transactions, including international franchising projects, the acquisition of a UAE-based IT company from a publicly listed European seller, and a hospitality sector acquisition valued at over USD 100 million. He has also served as lead legal counsel to fintech startups within the DIFC Innovation Hub, providing comprehensive legal and intellectual property support.
In Intellectual Property, Raed handles contentious matters involving geographical indications, including opposition, cancellation, and enforcement proceedings, as well as adversarial IP actions across GCC countries. He has secured favourable decisions in proceedings to protect the Basmati geographical indication, including in Syria, and advises clients on regional filing strategies and enforcement planning for brands and products across multiple markets.
Areas of Expertise
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Law
- LL.M. in International Commercial and Business Law
- Professional diplomas in Mergers & Acquisitions, International Commercial Law, Loans and Capital Markets, International Business Organizations, and Intellectual Property Law — United Kingdom
Languages
- English
- Arabic
Membership & Achievements
- International Bar Association Fellowship Award – Recognized for outstanding professional achievements in the legal field.
- Research on Derivatives Contracts & Shari’ah Compliance (2005, UK) – Authored a paper analyzing the intersection of financial derivatives and Islamic law principles.
- Memberships – Active member of the Emirates Association for Lawyers, contributing to the advancement of legal practice in the UAE.
- Chevening Scholarship – Awarded the prestigious British Council Chevening Scholarship for postgraduate studies in Intellectual Property, recognizing academic excellence and leadership potential.
Connect with Raed
- [email protected]