Stefan Mrozinski

Partner, Dubai

Biography

Chambers 2024 describes Stefan as “an exceptional lawyer with outstanding capabilities…Stefan’s exceptional commercial acumen makes him highly regarded among the legal community in Dubai.”

Legal 500 2024 comments that Stefan’s “dedication and unwavering commitment to the client’s business needs…sets him apart in the MENA region legal market. Stefan demonstrates an exceptional ability to [engage in] strategic thinking in a course of the client’s long-term objectives and shows an outstanding responsiveness which transforms him from an external counsel to a truly trusted advisor.”

Overview

Stefan is a partner in our Global Mergers & Acquisitions team, based in the UAE.

He specialises in advising on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate transactions more generally. In recent years he has advised Abu Dhabi Inc.; Dubai Inc. and various Saudi giga projects, as well as numerous leading global corporates, investment groups and family offices on inbound, outbound and regional matters valued in the many USD billions. He also leads our TMT and regulatory practices in the UAE. In connection with this, he counsels MNCs and international investors with respect to complex regulatory compliance matters across onshore UAE as well as the UAE's various free zones (including ADGM and DIFC) and Governments in connection with investment and reform programmes across the region.

Stefan has particular experience in the tech (especially fintech), infrastructure (especially data centres and telecoms), power, energy and natural resources sectors.

Stefan is ranked as a Band 1 lawyer in Chambers and is also recognised as a "Next Generation Partner" in various editions of Legal 500. Stefan was shortlisted for Legal 500's Middle East and North Africa "Next Generation Partner of the Year" Award 2024.

Prior to relocating to the UAE a decade ago, he worked in our London office's Corporate M&A team for a number of years. He also spent four years as an associate in the Corporate M&A team of a Magic Circle law firm.

Bars and Courts
England and Wales, Solicitor
Education
Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
College of Law
MPhil (Double Distinction)
University of Cambridge
LLB (First Class)
London School of Economics and Political Science
Languages
English

Experience

Transactional M&A, Joint Ventures and Corporate:

  • State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) on the acquisition from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) of a 3% participating interest in the Umm Lulu, Satah Al Razboot (SARB), Bin Nasher and Al Bateel offshore concession located in the United Arab Emirates.
  • Marathon Digital Holdings, a NADAQ-listed cryptocurrency miner, in connection with its joint venture with FS Innovation, a subsidiary of ADQ.
  • The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in connection with Microsoft Azure's multi-billion dollar investment into the Kingdom.
  • NEOM Company in connection with various confidential matters.
  • Global Fintech / Prism Group in connection with the acquisition of LSE-listed payments business, Finablr.
  • MENA tech investor, A15, in connection with the disposal of a majority stake in its adtech business, Connect Ads, to IMS Internet Media Services, a global digital communications and marketing conglomerate which is a partner to many of the world's largest social media players, including LinkedIn, Skype and Twitter.
  • ACDC Fund in connection with the sale of SUPERNAP International, a data centre developer joint venture with Switch, to IPI Partners, a technology-related real estate fund.
  • Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank in connection with the disposal by NCH Ventures S.P.C. of 100% of its majority shareholding in Global Investment House, an asset management and investment banking firm, to Kamco Investment Company, a leading Kuwaiti investment company.*
  • ExxonMobil in connection with a multi-billion dollar offshore gas project in Mozambique.*
  • Qatar Petroleum in connection with a disposal to Weatherford.*
  • Dubai Investments in connection with the acquisition of an additional 50% stake in Emirates District Cooling (Emicool), a provider of district cooling services in the UAE, from Union Properties.*
  • Qatar Petroleum in connection with a disposal to General Electric.*
  • Saudi Aramco in relation to the development of an EPCI project in Ras Al Khair, Saudi Arabia with McDermott International.*
  • Avicenna Partners in connection with the disposal of Amana Healthcare to a Mubadala-led consortium.*
  • Varkey Group in connection with the disposal of a stake in GEMS Education, the international education company headquartered in Dubai, to Khazanah Nasional Berhad, the strategic investment fund of the Government of Malaysia.*
  • Harbin Electric International, a Chinese power company, in connection with the Hassyan clean coal power project in Dubai, also involving ACWA Power and the Dubai Electricity and Water Company.*

Advisory (technology, fintech, financial services regulatory, compliance and government reform):

  • Numerous leading global technology companies, including Amazon Web Services, Etisalat, Khazna, Meta, Slack Technologies, Snapchat and Telegram in connection with confidential matters.
  • Various fintechs, payment service providers and cryptocurrency platforms, including Amazon Payment Services, Crypto.com, Stripe and Tabby in connection with confidential matters.
  • Various leading financial institutions, including Bank of America, Brookfield Asset Management, First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Moelis & Company, Mubadala Investment Company, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), Qatar National Bank, Rothschild, Tikehau Capital and Trian Partners on financial service regulatory matters.
  • Numerous leading global corporates, including Saudi Aramco, Schneider Electric, and certain UAE state-owned entities in connection with confidential regulatory compliance matters.
  • Various Saudi government bodies, Ministries and authorities in connection with technology investments as well as data privacy and digital regulation.
Awards and Recognition

Recognition:

Chambers 2024 describes Stefan as "an exceptional lawyer with outstanding capabilities…Stefan's exceptional commercial acumen makes him highly regarded among the legal community in Dubai."

"Stefan is super-responsive and has a great attitude. He's clearly good at what he does." "Stefan is efficient and knowledgeable. He can meet the expectations of very demanding clients." "Stefan Mrozinski is an exceptionally responsive and supportive lawyer with the ability to deliver high-level legal advice". "Stefan is perfect when you need comprehensive legal support combined with in-depth commercial understanding of business and the market."
Chambers, 2024

Chambers 2023 describes Stefan as "a well-respected figure. Clients say he is a "top lawyer, good individual to work with, personable, approachable, down to earth, responsive, a great resource and available".
Chambers, 2023

Legal 500 2024 comments that Stefan has "established an enviable reputation amongst big tech, large corporates and governmental authorities on cyber, cloud computing and TMT-related M&A transactions" and is "particularly well-regarded for his fintech expertise". He is a "commercial and practical, business-minded lawyer."

"Stefan Mrozinski's dedication and unwavering commitment to the client's business needs and deep understanding of the financial services industry sets him apart in the MENA region legal market. Stefan demonstrates an exceptional ability to [engage in] strategic thinking in a course of the client's long-term objectives and shows an outstanding responsiveness which transforms him from an external counsel to a truly trusted advisor."
Legal 500, 2024

Legal 500 2023 describes Stefan as "fantastic, "a safe pair of hands" and a "go-to person for any legal advice" who has "exceptional commercial judgement".
Legal 500, 2023

Awards:

Legal 500 Middle East & North Africa Next Generation Partner of the Year 2024 (Shortlisted)

Legal 500 – Technology, Media and Telecommunications: Next Generation Partner (2023 & 2024)

Legal 500 – Financial Services Regulatory: Next Generation Partner (2023 & 2024)

Legal 500 – Corporate, Commercial and M&A: Key Lawyer (2023)

Chambers – Fintech: Band 1 (2024) & Band 2 (2023)

Chambers – Technology, Media and Telecommunications: Band 4 (2024)

Doyle's Guide - Leading Technology, Media & Telecommunications Lawyer Rankings - United Arab Emirates, 2024: Recommended