Sami Ben Dechiche

合伙人

Sami Ben Dechiche advises on all aspects relating to funds across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, including fund manager licensing, fund establishment, marketing, and due diligence. Working in close coordination with clients, Sami advises on appropriate licensing and structuring, handles the drafting of all funds-relevant documentation, and advises on investments by private and institutional investors in regulated and unregulated investment structures. Sami speaks French, English, and conversational Arabic (Tunisian dialect).

Sami draws on his background in the investment funds space in Europe and in the Middle East, where he assisted sovereign wealth funds, investment firms, and banks. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, he worked at an international law firm’s Dubai office and as a senior advisor in the Luxembourg office of another international law firm.

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Investment Funds

  • Advised an investment management company on the first fully operational Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) fund platform and on the launch of 19 DIFC public funds, including direct investment strategies and Shariah-compliant funds for the company and feeder funds on the company’s fund platform on behalf of other asset and investment management firms
  • Advised a commercial bank on the launch of an onshore UAE umbrella fund with nine public sub-funds and an onshore UAE end-of-service savings fund with 11 public sub-funds
  • Advised an over-the-counter broker on the launch of an onshore UAE umbrella fund
  • Advised a financial services firm on the launch of a DIFC exempt fund investing in public equities
  • Advising a Venture Capital (VC) Fund Manager on the launch of an ADGM VC feeder fund into an Indian SEBI-regulated VC master fund

Financial Services Regulatory

  • Advised a leading asset management firm on its DIFC establishment (Cat 4 licensing)
  • Advised a global wealth management platform on its DIFC establishment (Cat 3C licensing)
  • Advised an investment management firm, wealth management platform, and financial services firm on their DIFC fund platform endorsements
  • Advised a large international bank on its onshore UAE fund manager licensing (current instruction)
  • Advised various fund managers on the marketing of their foreign funds in the GCC
  • Performed SCA foreign funds registrations for 40+ funds

Investor Due Diligence

  • Advised a Middle East sovereign wealth fund on its investment in an QFC venture capital fund
  • Advised a UAE bank on its investment in a Cayman Islands fund-of-one investing in US real estate
  • Advised a Middle East pension fund on its: $300 million investment in a Delaware infrastructure fund with parallel vehicles; €100 million (about $115 million) investment in a Cayman-domiciled private equity fund with Europe focus; and AUD 71 million (about $46 million) investment in a Cayman-domiciled infrastructure fund investing in Australia
  • Advised a Middle East sovereign wealth fund on its $125 million investment in an ADGM fund along with a 20% capital subscription into the investment manager
  • Advised a Middle East sovereign wealth fund on its investment into a Cayman fund investing in Southeast Asia hotels and resorts
  • Cornell Law School, 2012, LL.M.
  • Paris XII University, 2010, master's degree in common law, cum laude
  • Edouard Lambert Institute of Comparative Law – Jean Moulin Lyon III University, 2009, English law
  • Edouard Lambert Institute of Comparative Law – Jean Moulin Lyon III University, 2008, American law, cum laude
  • Edouard Lambert Institute of Comparative Law – Jean Moulin Lyon III University, 2008, Asian law, magna cum laude
  • Jean Moulin Lyon III University, 2008, master’s degree in international law
  • Jean Moulin Lyon III University, 2008, bachelor of laws
  • New York