Daniel Wood
Managing Partner
Dubai
Daniel is the Managing Partner of our Dubai office and has been permanently based in the region since joining Walkers in 2007.
He is widely regarded as one of the leading offshore funds lawyers in the Middle East and has specialist experience in all types of investment funds, including private equity funds, hedge funds and Islamic funds.
His clients include many of the region’s leading asset managers (including sovereign wealth funds) who he advises across a broad range of investment funds matters, including global investments with an offshore element, as well as the structuring and formation of investment funds in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
Daniel also has extensive corporate and finance experience, acting for many of the region's banks on asset and leveraged finance matters and on the venture financing of early-stage companies.
His clients include many of the region’s leading asset managers (including sovereign wealth funds) who he advises across a broad range of investment funds matters, including global investments with an offshore element, as well as the structuring and formation of investment funds in the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands.
Daniel also has extensive corporate and finance experience, acting for many of the region's banks on asset and leveraged finance matters and on the venture financing of early-stage companies.
The top offshore lawyer in the UAE
Experience and recent work
Daniel previously worked in the Dubai office of an international onshore law firm advising on various corporate matters. Before that, he worked with a corporate law firm based in Western Australia, where he advised on various corporate and commercial matters specialising in capital raisings, IPO's and listings.
Qualifications
Admitted in:
- Western Australia (not practising)
Education:
- Bachelor of Commerce Degree & Bachelor's Degree in Law, University of Western Australia
2023 IFLR 1000 - Highly Regarded
2023 Who's Who Legal - Private Funds (Recommended Lawyer)
2022 IFLR 1000 - Notable Practitioner
2022 The Legal 500 Middle East - Hall of Fame
2022 Chambers and Partners - UAE (Offshore) Band 1 Practitioner - Daniel Wood is particularly noted for his deep experience advising on investment fund matters. He is managing partner of Walkers' Dubai office and enjoys great acclaim for both his rigorous client service ethic and admirable leadership of the team.
2022 Who's Who Legal - Private Funds (Recommended Lawyer)
2021 IFLR 1000 - Notable Practitioner
2021 The Legal 500 Middle East - Leading Individual
2021 Chambers and Partners - UAE (Offshore) Band 1 Practitioner - Dubai managing partner Daniel Wood is particularly noted for his deep experience advising on investment fund matters. Sources describe him as "very responsive and commercially savvy," as well as "technically strong and prompt." Another interviewee added: "He is always helpful, and available when required."
2020 The Legal 500 Middle East - Leading Individual
2020 Chamber Global Guide - Notable Practitioner (Offshore) - "takes a proactive, commercial approach, and clients love him as a result. He's unflappable, very available and takes a lead on finding solutions." Interviewees add: "Daniel is fantastic at picking up urgent, last-minute and complicated problems and making sure they're quickly resolved."
2020 IFLR 1000 - Notable Practitioner
2019 The Legal 500 Middle East - Leading Individual - Daniel Wood, for some is 'the top offshore lawyer in the UAE'.
2019 Chambers and Partners Global Guide - Notable Practitioners (Offshore) - "Daniel is "incredibly responsive, and really practical in the sense of knowing which points actually matter and which ones aren't a big issue."
2019 IFLR 1000 - Highly Regarded
2019 Who's Who Legal - Private Funds (Recommended Lawyer)
2018 Chambers Global Guide - (Offshore) A Notable Practitioner. "He understands what clients want and is focused on delivering it, both in his own work and by inspiring his team to do the same."
2018 Who's Who Legal - Private Funds (Recommended Lawyer)
2017 Who's Who Legal: Private Client - Recommended Lawyer
2017 Legal 500 - Leading Individual
2017 Chambers Global Guide - A Notable Practitioner. "Dubai managing partner Daniel Wood has developed an exceptional reputation among both onshore lawyers and end-user clients. A source said: 'You never have a situation where he's given you comments on a Cayman document and you're left there scratching your head trying to figure out a solution - he does a great job guiding us through the issues on large transactions'."
2017 International Who's Who of Private Funds Formation Lawyers
2016 Legal 500 - Leading Individual: "Daniel Wood has ‘a proactive and commercial approach’."
2016 Chambers Global- "Dubai managing partner Daniel Wood plays a key role on many of the team's highlight transactions. According to sources, 'he is commercial in his approach and as a result he is very easy to work with'."
2015 Chambers Global - "Daniel Wood leads the Dubai practice and is adept in both investment funds and financing matters. Clients 'trust and appreciate his very commercial guidance on Cayman Islands issues'."
2014 Chambers Global - "Daniel Wood is increasingly taking the lead role on most of the firm's key transactions in the region and establishing a strong reputation in the market. He focuses on investment funds, corporate finance transactions and representing asset managers."
2013 Chambers Global - "Daniel Wood was recently promoted to partner and is quickly making a name for himself in the market. Peers rate him as a 'good and solid up-and-coming lawyer'. He specialises in corporate and finance, investment funds and Islamic finance."
Team Members
