Benjamin O'Brien-McQueenie

Full Profile

Benjamin is a corporate lawyer with over twelve years of experience advising on complex cross-border transactions across the Gulf Cooperation Council. His practice spans financial services M&A, capital markets, corporate governance, and regulatory matters.

Benjamin has spent his career in the GCC's most dynamic markets — first in Bahrain and then in Oman, where he was corporate partner at Trowers & Hamlins.

His clients range from sovereign wealth-linked entities and listed companies to international investors and private acquirers. He is experienced in navigating the regulatory frameworks across the GCC, including the UAE, KSA, Bahrain and Oman.

Benjamin is recognised as a leading lawyer in the GCC corporate market, having been ranked by both Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, and was shortlisted for the Legal 500 MENA Awards 2026 as Next Generation Partner of the Year.

Experience

• Advising the Joint Global Coordinators on the initial public offering of OQ Base Industries on the Muscat Stock Exchange*
• Advising a consortium of investors on a competing takeover offer for Ahli Bank SAOG, listed on the Muscat Stock Exchange*
• Advising the shareholders of Salam Air on its acquisition by Oman Air, the nation's flag carrier*
• Managing on-market and off-market acquisitions and disposals of controller stakes in listed companies across Bahrain, UAE, and Oman*
• Advising Al Salam Bank on its acquisition of the retail operations of Ithmaar Bank, together with the acquisition of a majority stake in Solidarity Holding B.S.C.(c) and listed shares in BBK*
• Advising Ominvest on the disposal of insurance entities within its group structure, including listed entities in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, and the associated regulatory applications across multiple jurisdictions*
• Advising ASYAD Group SAO, the logistics arm of the Omani government, on its first international acquisition — a UAE holding company with operations in the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, China, India, and the United States*
• Advising Brookfield on its acquisition of a telecommunications tower company in Oman, including due diligence on telecommunications infrastructure and regulatory clearance*
• Advising Roc Oil Company Pty Ltd on its acquisition of Tethys Oil, listed on the NASDAQ Stockholm*
• Advising a listed Saudi entity on a series of private acquisitions and disposals, including obtaining Saudi competition clearance* 

*Experience gained prior to joining Clyde & Co