Overview
Jonathan Fried is the head of our market-leading Middle East capital markets practice. He is ranked in the highest tier by each of the legal directories: "Band 1" in Chambers, "Market Leader" in IFLR, "Leading Individual" in Legal 500 and a country "Expert" in Chambers Saudi Arabia.
His team is recognised as the market leader in the Middle East and was awarded "DCM Legal Adviser of the year" 2022 and 2023 by Bonds, Loans & Sukuk Middle East and "Capital Markets Team of the Year" 2022 by Chambers.
Jonathan advises on the full range of capital markets transactions, across all sectors.
"A prolific debt practitioner with considerable experience throughout the Middle East." "He is very responsive… very experienced and a great communicator." "A highly prominent lawyer… advising both issuers and lead managers". "Jonathan Fried and his team provide excellent service. He is very knowledgeable in DCM and Sukuk." (Chambers 2022).
"One client lauded him as "amazing - he has a great knowledge of the law and is very approachable". "A highly prominent practitioner with considerable expertise in tier 1 capital and sovereign debt issues." (Chambers 2021).
"Highly skilled.. Sources praise him as "an excellent lawyer who is very responsive," with one client adding: "He leads from the front and is very approachable." "Recognised in the market as a "standout" practitioner." (Chambers 2020).
Work highlights
Jonathan has led Linklaters teams on the full range of capital markets transactions including the following:
- US$52bn of sovereign financings for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the Sultanate of Oman on the international markets across 25 series of securities issuances
- financings in multiple currencies and into multiple markets for the leading financial institutions in each GCC country, including over US$26bn of capital and wholesale funding transactions for the three largest banks in the region, Saudi National Bank, Qatar National Bank and Emirates NBD
- capital markets issuances by some of the region’s largest companies including Emaar Properties (Dubai), Abu Dhabi National Power Company TAQA, Oman Telecommunications and Investcorp Holdings (Bahrain)
- extensive issuances by financial institutions, sovereigns and corporates in each of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan and other countries in the rest of the Middle East and North Africa region.
Education and qualifications
Jonathan is a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales. He holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from The London School of Economics and a Master of International Laws degree from New York University School of Law.
He speaks fluent German.
