Stefan Mrozinski
Biography
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 the Global Mergers & Acquisitions team in our Dubai office.
Stefan specialises in advising on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, broader corporate transactions and complex commercial contracts with a MENA angle. He also regularly assists overseas businesses seeking to enter the Middle East and frequently advises on corporate structuring and governance requirements across onshore UAE, the UAE's various free zones and other countries in the region. In recent years he has advised Abu Dhabi Inc., Dubai Inc., various Saudi giga projects and numerous leading global corporates on inbound, outbound and regional matters valued in the USD billions.
Additionally, Stefan leads our technology, media & telecommunications; multi-award-winning fintech; and financial services regulatory practices in the UAE. In connection with this, he counsels the world's leading technology companies and financial institutions with respect to complex technology, Web3, data privacy, financial services regulatory and compliance matters across onshore UAE, ADGM, DIFC and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He advises Middle East Governments in connection with legislative reform and transformation / giga projects as well as with respect to inbound foreign direct investment.
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.
Stefan previously trained and worked in our London office's Corporate M&A team. Prior to re-joining White & Case, he spent four years working for the Corporate M&A team of a Magic Circle law firm in Dubai.
Experience
Transactional M&A, Joint Ventures and Corporate:
- 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.
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)
