Ogier has been shortlisted for M&A deal of the year for its work on a large and complex SPAC in the energy sector.

Ogier's Corporate team in the BVI was counsel to NASDAQ-listed National Energy Services Reunited Corp. (NESR) on its acquisition of Gulf Energy SAOC (GES) and National Petroleum Services (NPS).

The Ogier team is shortlisted alongside fellow advisers Al Busaidy Mansoor Jamal & Co, Clyde & Co, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Looper Goodwine, Shearman & Sterling and Vinson & Elkins in the IFLR Middle East Awards 2019 celebrate the deals, law firms, banks and in-house legal teams that have been breaking new legal ground and setting market precedents in the region.

Lead partner Michael Killourhy said: "This was our largest and most complex BVI SPAC acquisition to date and our first in the energy sector. Having the opportunity to work with a company and its management team from creation, through to a public offering and then on to a major acquisition in a relatively short period of time was tremendously exciting and almost unique to the SPAC world."

The awards will be announced on 16 October in Dubai.