TOGETHER WITH

Table of contents

• EDITOR’S RAMBLE 🗣

• FEATURED REPORT 📰

• TOGETHER WITH VOICY* 🤝

• IN OTHER NEWS 🗞

• AROUND THE WEB 🌐

• STUFF THAT MIGHT HELP YOU 👌

EDITOR’S RAMBLE 🗣

You might have noticed that we’re partnering with more law firms this year.

That’s partly how LittleLaw is funded, but it also means we get extra access, insights, and stories — which makes our articles more detailed (and more useful for you).

There are more firms joining this September (👀). But we’re only partnering with six — and most slots are already taken.

So, before we lock everything in, I’d love your input.

Which firms do you want to hear from in this newsletter?

Think about law firms you:

• want to apply to

• don’t fully understand

• think aren’t talked about enough

Just reply to this email and tell me: (1) the firm name, and (2) your reason.

I’ll do my best to make it happen 💪

- Idin

FEATURED REPORT 📰

🎰 Law firms bet on UAE’s first casino

What’s going on here?

Wynn Resorts (an American luxury resort company) is building a £4 billion casino resort on an island in the UAE. It’s the first licensed casino in the region, and it’s set to open in 2027.

Why is this a big deal?

Gambling is banned in most Muslim-majority countries, including the UAE. But that’s starting to change.

The UAE created a new regulator in 2023 — the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority — which has awarded Wynn a licence to open a casino in Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), a fast-growing province just north of Dubai.

Wynn will co-own the resort alongside two UAE government-linked entities, Marjan and RAK Hospitality. The hotel tower is already halfway built, with plans for it to reach 75 storeys.

It’s not just Wynn. MGM Resorts and Las Vegas casino giant Caesars are both eyeing up UAE gaming projects too, as the country looks to diversify its economy beyond oil.

Why isn’t the casino in Dubai?

The UAE has more famous hubs than RAK — places like Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

But RAK was just faster to get the Wynn project off the ground. Dubai’s own casino-linked resort (The Island Dubai) is still under construction and unlikely to open in 2028.

For now, that gives RAK a head start.

Which law firms are involved?

Clifford Chance is advising Wynn and its local partners on the $2.4bn construction financing. The lead lawyers are from the firm’s Hong Kong, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi offices.

A&O Shearman is advising the lenders (the banks providing the money for the project) and the agent (the bank responsible for managing the loan on behalf of all the lenders). This is being led by the law firm’s Dubai office.

The financing is being provided by a group of regional and international banks, including Deutsche Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Emirates NBD and Sumitomo Mitsui.

Why does this matter for law firms?

Wynn’s resort is expected to generate over 4,000 jobs and attract major tourism and investment into Ras Al Khaimah.

The region is boosting demand in sectors like real estate, retail, and construction.

For law firms, that opens the door to a bunch of work:

• Real estate and planning lawyers will help developers secure land, get permissions to build, and deal with zoning and building rules for the hotels, shops, and roads.

• Employment and immigration lawyers will advise on hiring rules and help bring in thousands of workers from other countries.

• Financial regulation and licensing lawyers will navigate the new gambling rules and make sure everything is compliant with local laws.

• Commercial lawyers will draft contracts between Wynn and suppliers, retailers, and global hospitality brands setting up in the resort.

By acting early in a brand-new regulated sector, Clifford Chance and A&O Shearman aren’t just advising on one deal — they’re building the experience and client relationships needed to win future instructions as the market grows.

How can you use this in your applications?

There are three clear takeaways here.

🌏 The UAE’s rise as an investment hotspot: The UAE is opening up new sectors — like gambling — that were previously off-limits. That shift is creating a wave of investment (and, therefore, legal work).

If you’re applying to firms with a presence in the region, it’s worth knowing that the market is expanding and changing fast.

Or maybe you’re asked, in a case study or group exercise, to pick a new office location for the firm. Suggesting the UAE could show your awareness of global changes.

⚖️ When regulations change, business follows: Markets don’t grow in a vacuum. Often it’s legal or regulatory change that kicks things off. Here, a new regulator and new legislation made casino development possible — triggering foreign investment, construction, job creation, and economic growth.

You see the same pattern elsewhere.

For example, when Germany legalised recreational cannabis in 2024, it led to billions of euros being invested. Companies spent money on getting licences, setting up farms and delivery networks, protecting their brand names, and renting or buying shops to sell the products.

🤝 Client relationships → more work: This deal isn’t just about one casino. It’s a way for firms like Clifford Chance to show they can handle major projects in the region — and put themselves in line for future work with Wynn, or other developers.

They’ll feature deals like this on their websites and in pitches to potential clients — using it to win more big-ticket work in hospitality, real estate, and infrastructure.

TOGETHER WITH VOICY* 🤝

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* This is sponsored content

IN OTHER NEWS 🗞

• 🌍 CMS is expanding into India by teaming up with one of the country’s top law firms. It’s joined forces with IndusLaw, India’s seventh-largest firm, as the country prepares to open its legal market to foreign firms. With offices across cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, IndusLaw will stay independent but operate under the CMS brand. We covered how India’s starting to let more foreign lawyers in — and this deal is an example of that. CMS can help global clients do business in India, while IndusLaw supports Indian companies expanding abroad.

• 🇨🇳 Taylor Wessing is expanding in China by opening a new office in Shenzhen, a major tech hub. The firm is also turning its Shanghai office into a centre focused on helping Chinese clients do business abroad. Taylor Wessing says the move is part of a bigger strategy to grow in Asia, with Shenzhen offering strong opportunities thanks to its fast-growing tech scene and global business links.

• 🏈 Latham & Watkins has helped the San Francisco 49ers’ investment arm lead a takeover of Rangers FC. This Rangers deal still needs approval from the Scottish FA, since the 49ers already own part of Leeds United — and there are rules against multi-club ownership. It’s the latest in a string of big sports deals for Latham, who also advised Endeavor (a global sports and entertainment group) on its $13 billion sale to Silver Lake — and a Kuwait-backed buyout of MK Dons Football Club last year.

• 🤝 The merger of Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin has gone live. They’ve now formed HSF Kramer, a 2,700-lawyer firm with $2.7 billion in revenue. The deal gives the new firm global reach and follows last year’s A&O Shearman merger. Some HSF partners quit over culture concerns, but leaders say the move brings shared values and a stronger platform for growth.

AROUND THE WEB 🌐

• 📆 Cool: Here’s how far through the year we are compared to other things

• 🎵 Music: Enter any artist and get a visual map of similar music

• 📺 Retro: Flipping TV channels but with the best videos on YouTube

STUFF THAT MIGHT HELP YOU 👌

• 📹️ Free application help: If you're applying to commercial law firms, check out my YouTube channel for actionable tips and an insight into the lifestyle of a commercial lawyer in London.