SNR Denton advises Qatar on successful Fifa World Cup bid

Doha-based finance partner Leigh Hall led a multi-jurisdictional team that worked with the Qatari bid committee for the past 19 months. Dallas IP partner Darren Collins and London commercial consultant Adrian Barr-Smith were also involved in the SNR Denton team.

Senior associate Romi Nayef was seconded from the firm’s Doha office to work as head of legal for the bid committee.

He said: “Throughout the selection process, we worked with the bid committee to face the many challenges including developing innovative ways to cool the stadia, building the infrastructures to support the event and advising on Fifa regulations. However, through it all, the committee showed Fifa their imagination, ingenuity and drive to win.”

The Qatari World Cup will be hosted by 12 venues across seven cities, with the Lusail Stadium scheduled to host the opening match and final. The project will see nine new stadia built, with three existing facilities being renovated.

There was less good news for Bird & Bird, which advised England on its unsuccessful bid for the 2018 tournament. Russia won the right to host the competition after last Thursday’s vote in Zurich.