Experience
Jakob Kisser is the Founding Partner of Kisser Legal, the UAE-based full‑service law firm that positions itself as a bridge between Austrian precision and local UAE expertise. The firm describes itself as an international and local advisory practice led by Jakob Kisser, with a team combining Austrian and Arabic legal know‑how to serve cross‑border clients. The practice emphasizes guiding businesses and individuals through the full lifecycle of a venture in the UAE, from launch and corporate structuring to expansion, governance, and exit. The Firm presents itself as the exclusive ECOVIS partner in the UAE, underscoring its integration with a global professional services network and its emphasis on high‑quality, cross‑border advisory. Under Kisser’s leadership, the firm highlights its capacity to assist clients relocating to the UAE and expanding their operations, leveraging technology and a multinational team to deliver pragmatic, treaty‑aware solutions.
Prior to founding Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser held leadership roles in the UAE’s cross‑border and corporate space. He led the UAE office of Strohal Legal as Managing Partner, where the practice focused on corporate and M&A matters for commercial and private clients, including complex cross‑border transactions. This role positioned him at the nexus of Austrian and UAE business law, enabling him to advise on corporate governance, corporate structuring, and investments across borders. The move from Strohal Legal to Kisser Legal is framed as a continuation of that cross‑border advisory work, with the new firm continuing to emphasize international standards and local UAE insight.
Globally, Kisser began his career in Austria, where he held senior roles in prominent international firms. He served as Director Knowledge & Compliance and Counsel at a major Austrian firm, where responsibilities included M&A practice, knowledge management, and compliance. Earlier in his career, he practiced as a Senior Associate in the Corporate/M&A group at a leading international firm, followed by roles at other Austrian firms. This trajectory contributed to a deep background in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and cross‑border transactions, ultimately informing his approach to UAE practice.
In the UAE, Jakob Kisser is supported by a multidisciplinary team, including Theodor Strohal (Legacy Partner), Martina Landauer (Managing Associate), MennaTullah Nasser (Senior Associate), and Kateryna Kisser (Of Counsel). The collective experience covers corporate structuring, cross‑border deals, regulatory and compliance matters, and related advisory work. The firm notes that it uses technology to deliver more efficient and client‑focused service, reflecting a modern, process‑driven approach to cross‑border legal work. This integrated team and approach position Kisser Legal as a cross‑border advisor for international investors seeking a UAE footprint.
Specialty
Practice areas at Kisser Legal are organized to address the lifecycle of doing business in the UAE and beyond, with a pronounced emphasis on Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and cross‑border corporate work. The firm presents Mergers & Acquisitions as a core service, alongside corporate structuring, governance, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. The M&A offering is positioned to support both acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, and the strategic considerations that accompany cross‑border investments, including integration planning and post‑deal governance. In addition to M&A, the firm highlights services for corporate governance, company law compliance, and joint ventures, reflecting a holistic approach to corporate transactions and ownership changes in the UAE.
The firm’s service menu demonstrates a focus on cross‑border business needs, combining Austrian and Arabic legal perspectives with UAE‑specific regulatory knowledge. Exclusive ECOVIS partnership in the UAE signals a global network advantage for clients seeking international standards with local execution. The breadth of services also encompasses regulatory & compliance work, corporate structuring & restructuring, and transition planning for exits, reflecting a practice that can manage both day‑to‑day corporate matters and strategic transactions. The team’s emphasis on “Launch & Structure,” “Joint Ventures,” and “Regulatory & Compliance” indicates a capability to assist on both the formation side and the transactional side of cross‑border growth.
In terms of focus industries, the firm’s cross‑border orientation and Austrian ties suggest a strength in serving Austrian‑connected businesses and multinational clients with UAE‑market entry or expansion plans. The client base is described as international, with a practice that aims to align European legal discipline with UAE business realities. This combination supports representation in high‑stakes cross‑border deals, multi‑jurisdiction corporate restructurings, and complex regulatory matters arising from cross‑border corporate activity.
Types of cases handled include cross‑border M&A transactions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, governance and compliance matters, and transitional arrangements related to business sales or ownership transitions. The firm’s emphasis on “Transition & Exit” services signals readiness to assist in strategic dispositions and succession planning for owners and shareholders, aligning with client objectives in dynamic UAE markets. The firm’s public materials, including the M&A services and corporate governance offerings, indicate a practitioner profile geared toward sophisticated corporate deals and cross‑border transactions.
Education, training, and professional credentials underpin Jakob Kisser’s practice. His background includes studies in international and European law at Maastricht and a law degree from the University of Vienna, complemented by decades of practice in Austrian and international firms before relocating to the UAE. This education and experience ecosystem informs a practice that is both legally rigorous and pragmatically oriented toward commercial outcomes in cross‑jurisdictional contexts. The team’s composition and the firm’s stated competencies reflect a focus on M&A, corporate law, and cross‑border advisory for clients navigating the UAE market.
Overall, Jakob Kisser’s profile at Kisser Legal positions him as a cross‑border corporate practitioner with a deep foundation in European M&A and the UAE’s regulatory landscape. The firm’s branding around Austrian‑UAE integration, ECOVIS affiliation, and a multi‑disciplinary team further reinforces a practice designed to support investors and companies seeking to structure, acquire, merge, or restructure within the UAE while leveraging European‑style governance and compliance standards.
Education
Educational background for Jakob Kisser includes studies at Maastricht University in Internationales und Europäisches Recht (2000–2001) and at the University of Vienna in Rechtswissenschaften (1998–2003). This combination reflects a foundation in international and European law pursued in the Netherlands and Austria, contributing to a cross‑border perspective on corporate and M&A work conducted in the UAE. Additional professional context notes that he has long‑standing involvement with Austrian and European legal circles, further supporting his cross‑border practice orientation.
Experience
Achievements and Recognition
Jakob Kisser is an experienced international succession lawyer in the United Arab Emirates, advising internationally connected individuals, entrepreneurs, business owners and families whose personal and commercial interests extend across multiple jurisdictions. As Founding Partner of Kisser Legal, he combines substantial experience in UAE and European legal environments with a strong background in corporate structuring, mergers and acquisitions, investments, governance and cross-border transactions.
His international succession practice is particularly relevant to clients whose wealth and business interests are not confined to a single jurisdiction. Individuals with UAE-based companies, international investments, shareholder interests or family-owned businesses may face complex legal considerations when planning for the future ownership and transfer of their assets. Jakob Kisser provides commercially focused legal guidance that considers succession matters alongside the wider corporate and investment structures through which clients hold and manage their interests.
With extensive experience in corporate law and cross-border transactions, Jakob Kisser understands that succession planning for entrepreneurs and business owners often involves considerably more than the transfer of personal assets. Ownership of operating companies, shares, investment vehicles and other business interests can create additional legal and governance considerations. His corporate background enables him to approach these matters with an understanding of how changes in ownership can affect management structures, shareholder relationships, corporate governance and the continued operation of a business.
Jakob Kisser’s professional career has provided him with significant exposure to international legal matters. Before establishing Kisser Legal, he served as Managing Partner of Strohal Legal Group’s UAE office, where he advised commercial and private clients on corporate law, cross-border M&A and investments. His earlier career included senior corporate and M&A roles in Austria, including experience with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Schoenherr Rechtsanwälte. This combination of Austrian, European and UAE experience provides a strong foundation for advising clients whose succession arrangements involve more than one legal system.
International succession can also become closely connected with corporate restructuring and transition planning. Business owners may need to consider how a company should be managed following a change in ownership, how shareholder interests should be organised, and how existing corporate structures can accommodate future transitions. Kisser Legal’s broader corporate practice, which includes restructuring, governance, joint ventures and transition and exit planning, provides a relevant framework for addressing these interconnected issues.
For families and entrepreneurs with a UAE presence, succession considerations may also arise when relocating to or from the United Arab Emirates, expanding an international business, or reorganising investments. Jakob Kisser’s cross-border practice allows him to consider these matters within the broader context of a client’s international affairs rather than treating succession as an isolated legal issue.
His work is supported by Kisser Legal’s multidisciplinary approach, combining Austrian and Arabic legal perspectives with knowledge of the UAE business and regulatory environment. The firm’s stated focus on cross-border advisory enables clients to address corporate, investment, governance and transition matters within an integrated legal framework.
Jakob Kisser also brings an international and European legal education to his practice, having studied law at the University of Vienna and International and European Law at Maastricht University. His professional experience across Austria and the UAE has further developed his understanding of the legal and commercial considerations affecting internationally mobile clients.
Through Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser advises clients seeking a structured and commercially informed approach to international succession matters in the United Arab Emirates. His combination of corporate, transactional and cross-border experience allows him to assist individuals, entrepreneurs and families whose succession objectives are closely connected with their UAE businesses, investments and international ownership structures.
Jakob Kisser is an experienced foreign investment lawyer in the United Arab Emirates, advising international investors, entrepreneurs, companies and private clients on the legal and structural considerations associated with entering, establishing and expanding within the UAE market. As Founding Partner of Kisser Legal, he draws on extensive experience in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, investments, governance and cross-border transactions involving the UAE and European jurisdictions.
The United Arab Emirates has become an important destination for international businesses seeking to establish regional operations, make strategic investments or relocate aspects of their commercial activities. Foreign investors entering the UAE may need to consider corporate structures, ownership arrangements, governance requirements, regulatory obligations and the wider legal implications of operating across jurisdictions. Jakob Kisser advises clients on these considerations with a strong focus on practical and commercially appropriate legal structures.
His experience extends across the lifecycle of international investment. This can include the initial establishment and structuring of a UAE presence, the acquisition of an existing business, participation in a joint venture, expansion into new activities, corporate restructuring and eventual transition or exit. His background in M&A allows him to approach investment matters with an understanding of both the entry and transactional aspects of an investment.
Prior to founding Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser served as Managing Partner of Strohal Legal Group’s UAE office, where he advised commercial and private clients on corporate matters, cross-border transactions and investments. His earlier professional experience includes serving as a Senior Associate within the Corporate/M&A practice of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and holding senior corporate, knowledge and compliance responsibilities at Schoenherr Rechtsanwälte in Austria.
This international career has given Jakob Kisser particular experience in matters involving European businesses and investors with interests in the UAE. His practice is designed to bridge different legal and commercial environments, combining European legal experience with local UAE knowledge. This perspective can be particularly valuable for investors seeking to understand how their existing international structures interact with their UAE activities.
Foreign investment transactions can involve a range of legal issues beyond the initial investment itself. Investors may need to assess the appropriate corporate vehicle, shareholder arrangements, governance mechanisms, contractual protections, regulatory requirements and future exit options. Jakob Kisser’s corporate practice enables him to consider these issues as part of an integrated investment strategy.
Kisser Legal also advises on corporate structuring, governance, joint ventures, regulatory and compliance matters, restructuring and transition planning. These complementary areas allow Jakob Kisser to support investors as their UAE operations develop rather than limiting his involvement to the initial market-entry stage.
His work is particularly relevant to international companies considering acquisitions or strategic partnerships in the UAE. In such circumstances, investors may require coordinated advice covering due diligence, transaction structuring, corporate approvals, ownership arrangements and post-transaction governance. Jakob Kisser’s extensive M&A background provides a strong foundation for navigating these interconnected considerations.
The firm’s cross-border orientation is further reinforced by its role as the exclusive ECOVIS partner in the UAE, connecting its local practice with an international professional services network. Kisser Legal’s multidisciplinary team combines Austrian and Arabic legal perspectives and uses technology to support efficient, client-focused delivery.
Jakob Kisser’s academic background also reflects his international approach. He studied law at the University of Vienna and International and European Law at Maastricht University, developing a foundation in European and international legal matters that complements his professional experience in Austria and the UAE.
Through Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser provides international investors with commercially focused legal advice concerning their UAE investments, corporate structures and cross-border activities. His combination of transactional experience, corporate knowledge and UAE market understanding enables him to advise investors from initial market entry through expansion, restructuring and eventual transition or exit.
Jakob Kisser is a leading corporate transactions lawyer in the United Arab Emirates, advising companies, shareholders, investors and entrepreneurs on complex corporate transactions and cross-border business matters. As Founding Partner of Kisser Legal, he has developed a practice centred on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, corporate structuring, joint ventures, governance and transactions involving UAE and international businesses.
His experience encompasses the different stages of sophisticated corporate transactions, from the initial assessment and structuring of a proposed deal through due diligence, negotiations, completion and post-transaction arrangements. Jakob Kisser works with clients whose transactions may involve multiple jurisdictions, international shareholders or corporate structures connecting the UAE with Austria and wider European markets.
Mergers and acquisitions form an important part of his professional background. Before founding Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser served as Managing Partner of Strohal Legal Group’s UAE office, where he advised clients on corporate and M&A matters, including complex cross-border transactions. His earlier career included working within the Corporate/M&A practice of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and holding senior corporate and compliance responsibilities at Schoenherr Rechtsanwälte.
This experience has given Jakob Kisser a detailed understanding of the legal and commercial considerations that arise during corporate transactions. Acquisitions and disposals can involve complex questions concerning ownership, governance, contractual arrangements, regulatory requirements, transaction structure and the management of risk. His practice brings these considerations together within a broader cross-border advisory framework.
Jakob Kisser also advises on joint ventures and strategic corporate arrangements. For international companies entering the UAE market, joint ventures and other collaborative structures can provide an important mechanism for establishing commercial relationships and expanding operations. Such arrangements require careful consideration of shareholder rights, governance, decision-making, responsibilities and future exit mechanisms.
Corporate transactions can also form part of broader restructuring or transition strategies. Shareholders may seek to reorganise an existing group, bring in new investors, prepare a business for sale or implement a change in ownership. Kisser Legal’s wider corporate practice includes restructuring, governance and transition and exit planning, allowing Jakob Kisser to address transactional matters within the broader objectives of the client.
His UAE practice benefits from a cross-border model that combines Austrian legal experience with local UAE knowledge. This is particularly relevant for European companies and investors undertaking transactions involving UAE entities, subsidiaries, shareholders or investment structures. Jakob Kisser is able to draw on his experience in both legal environments when assessing the corporate and commercial implications of a transaction.
Kisser Legal’s multidisciplinary team supports this approach through experience in corporate structuring, cross-border transactions, regulatory and compliance matters and related advisory services. The firm’s international orientation is further supported by its position as the exclusive ECOVIS partner in the UAE, providing an additional connection to a global professional services network.
Jakob Kisser’s academic and professional background further supports his transactional practice. He studied law at the University of Vienna and International and European Law at Maastricht University before developing a career across leading Austrian and international law firms and subsequently establishing his UAE practice.
His experience includes advising on significant corporate and M&A matters in both Austria and the UAE, including cross-border restructurings and investment transactions. This background allows him to approach corporate transactions with an appreciation of the legal, financial and operational issues that can arise when businesses and ownership structures cross national boundaries.
Through Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser provides commercially focused advice to clients undertaking corporate transactions in the United Arab Emirates. His combination of M&A experience, corporate law expertise and international perspective enables him to advise companies, investors, shareholders and entrepreneurs throughout the transaction lifecycle, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, restructurings and ownership transitions.
Jakob Kisser is an experienced private client lawyer in the United Arab Emirates, advising internationally connected individuals, entrepreneurs, investors, business owners and families on legal matters arising from their personal, corporate and cross-border interests. As Founding Partner of Kisser Legal, he combines substantial international legal experience with a strong understanding of UAE corporate structures, investments, governance and regulatory considerations.
His private client practice is particularly relevant to individuals whose personal affairs are closely connected with business ownership or international investments. Entrepreneurs and high-value individuals may hold interests through UAE companies, international corporate structures, joint ventures or other investment arrangements. These structures can create legal considerations that require both private client and corporate expertise.
Jakob Kisser’s background in corporate law and M&A provides an important dimension to his private client practice. Rather than considering an individual’s personal legal requirements in isolation, his approach can take account of the business and investment structures through which clients hold their commercial interests. This is particularly relevant for entrepreneurs, shareholders and family business owners whose personal and corporate affairs are closely interconnected.
Prior to establishing Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser served as Managing Partner of Strohal Legal Group’s UAE office, advising commercial and private clients on corporate law, cross-border M&A and investments. His earlier career included senior positions in Austria, including experience at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Schoenherr Rechtsanwälte, where his work included corporate, M&A, knowledge management and compliance responsibilities.
This combination of UAE and European experience enables Jakob Kisser to advise internationally mobile clients who maintain connections with Austria, Europe and the United Arab Emirates. Such clients may require legal advice when establishing businesses in the UAE, restructuring existing investments, acquiring or disposing of companies, or managing changes in ownership.
Private client matters can also intersect with succession, asset structuring and long-term ownership considerations. For entrepreneurs and family business owners, the future ownership and management of business interests can be an important part of broader personal planning. Jakob Kisser’s experience with corporate structuring, governance, restructuring and transition planning allows him to consider these issues from both a private client and commercial perspective.
Kisser Legal’s wider practice covers the full lifecycle of doing business in the UAE, including launch and structuring, expansion, governance, joint ventures, regulatory and compliance matters and transition and exit planning. This breadth allows private clients who are also investors or business owners to access legal advice that reflects the interconnected nature of their affairs.
Jakob Kisser also brings an international academic foundation to his work. He studied law at the University of Vienna and International and European Law at Maastricht University, providing a strong grounding in European and international legal principles. His subsequent professional career across Austria and the UAE has further developed his understanding of cross-border legal and commercial matters.
The firm’s Austrian and Arabic legal perspectives are particularly relevant to clients with international connections. Kisser Legal positions itself as a bridge between Austrian legal standards and the UAE business environment, providing a framework for individuals and families who require coordinated advice concerning their UAE presence and international interests.
Jakob Kisser’s private client work can therefore encompass matters closely connected with corporate ownership, investments, governance, restructuring and longer-term transition planning. His transactional background is particularly valuable where personal and business interests overlap, such as when an entrepreneur is acquiring or selling a business, establishing a UAE investment structure or reorganising existing ownership arrangements.
Through Kisser Legal, Jakob Kisser provides internationally focused legal advice to private clients seeking to establish, manage and develop their interests in the United Arab Emirates. His combination of corporate, transactional and cross-border experience enables him to support individuals, entrepreneurs, investors and families whose legal affairs extend across the UAE and international jurisdictions.
Jakob Kisser is the Founding Partner of Kisser Legal, a UAE-based international law firm specializing in cross-border corporate and M&A advisory.
Kisser Legal specializes in mergers & acquisitions, corporate structuring, governance, regulatory compliance, dispute resolution, and transition planning, with a focus on cross-border transactions involving the UAE.
The firm offers guidance on business launch, corporate structuring, expansion, governance, and exit strategies, utilizing a multinational team and technology for efficient, treaty-aware solutions.
He held leadership roles in Austria and the UAE, including positions at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Schoenherr Rechtsanwälte, and Strohal Legal, focusing on corporate law, M&A, and cross-border transactions.
He studied at Maastricht University in International and European Law and obtained a law degree from the University of Vienna, with extensive experience in Austrian and international firms.
Kisser Legal is the exclusive ECOVIS partner in the UAE and Jakob Kisser serves as Vice Chairman and on the board of the Austrian Business Council UAE, reflecting its leadership in the region.
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