Dentons has advised the Omani Authority for Partnership for Development (OAPFD) on the establishment of the Oman Aviation Academy (OAA), the first professional aviation training organisation in Oman.

With construction of the OAA training facility to commence in late 2017, OAA will deliver training in partnership with Airbus Helicopters and the CAE-Oxford Aviation Academy to help cadets secure their Air Transport Pilots Licence or Multi-crew Pilots Licence, thus qualifying them to be able to work for both local and international airlines.

On 16 July 2017, advised by King & Wood Mallesons (KWM), Beijing Zhongguancun Bank Corporation Limited (Zhongguancun Bank) was opened, making it the first private bank in Beijing. With a registered capital of RMB 4 billion, the bank has 11 shareholders, which are listed companies located in the Zhongguancun area. As a financial institution founded to promote Beijing’s financial development, the incorporation and establishment of Zhongguancun Bank is a practical measure to deepen supply-side structural reform in the city’s finance field.

Ashurst has advised the Sunshine Coast Council (Council) on the grid connection and offtake arrangements for its 15MW utility scale solar farm, the Sunshine Coast Solar Farm, which has made the Council the first local government in Australia to offset 100% of its electricity consumption with energy from a renewable source.

Shearman & Sterling advised Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) on the establishment of the ADGM Arbitration Centre and on its agreement to host the first representative office of the ICC Court of Arbitration in the Middle East.

Plesner has acted for GlobalConnect A/S in connection with the completion of a DKK 1.2bn mortgage financing of the Danish part of the company's fiber network; the mortgage financing is provided by Nordea, Nykredit and Realkredit Danmark.
The transaction is the first of its kind to utilise the possibility of mortgage financing utilities infrastructure which came into force on 1 January 2017.

The new regime provides a solid legal framework for financing by mortgage lending institutions of tele-, energy- and water utilities companies' infrastructure.

Charles Russell Speechlys has advised The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on the establishment of a new global international team-sport league – the Hockey Pro League.

The new league, which is due to launch in January 2019, will see the nine best men's and women's teams from around the world play each other both at home and away every year, across a total of 144 one-off matches. The fixtures will take place in national stadiums, week in, week out, from January to June.

William Fry advised the Beazley Group in relation to the authorisation by the Central Bank of Ireland of Beazley Insurance DAC (Beazley Insurance) as a non-life insurance company.

William Fry has been working closely with the Beazley team on this project and advised Beazley on the authorisation application process particularly its engagement with the Central Bank of Ireland.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) has advised the Government of Rwanda as international legal counsel in relation to the development of the country’s new international airport under a Public Private Partnership structure, alongside Mott MacDonald as technical advisers and Factum Law as local legal counsel.

Dentons has advised WISAG Aviation Service Holding GmbH on its successful application for the concession for ground handling services at Frankfurt Airport. On Tuesday, the State of Hesse granted WISAG Aviation Service the only additional ground service provider license. On the basis of this contract, the company will provide services such as loading of freight and mail, baggage services and passenger transport in addition to Fraport AG at Germany’s largest airport from November 1, 2017.

Pinsent Masons has been appointed by Birmingham City Council to advise on the Peddimore development - a future flagship employment site in the West Midlands.

Extending to 71 hectares, there is potential to accommodate circa 265,000 square metres of new industrial floorspace and it is reported to be one of the most significant industrial opportunities within the UK. The development is set to create 10,000 jobs, making a £350 million contribution to the local economy.