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March 22, 2024
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Macky O’Sullivan
Macky O’Sullivan is a Partner in the Corporate, Finance and Investments practice, advising clients on a broad range of investment funds, private equity, technology, venture capital, and strategic investment matters. He has extensive experience acting for sovereign investors, institutional asset managers, development finance institutions, and technology-driven businesses on complex, cross-border transactions.
Macky is Co-Head of the firm’s Africa Practice and is widely recognised for his deep experience advising on transactions across Africa and the Middle East. His practice frequently involves structuring and launching investment funds, co-investment platforms, and Shari’ah-compliant vehicles, as well as advising on technology-focused investments and emerging company growth strategies.
He is particularly well known for his work at the intersection of investment funds, financial services regulation, technology, and artificial intelligence, where he advises clients on fund formation, regulatory strategy, and high-growth investment opportunities across multiple jurisdictions.
Expertise
- Investment funds and asset management
- Private equity and venture capital
- Technology M&A and emerging companies
- Technology investment funds
- Financial services and regulatory matters
- Middle East and Islamic finance and investments
- Doing business in Africa
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Representative Experience
Macky has advised on a number of landmark regional and cross-border transactions, including:
- McKinley Capital Management LLC on the launch of a USD 8 billion investment fund focused on listed companies in the MEASA region, with the State Pension Fund of Alaska as anchor investor.
- Mumtalakat on its USD 2 billion co-investment programme with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
- Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Group on the establishment of a USD 1 billion Shari’ah-compliant African infrastructure financing fund.
- Sanabil Investments on the successful closing of a SAR 270 million Series B funding round for Gathern.
Thought Leadership & Market Engagement
Macky is an active contributor to market dialogue on funds, fintech, and digital assets. He regularly authors client alerts and insights on regulatory developments, including:
- Proposed enhancements to the ADGM Funds Framework
- Changes to the DFSA cryptoassets regulatory regime
- Amendments to the ADGM Digital Asset Regulatory Framework
He is also a frequent speaker at regional and international conferences, including the Agentic Conference, where he has spoken on emerging technologies and investment trends.
Recognition
- Recognised by Chambers in FinTech and financial services-related guides
- Regularly featured in regional and international legal and business media for high-profile investment and technology transactions
Credentials
Education
- Master of Science (MSc), University of Oxford, UK
- Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.), London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
Partner
Corporate, Finance & Investments
📍 Dubai