Carolyn Abram is a partner in the Dubai office of Gibson Dunn. She is a member of the Investment Funds and Financial Regulatory Practice Groups, and primarily represents fund sponsors on the structuring, formation, and operation of private investment funds, delivering successful fund launches for emerging and spin out managers as well as some of the most established regional and global asset managers.
Carolyn advises on private funds across most private asset classes, including private credit, infrastructure, private equity, real estate and funds of funds, and works with multi jurisdictional fund complexes and shariah compliant structures. Having practiced UAE fund formation for over 9 years, she has a proven track record in navigating the legal and regulatory intricacies of large scale, complex cross border funds and also applies her innovative and solution-oriented approach to other bespoke investment arrangements, including seed and stake arrangements with anchor investors, asset manager joint venture agreements, co-investment and warehousing arrangements, carried interest arrangements, and fund restructurings.
Carolyn additionally advises on regulatory and structural matters relating to the operations of asset managers in the Middle East, particularly for global asset managers seeking to enter the UAE market.
Carolyn is recognised as a leading investment funds lawyer across the Middle East. She is ranked as a Leading Partner for Investment Fund Formation and Management in the UAE by The Legal 500 EMEA and was named Investment Funds Next Generation Partner of the Year at The Legal 500 Middle East and North Africa Awards 2026. She is also ranked by Chambers Global as a leading individual for Investment Funds in the Middle East.
Clients describe Carolyn as “an outstanding advisor with deep expertise in the regulatory, legal and commercial dynamics of the region”, noting that she is “consistently thorough, insightful and pragmatic”. She is further recognised as a “standout partner and trusted advisor”, valued for being “dedicated, responsive and excellent technically”.
Representative Experience*
Fund Formation: Represented and advised multiple investment managers (GCC and global) on the establishment of open- and closed-ended private investment funds across asset classes, domiciled across the GCC and internationally, including:
- $2 billion “fund of hedge funds” in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM);
- $1.5 billion MENA infrastructure fund primarily domiciled in the ADGM and operated by a global asset manager;
- Venture debt fund targeting $250 million domiciled in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC);
- $220 million MENA private equity fund in the ADGM;
- $300 million Shari’a-compliant private credit fund domiciled in the Cayman Islands with a DIFC asset manager, targeting both MENA and US investments;
- $1 billion MENA infrastructure fund with a structure involving both GCC and international vehicles;
- $250 million venture capital fund domiciled in the ADGM, targeting incubator investments;
- $150 million MENA private credit fund in the ADGM, one of the first funds to be classified as a Private Credit Fund under the ADGM rules;
- $500 million real estate fund domiciled in the DIFC; and
- Cayman domiciled fund of funds structured as a segregated portfolio company and managed by a DIFC asset manager;
While seconded in-house to one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers, assisted with raising private funds across private equity, real estate, and infrastructure platforms, including one of the largest private infrastructure funds ever raised at the time.
Investor Representation: Represents multiple Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and other sovereign wealth funds, family offices and institutional investors on the investment of billions of US dollars, including into private funds across asset classes, separate managed accounts, co-investments, and funds-of-one.
Financial Services Regulatory: Regularly provides advice on UAE asset manager regulation, and fund distribution for the GCC region to international investment managers.
*Includes representations prior to Carolyn's association with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.
Capabilities
Credentials
Education:
- Balliol College, University of Oxford - 2010 Bachelor of Arts (First Class Hons)
Admissions:
- England & Wales - Solicitor