Gateley Middle East Advised Chain Reaction On Its Sale To Publicis Groupe Middle East

Gateley Middle East Advised Chain Reaction on Its Sale to Publicis Groupe Middle East

The global law firm, Gateley Middle East advised digital marketing agency Chain Reaction on its sale to Publicis Groupe Middle East (Publicis), a regional leader in marketing, communication, and digital business transformation.

Chain Reaction is one of the Middle East’s leading digital marketing agencies, with a team of over 190 professionals across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt. Publicis Groupe Middle East, headquartered in Dubai, operates in eight markets across MENA, providing end-to-end solutions that enable businesses to transform.

This acquisition strengthens Publicis’ footprint in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, integrating Chain Reaction’s creative, media, and technology capabilities to better serve its clients, enhancing both the efficiency and diversity of its service offering.

The transaction was one of the first to apply for clearance under the UAE’s newly implemented merger control thresholds, introduced in March 2025. The deal required pre-transaction notification to the UAE Ministry of Economy under the new turnover-based test, marking a significant milestone in the region’s evolving competition law landscape.

Darren Harris commented: “This acquisition highlights the growing significance of digital marketing and communications expertise within the Middle East. We are proud to have advised Chain Reaction on a transaction that strengthens their future in the region. Being one of the first deals to navigate the country’s new merger control thresholds adds to the significance of the deal. It reflects our team’s ability to guide clients through evolving regulatory frameworks with confidence and clarity and adds another successful deal in the digital marketing and creative space.”

Gateley Middle East’s team advising on the transaction was led by Darren Harris (Dubai Managing Partner and Head of Corporate) and Gemma Kotak Spence (Legal Director), supported by Amun Bashir (Legal Director) and Joe Girgis (Associate).

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