Spear’s Review

Ronald Graham is managing partner of Taylor Wessing’s Dubai office and head of private wealth for the region. He is also a specialist when it comes to classic cars.

Graham primarily works with individuals, auction houses and restorers on sales, purchases and provenance. Previous transactions have included a rare Aston Martin and a Pagani. In 2022, Graham acted on the sale of the most expensive car ever sold at auction: a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold for €135 million. 

He explained that ‘it was a privilege and honour for us to be asked to handle this sale. I have worked with RM Sotheby’s for over 10 years on many exciting instructions, but nothing comes close to being involved in the successful sale of the world’s most valuable car.’

How does he approach working with private clients? ‘I don’t overly complicate matters. The goal is very much that someone is buying or selling a car,’ he tells Spear’s. ‘What I bring is a knowledge of cars and the industry. Also, as a lawyer with 15 years of experience, it’s being able to cut to the details.’

Adviser Profile

Ronald Graham heads Taylor Wessing’s Dubai office and its internationally acclaimed MENA private wealth group. He specialises in providing corporate law advice for family businesses, investments, foundations, trusts and high-net-worth individuals and families in the Middle East who possess diverse commercial portfolios worldwide.

In addition, and of particular relevance to Spear’s, Ronald is a world-renowned classic car lawyer and the relationship partner for RM Sotheby’s (the world’s largest classic car auction house) for over 10 years. He acted as lead adviser on the sale of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé sold for €135 million in 2022, by far the most expensive car ever sold.