International law firm Simmons & Simmons has expanded its dispute resolution practice with the addition of George Vlavianos, along with his team of four associates.

Doha move

Vlavianos joins the firm’s Doha office as a partner on 1 August 2019, subject to regulatory approvals.  He joins the firm from Bennett Jones in Doha, where he was managing partner and head of arbitration for over six years. His practice focuses on dispute resolution, with an emphasis on complex energy and construction disputes. Mr Vlavianos has advised national and international energy companies on a wide range of energy-related disputes. He has also extensive experience advising owners, contractors and sub-contractors with respect to a host of contractual issues and construction disputes on large-scale civil and industrial projects in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

Enhanced offering

David Risbridger, regional head for the Middle East and head of the firm’s regional dispute resolution team in the Middle East, commented “George further enhances our offering here in the Middle East with his strength in energy and construction disputes and he and his team will bring additional depth to our expertise in Doha.” Dr Hans Hermann Aldenhoff, the firm’s international practice group head, continued “George’s arrival strengthens our dispute resolution practice globally and he and his team will be able to support the work Andrew Wingfield and the rest of the team in Qatar are doing for both international and local clients. This team hire reflects our commitment to our Doha office and to our clients who operate in the State of Qatar.”