The move significantly adds to the firm’s presence in the Middle East, where it already has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and takes its lawyer headcount in the region to 40.

Working with local practices

HFW will operate through associations with local practices Al-Enezee in Riyadh and El-Khoury & Partners (EKP) in Beirut. The firm will operate in Kuwait in an association with Rula Dajani Law Office, headed by the firm's Middle East managing partner Rula Dajani Abuljebain, to provide onshore legal services across the firm's core industry sectors, including local litigation.  

‘Cultural understanding’

‘We recognise the importance of the Middle East region to world trade and as such, it has become an increasingly important part of our growth strategy,’ said HFW's Senior Partner Richard Crump. ‘The addition of these Associations rapidly moves HFW into the top tier of firms operating in the region in terms of geographical footprint and size of team, which in turn enhances our experience and language capability and, importantly, provides greater cultural understanding to better serve our full client base across the region.’