Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Pillsbury have hired senior lawyers in the Middle East this week.
Quinn Emanuel has recruited prominent UAE litigator Kadry Zaghawa from Hadef & Partners, where he was a partner, while Pillsbury has brought on a former Saudi government lawyer in Riyadh.
Zaghawa has joined Quinn as of counsel and will work across the firm's Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices. He brings more than 30 years’ regional experience and is one of the most prominent Arabic drafters in the UAE, often sought out for the most sensitive and technically demanding filings.
Zaghawa, a civil-law advocate, acts for high-profile GCC corporates and international clients in shareholder disputes, commercial agency deregistration and commercial litigation before all levels of the UAE courts, and in administrative law disputes before the UAE Federal Courts. He also advises clients on resolving disputes through arbitration and other litigation alternatives.
He has also helped navigate some of the largest restructuring matters in the region, offering guidance in complex financial restructurings and distressed debtor proceedings before the UAE courts. He is also regularly called upon to provide expert opinions on UAE law in proceedings before foreign courts.
Noting the firm’s long-term presence locally, Richard East, co-managing partner of Quinn Emanuel’s London office, said: “Building our local team brings us closer to our clients in the region and to the local courts that matter to them most. Among the leading Arabic drafters in the UAE, Kadry is sought out [by clients] for onshore UAE court matters. He broadens the services we offer to corporates, private equity investors, and high net worth individuals with disputes in the region.”
Pillsbury, meanwhile, has hired Amal Alotaibi as a partner from the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) where she was a senior legal adviser.
Alotaibi played an active role in shaping the regulatory and foreign investment frameworks under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Prior to government service, she also practised with White & Case and STAT Law Firms in Riyadh.
Her experience includes advising on major national initiatives ranging from Saudi Arabia’s new investment law, foreign investment screening mechanisms, special economic zone strategies and international and bilateral investment engagements.
“Saudi Arabia has made impressive progress towards its Vision 2030 goals, prompting even more private sector investment in the country from entities around the globe,” Pillbsury’s CEO, David Dekker, said in a statement.
“Those entering this market require experienced legal counsel that can navigate the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory environment that comes with the transformation and Amal is uniquely suited to that, offering both local credibility and international perspective.”
Her background also includes secondments to the Saudi Ministry of Finance and serving as interim general counsel to a confidential Saudi governmental entity, where she established and managed the legal function during its formation phase. She also has extensive experience advising on IPOs, privatisation initiatives, cross-border deals and regulatory changes from her time in private practice.
Her arrival strengthens Pillsbury’s ability to guide clients through complex, policy-sensitive transactions and regulatory compliance involving both inbound and outbound Saudi investment.
“Amal’s arrival reflects Pillsbury’s commitment to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and to providing market-leading advisory services to companies operating and investing in the Kingdom and the region,” said Khalid AlArfaj, managing partner of Pillsbury AlArfaj, Pillsbury’s Riyadh office.
“Her ability to navigate the distinctive legal, regulatory and commercial landscape of the Kingdom will be a real differentiator for clients looking to enter the Kingdom and capitalise on its robust and flourishing economy.”
Other US firms to invest in the Kingdom recently include Reed Smith, which added a two-partner corporate team in March from a local boutique. Last month White & Case also added former Latham & Watkins lawyer Abdullah Al-Hoqail as a partner to boost its cross-border transactions bench in Riyadh.
Going the other way, DWF announced earlier this month it had closed the Riyadh office it opened in 2021 in favour of working with local law firms. The move bucked the trend of law firms setting up shop in the Kingdom after it liberalised its rules to allow international firms to practise local law, and left the firm with Middle East offices in Dubai and Doha.
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