DLA Piper alumnus Jamie Ryder has joined Reed Smith’s entertainment and media industry group in its Dubai office.

Ryder spent more than 14 years at DLA Piper where he was partner and head of its intellectual property and technology practice in the Middle East; he will take up his new post on 3 July. 

Reed Smith’s entertainment and media industry group comprises more than 100 lawyers worldwide. The firm said it has been looking to expand its entertainment and media industry group in the Middle East. 

Co-chair of Reed Smith’s entertainment and media industry group, Elle Todd, said: “Jamie is a leading entertainment and media lawyer in the region and is already well known to many of our clients. He fits the bill perfectly and we are thrilled to have him with us.”

Ryder represents a number of the Middle East’s leading broadcasters and media organisations. He advised film studios like Paramount Pictures on the production and location arrangements for some of the Mission Impossible and Star Trek films. He also advised Manchester City on shirt sponsorship and various branding rights. He has been ranked in Chamber & Partners for more than eight years and is listed as a ‘next generation partner’ by Legal 500.

Sachin Kerur, managing partner of Reed Smith’s Middle East offices, said Ryder was a “standout name in the market” and brings with him new capabilities and industry focus. 

Earlier this month, Reed Smith disclosed that it was letting go of lawyers and staff equating to “less than 2%” of its workforce in a move it put down to a “reduced level of demand for legal services across the industry”. 

For its part DLA Piper boosted its senior IP ranks in Dubai last October with the hire of partner Saba Al Sultani from regional IP firm Cedar White Bradley, where she was head of trademarks. That gave the firm a full service IP offering across the MENA region, DLA Piper said at the time. 

Earlier this month, Clyde & Co also secured a 13-lawyer corporate team in Dubai from PwC, in what is thought to be the largest team hire in the region for several years.