Trowers & Hamlins has boosted its international construction disputes line-up with the hire of Magda Kofluk from Stephenson Harwood as a partner.
Kofluk, a civil law construction arbitration specialist, is to move after three years as a member of Stephenson Harwood’s international arbitration and construction and engineering practice group, where she was a counsel. She is bringing with her senior associate Samantha Martin.
Kofluk, who also practises as a self-employed arbitrator, has 14 years of experience in construction disputes and has been located in the Middle East for a decade, advising on projects in Qatar, Oman, Iraq and the UAE.
She has provided guidance for high-value arbitrations relating to construction projects across all major industries including power plants, highways, airports, mixed-use buildings, railways and stadiums.
As an arbitrator, she is empanelled with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre and is on the roster of arbitrators of the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration.
Martin, meanwhile, has been a managing associate at Stephenson Harwood for nearly five years. Previously, she was an associate for DLA Piper in Dubai.
Trowers noted that its Middle East construction team now boasts three women partners, helping it to “lead the way in promoting gender diversity in construction law”.
The arrival of Kofluk and Martin increases the percentage of female fee earners in Trowers’ International construction disputes team to 75%, up from 66%.
Cheryl Cairns, head of international construction disputes, said: “Her expertise in high-value arbitrations and deep regional knowledge will build on the team’s extensive experience and further strengthen the support we offer to our clients.”
Earlier this month, Trowers was granted a licence to operate in Saudi and will be opening a new office in Riyadh in early November, to be led by co-resident managing partners Bilal Kahlon and Nasreen Alissa. The launch forms part of the firm’s 2030 growth strategy.
Its Middle East network of offices extends to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai and Oman.
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