Middle East/United Arab Emirates
Pérez-Llorca opens Abu Dhabi office targeting sovereign wealth funds
Launch makes Pérez-Llorca first Ibero-American law firm with a physical presence in the city
Skadden hits Akin for investment management partners across Abu Dhabi, Washington DC
Incoming trio bring partner count in Abu Dhabi office Skadden opened last year to seven
Mishcon de Reya adds litigation trio from Watson Farley & Williams in the UAE
Incoming team includes partner Charlotte Bijlani, who joins as co-head of its UAE disputes practice
Hogan Lovells strengthens in Middle East with twin partner hire from Ashurst
M&A lawyers Simon Rahimzada and Vasi Papadopoulos join firm ahead of its merger with Cadwalader
DAC Beachcroft launches in Dubai with Clyde & Co partner trio
Insurance partners Michael Morris, Michael Ducker and Mark Beswetherick join to open UK firm’s first Middle East office
London’s 39 Essex Chambers adds Addleshaw Goddard construction co-head to open in Dubai
Stephen Burke joins the set alongside Madelaine Power, who moves over from Pinsent Masons
Addleshaw Goddard makes up 17 partners
Cohort spans the UK, Europe and the Middle East, including two in newly added Warsaw office
HSF Kramer and Norton Rose advise on £1.4bn sale of Ivy Collection to Diafa
The transaction is one of the largest ever in the UK restaurant business and includes The Ivy Collection, Sexy Fish, Scott’s, Harry’s Bar and Annabel’s
The Global Legal Post launches comparative guide to fashion law
Cross-jurisdictional Law Over Borders guide is edited by Trevisan & Cuonzo partner Julia Holden, who is based in Milan
Freshfields and Gibson Dunn advise on Axel Springer’s £575m Telegraph acquisition
Deal scuppers rival deal from the owner of the Daily Mail, advised by Slaughter and May
Dechert hires new Dubai managing partner from White & Case
Phillip Sacks rejoins following two-year stint at White & Case, where he led the Middle East funds practice
‘I’m dealing with uncertainty by staying busy’ – Middle East-based lawyers respond to escalating conflict
International lawyers are following official advice to avoid travel and stay away from windows, doors and open spaces, reports Ben Rigby
International lawyers across the Middle East told to take shelter as Iran conflict escalates
UK lawyers in the UAE advised to register their presence as UK government reportedly considers evacuation plans
Majority of Gulf region companies now adopting Gen AI – survey
Deloitte report shows non-adoption rates almost halved in 2025, though most are still in pre-implementation phase
Leading arbitration centres band together to offer mutual access to their facilities
IACA’s Global Passport initiative launches at IBA Arbitration Day in Abu Dhabi
Pérez-Llorca to open Abu Dhabi office targeting sovereign wealth funds
Planned launch will make Pérez-Llorca first Ibero-American law firm with a physical presence in the city
International arbitration firm Three Crowns announces Dubai opening
New office in the Dubai International Financial Centre will be led by partner Manish Aggarwal
Trio of senior disputes partners depart firms to practise as independent arbitrators
A&O Shearman, White & Case and Orrick have all parted company with seasoned practitioners
‘In luxury, we are all tied together by an invisible golden string’: Huda Beauty’s Mershia Govender
Luxury beauty executive discusses her path to law, her global role, ‘servant leadership’ and the ties that bind luxury colleagues together
Forsters debuts in Middle East with first office launch outside London
New Abu Dhabi office will be led by private client partner James Brockhurst