The new office is expected to have around 10 lawyers by the end of the month, including three partners. In addition to focusing on projects work, Webb expects the office to cover corporate and construction work as well as media and film financing issues.
Webb said: “It is an exciting market and it is evolving quickly. We want to have people on the ground who specialise in and do the work which is important to the Abu Dhabi-based companies and government.”
The launch comes as Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith, Ashurst, Eversheds, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Latham & Watkins all wait for licences to open in
Latham — which earlier this year announced a three-pronged launch in the Middle East with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar — is expecting its licence for Abu Dhabi to come through towards the end of April, while its first lawyers are expected to be on the ground in Qatar at the beginning of May.
Herbert Smith, meanwhile, is expecting the licence for its
The Bar is also investing in the region, with Outer Temple Chambers this month registering five of its barristers with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts. The registration of Richard Lissack QC, Robert Rhodes QC, Andrew Spink QC, Keith Bryant, Robert-Jan Temmink and Farhaz Khan gives the chambers full rights of audience in the DIFC Courts.
