The global law firm Jones Day has announced that it has continued the expansion of its Dubai Office with the hire of leading regional real estate and project development lawyer Duane Keighran.

Mr. Keighran has extensive experience in all aspects of real estate and large scale projects across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, acting for a variety of government related entities, developers, contractors, and investors.

“With Duane’s arrival, and the corresponding extension of our practice into the areas of construction and real estate projects, this completes our objective of providing comprehensive service to our clients in all of the dominant practice areas in the Middle East,” said Arman Galledari, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Dubai Office.

Mr. Keighran’s practice is focused on the development of complex infrastructure and real estate projects, as well as the sale and acquisition of high value real estate assets. He has advised on some of the most complex and innovative transactions in the MENA region, including: 

– A UAE government related entity on the development of a strategic grain terminal and dedicated berthing and ancillary equipment in Fujairah.

– A Saudi Arabian company on the proposed development of a large scale commercial, residential, retail, and hotel project in Jeddah.

– A publicly listed company on its US$1 billion asset-backed securitization program, and on its large-scale project developments throughout the MENA region.

– A private investor on the acquisition of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Dubai International Financial Centre.

Mr. Keighran brings with him a number of years’ experience in undertaking major transactions across the Middle East region.

He is noted as a leading individual by PLC’s Which Lawyer? publication (2011) and Chambers Global (2011), and recognized in Legal 500 (2011) for his “strong business acumen, excellent legal analytical skills and knowledge of the latest legal developments.” He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales and is admitted to practice in both Queensland and New South Wales.

Further strengthening the Jones Day Middle East practice, Mr. Keighran has been joined by senior associate David Weir. Mr. Weir brings with him a wealth of experience acting on large scale real estate developments and infrastructure transactions across the MENA region.