International law firm Bird & Bird has appointed partner Gregory Man as the new global head of Islamic finance based in Dubai. Gregory will also head the Finance & Financial Regulation practice in the Middle East. Man comes to the firm from the Dubai office of Norton Rose Fulbright.

Gregory has extensive experience in Islamic and conventional capital markets and structured finance transactions and acts for leading financial institutions, key corporates and government entities in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He has also advised on some of the most high-profile restructurings in the Middle East region. Gregory joins from Norton Rose Fulbright where he was the head of the firm’s Debt Capital Markets practice in the Middle East. Prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright, he led the Islamic Finance practice in Asia at Clifford Chance.

Gregory is admitted to practice in England, Wales and the United Arab Emirates.

Joining with Gregory from Norton Rose Fulbright is Legal Director Ganna Vlasenko, who previously worked at Freshfields.

Joss Hargrave, Michael Juenemann and Giuseppe D’Agostino, co-heads of the Finance & Financial Regulation practice comment: “Gregory is an ideal addition to our Finance & Financial Regulation practice at Bird & Bird. His wide spread experience advising on Islamic finance matters as well as acting on some of the most high-profile restructurings in the Middle East will further strengthen our practice in the region and across our network. We are happy to have him on board!”

Anders Nilsson, managing partner in the Middle East says: “I’m pleased to welcome Gregory to our Dubai office at Bird & Bird. Gregory will be a great asset not only in growing our Finance & Financial Regulation practice in the Middle East region, but also to strengthen the firm’s offering globally, especially in the area of Islamic finance. His experience in restructuring is also a very welcome addition, particularly when combined with our Dispute Resolution and Investigations practices.”

Gregory adds: “I’m excited to have joined an innovative law firm like Bird & Bird. As one of the leading law firm’s supporting organisations being changed by technology and the digital world, Bird & Bird provides me with an ideal platform for the delivery of banking and finance, debt capital markets and Islamic finance services to our clients in the Middle East and internationally.”