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DLA Piper today announced the appointment of partner, Murad Abida, who joins the Dubai office as Head of Corporate for the Middle East.

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Akin Gump has hired partner Chadi Salloum for its Abu Dhabi office.  Mr. Salloum brings his significant corporate experience from Chiomenti’s Rome office.

Soure:  www.akingump.com

Lovells has hired a consultant to aid in the growth of its Middle East dispute resolution practice. Stephen York will start consulting on February 1^st. He was previously a partner with Reed Smith in London. York’s resume is compiled by a list of biglaw firms such as Kilpatrick Stockton and Pinsent Masons. York joins one other attorney (a senior associate) in Dubai who specializes in disputes work.

Source:  www.legalweek.com

DLA Piper plans to reduce its staff in Middle East by 39 percent. Here is the breakdown: On top of the two rounds of reduandancies that have occurred earlier in the year, the firm will let go seven lawyers and 10 support staff. 14 staff members are to be relocated to the UK and another group will be sent to DLA’s Australian alliance firm: DLA Phillips Fox. 11 staff have resigned. DLA Piper has offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait City, Muscat and Riyadh.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Baker Botts has launched its third office in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi.  Partner Greg Golden is transferring over from the firm’s DC office to act as Partner in Charge.  Baker Botts is also expanding its other offices in this region, Dubai and Riyadh, due to their growth in number of attorneys.  When the Dubai office opened in 2005, it only had 5 lawyers.  Now it houses more than 20. 

Source:  www.in.sys-con.com

Shibeer Ahmed has joined Baker Botts’ Dubai office.  Previously, Ahmed co-led Lovells’ Middle East practice from 2007, when it launched, through April of this year.  Ahmed specializes in banking, finance, specifically Islamic finance.  Baker Botts launched its Dubai office in 2005.

Source:  www.legalweek.com

SJ Berwin has launched an office in Dubai, less than a month after opening its Hong Kong office.  Tim Taylor and Benjamin Aller, who up to now stationed in London and Paris, respectively, are moving to the Dubai office.  Taylor focuses on litigation, while Aller does mostly private equity fund formation.  Expanding into Asia and the Middle East is a big step for SJ Berwin; previously, the firm concentrated on expanding in Europe.  

Source:  http://www.thelawyer.com/1000307.article

Lovells has formed a real estate practice group in Dubai by recruiting Mohammed Kamal. The former Al Tamimi partner, where he worked from 2004 to 2009. Kamal has joined the firm as of counsel and will be leading the team of three. Lovells launched its Dubai office in 2007.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Another firm has launched in Dubai.  Jones Day has joined the list in the Middle East.  The firm is moving two partners to the city: Arman Galledari, from London, and Sheila Shadmand from Washington.  The Dubai office will have a total of six lawyers, composing an office focused on finance, energy, arbitration and M&A fields.  

Source:  www.legalweek.com