Global law firm Reed Smith today announced that it will be joined in Dubai and Abu Dhabi by three market-leading partners: Sachin Kerur, Michelle Nelson and Shourav Lahiri. The announcement marks a strategic push in the Middle East to enhance Reed Smith’s global offering in the construction and projects sectors, while boosting the firm’s international arbitration capabilities in the region and creating an oil and gas disputes hub in Abu Dhabi.
Sachin Kerur, Pinsent Masons’ former head of the Middle East region, will assume the role of office managing partner for Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“Sachin and Michelle are highly regarded in the region, and we are thrilled to have them join us. They have worked closely with Shourav for many years and together, this team will be a real boost to our Middle East offering and represents a game-changer in the local legal market. Under Sachin’s leadership, we are looking forward to growing our platform to increase our services to both local and global clients active in the region,” said Tamara Box, managing partner, Europe & the Middle East.
Listed among the 75 most influential figures in the Middle East construction industry by the region’s leading construction publication, Construction Week, Sachin has advised regional governments and the private sector on some of the most significant infrastructure projects across the Middle East and India. He will bring over a decade of regional strategic leadership experience to Reed Smith as the firm looks to further develop its hub for the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Africa.
Michelle, also from Pinsent Masons, specialises in international arbitration, with a particular emphasis on high-value and highly complex infrastructure, energy and construction projects. She has represented clients in arbitration matters throughout the world, and particularly the Middle East region, under a wide variety of arbitration rules and substantive and procedural laws, and for a variety of clients, including major contractors, developers, employers and consultants. A qualified solicitor advocate, Michelle undertakes her own advocacy in her arbitration practice and will be a strong addition to Reed Smith’s international arbitration team. She is highly regarded by clients and this year was selected for The Legal 500’s ‘Hall of Fame’, which highlights individuals who have received constant praise from clients for their continued excellence.
Shourav is a leading arbitration lawyer in infrastructure and oil and gas disputes, with more than 20 years’ experience of practising throughout Asia and the Middle East. Noted by Chambers for his “vast knowledge and experience in handling complex construction disputes”, he is a barrister and a solicitor qualified in Hong Kong, Singapore, and England and Wales. Prior to launching his own firm, Lahiri LLC, in Asia, Shourav was a partner at Pinsent Masons. He will provide connectivity between Reed Smith’s practice in the Middle East, and India and the international arbitration hubs of Singapore and Hong Kong.
“We are over the moon to have Sachin, Michelle and Shourav join us; their recruitment underscores a key investment focus of our continued international growth. Sachin, Michelle and Shourav are regional veterans in the Middle East legal world, each widely acknowledged as outstanding practitioners and strategic thought leaders,” said Prajakt Samant, global chair of the Energy & Natural Resources Group.
Reed Smith was one of the first international law firms to commit to building a presence in the United Arab Emirates. Its Abu Dhabi and Dubai offices have become the hub of the firm’s practice in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Africa. The firm’s longstanding relationships and history in the markets in the Middle East and North Africa, coupled with its global footprint, enable the firm to provide insightful, responsive legal services to multinational companies with operations, offices or interests across the region.
Source: www.reedsmith.com
