Global law firm White & Case LLP is significantly expanding its Middle East practice with the recruitment of two new partners in Abu Dhabi, as well as the addition of four associates in Abu Dhabi and one in Doha. Margaret B. Cole rejoins the Firm after five years as the General Counsel of global investment firm Babcock & Brown; and Shibeer Ahmed joins from a leading role in another law firm’s Middle East practice.
Cole rejoins the Firm to build its restructuring offering in the region, while Ahmed’s primary focus will be on Islamic finance. Both areas are seeing an increase in market demand. Cole and Ahmed both also add further depth to White & Case’s English law project and bank finance capability in the Middle East.
“With our long-history of representing both international and regional clients on inbound and outbound business in the Middle East, extending our capabilities in the region is an absolute priority for the Firm and our clients,” commented Philip Stopford, the Chair of White & Case’s EMEA Operations Council.
Cole joined as a partner on 3 October. During her time at Babcock & Brown she was responsible for the establishment of a global legal function providing internal counsel across a broad range of complex issues and transactions, including acquisitions, joint ventures, financings and development projects in areas such as infrastructure, real estate, private equity, structured finance and operating leasing. She was a key member of the senior management team that restructured more than A$3.1 billion of debt.
Ahmed joined White & Case on 1 November and has spent the majority of his career working in international project finance and Islamic finance. He is listed as a leading figure in Islamic finance in the 2010 IFLR Guide to the World’s Leading Islamic Finance Lawyers and the 2010 Islamic Finance News Guide to Leading Islamic Finance Lawyers. He works with regional banks and investors, international banks and multi-lateral financial institutions.
“We’re fortunate to have Margaret return to the Firm and to be joined by Shibeer. Margaret is a superbly talented lawyer whose recent restructuring experience will be in high demand; while Shibeer’s strong Islamic finance experience gives us this important capability on the ground in the Middle East for the first time. They’re both excellent lawyers and commercial advisors with a broad range of skills and will be invaluable to our clients,” said Doug Peel, head of White & Case’s Abu Dhabi office.
White & Case has been active in the Middle East for more than 50 years and is ranked as one of the premier law firms in the region. The Firm’s Middle East practice draws from a broad range of disciplines including: Energy, Infrastructure and Project Finance, M&A, Investment Funds, Capital Markets, Banking and Financial Restructuring and Insolvency. The Firm has 21 lawyers, including seven partners, on the ground in Abu Dhabi and Doha.
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