Bennett Jones announced today the opening of its second office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), located in the capital city of Abu Dhabi. In November 2010, Bennett Jones opened an office in Dubai. The opening of an office in Abu Dhabi strengthens the firm’s presence in the Arabian Gulf as the only Canadian law firm officially licensed to practise law in the UAE.
“Our new Abu Dhabi office is a demonstration of our commitment to the region”, says Hugh MacKinnon, Chairman and CEO of Bennett Jones. “Having a presence in the financial and political hub of the UAE is a great honour for us and will allow us to better serve our clients in the Middle East.”
Bennett Jones’ in-depth expertise and deep roots in oil and gas and energy make the firm a natural fit for Abu Dhabi, which is the fourth largest oil producing centre in the world. In addition, Abu Dhabi has become a very significant financial hub.
Bennett Jones’ strengths in finance were reflected in the appointment of David Dodge to the UAE Central Bank International Advisory Council last fall. Dodge is a senior advisor at Bennett Jones and former Governor of the Bank of Canada.
The new office will advise clients in areas including corporate law, commercial transactions, infrastructure and project development, foreign investment and finance.
“Our network in the UAE benefits both our clients in the Gulf and Canada,” says Dany Assaf, Bennett Jones’ Middle East Managing Partner. “With Canada becoming a growing destination for Gulf investors, we are strategically positioned to facilitate foreign investment and market opportunities between both regions.”
The firm currently has six senior lawyers in the UAE, including four Canadians. Tim Ross, the firm’s Dubai Managing Partner, says “the firm’s presence in Abu Dhabi further demonstrates its commitment to the Middle East market and to clients doing business in this dynamic region.”
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