Clifford Chance announces its intention to further expand its business in the Middle East with the opening of an office in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), subject to Licence approval.
The QFC office is expected to open as soon as approval of the Licence has been received.
Graham Lovett, Gulf Managing Partner, explains, “As a firm we are already very active in Qatar, with a strong track-record of advising Qatar-based clients. The opening of an office in the QFC is in response to our clients’ requests for a presence on the ground. It also fits with our broader strategy for the Middle East, where we continue to invest in support of growth across the region.”
The team in Doha will work closely with Clifford Chance lawyers across the Firm’s Middle East and international network to provide clients with access to the full range of the Firm’s expertise.
Clifford Chance has been active in Qatar since the 1980s and has an existing base of clients in Qatar including leading Qatari entities, international banks, financial institutions and corporate entities based in the State.
The new QFC office will be headed by Richard Parris, currently a partner in the Firm’s Dubai office and a projects specialist, together with Greg Englefield, who previously spent two years on secondment to a local Qatar law firm.
Parris comments “This decision is a significant step forward for the strategy of the Firm and our ability to help our clients with their Qatar-related business opportunities. The subsequent award of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar will hopefully present even further opportunities in this regard”.
David Childs, Clifford Chance Managing Partner adds, “The Middle East plays an important role in the firm’s international network. We have a long-standing presence in the region and have continued to make important strategic investments in our capabilities. It’s clear to us that there is a great deal of dynamism in Qatar and across the region generally and we’re proud to be playing an active role in supporting further development and growth in these increasingly important financial centres.”
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