SNR Denton represented Qatar in its successful bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup announced on December 2 in Zurich. This is the first time any Middle Eastern country has been selected as a host nation for the World Cup.
“The journey that SNR Denton has been on with the Qatari Bid Committee is one that we will never forget – we made history,” said Romi Nayef, a SNR Denton senior associate in Doha. “Throughout the selection process, we worked with the bid committee to face the many challenges including developing innovative ways to cool the stadiums, building the infrastructures to support the event and advising on FIFA regulations. However, through it all, the committee showed FIFA their imagination, ingenuity and drive to win.”
Qatar’s unique hosting concept includes renovating three stadiums and building nine new ones, with the 12 venues divided among seven host cities. This includes the proposed 86,000-capacity Lusail Stadium, which is expected to be completed by 2019 and is scheduled to host the opening and final matches. Qatar’s Emir His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa-Al Thani was in attendance for the host selection in Zurich.
SNR Denton’s team has been working with Qatar for over 19 months on bringing this selection to fruition, Romi Nayef seconded as head of legal for the bid committee during that time. The SNR Denton team consisted of lawyers across multiple firm practices including its Sports, Intellectual Property and Corporate groups. The team was led by Leigh Hall (partner, Doha), and supported by Julie Tuck (senior associate, Doha), Stephen Ridgway (associate, London), Darren Collins (partner, Dallas), Megan Oursler (associate, Dallas), Adrian Barr-Smith (Consultant, London), Safwan Moubaydeen (partner, Amman – an associate office), Zara Shirazi (associate, Doha) and Nadine Naji (paralegal, Doha), among others.
SNR Denton has been active in the Middle East since the 1930s, and today has practices in 10 cities and nine jurisdictions in the region. Chaired by Middle East Managing Partner Neil Cuthbert, its presence is unrivalled regional in local knowledge, local connections and local success.
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