Tag: doha
Written by John on 27 August 2015.
♦ Recent Deals ♦ Doha, Qatar
Clifford Chance advised Qatar Navigation QSC (Milaha) on acquiring, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Qatar Shipping Company, the remaining 60% interest in each of the two entities that own the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carriers, Milaha Ras Laffan and Milaha Qatar, from Société Générale, thereby increasing its stake in those entities from 40% to a controlling 100%. The vessels are chartered to RasGas under a 25 year long-term fixed time charter agreement. Milaha Ras Laffan and Milaha Qatar have approximately 14 years and 16 years remaining, respectively, under the time charter agreement. Jason Mendens said, "We are very pleased to work with Milaha on this important transaction. It reflects Milaha's disciplined execution of its long term strategy of investing in core businesses." The Clifford Chance team was led by Jason Mendens working with Daniel Boyle, Nick Newman, Omar ElZorkany, Gwendolyn Muller, Regina Goebel, Robin Hickman and Thomas Weitkamp.
Written by John on 10 September 2013.
♦ Moves News ♦ Abu Dhabi, Doha, Middle East, Qatar, UAE
International law firm Simmons & Simmons has strengthened its Middle East practice with two partner hires in its international Corporate Group. Arnaud Depierrefeu has joined the Doha office, and brings with him a wealth of experience in the Middle East. Arnaud has been working in Qatar since 2009. His practice is focused on handling corporate and commercial matters, as well as projects for international companies wishing to establish themselves and to operate in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf countries. Arnaud, who has worked with clients across the Energy & Infrastructure Sector, has worked in Paris and Shanghai, and is a French-qualified lawyer. He is also one of the few foreign lawyers to be admitted in Qatar. Haitham Hawashin will join the Abu Dhabi office in October. He is an Australian qualified lawyer who joins from Khalifeh & Partners in Jordan where he is a partner. His experience includes advising on private equity, corporate structuring and restructuring, acquisitions and disposals, and debt and equity capital markets transactions across Asia and the Middle East. He is fluent in both English and Arabic. Prior to moving to the Middle East five years ago, Haitham spent ten years at Linklaters in the Singapore and Hong Kong offices and Baker & McKenzie in the Australian and Taiwan offices The Simmons & Simmons Corporate practice in Doha is ranked top tier in Chambers Global legal directory, and the firm’s Corporate practice in the Middle East is noted for its ‘ability to attract work on high profile regional transactions and commercial mandates.’
Written by John on 22 August 2013.
♦ Moves News ♦ Doha, Qatar
The Doha office of global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Matthew Walker as a partner in the energy, infrastructure and resources practice. Walker joins K&L Gates from Dentons, where he was also based in their Doha office. With a focus on construction law and dispute resolution, Walker has significant experience in ICC arbitrations and alternative dispute resolution in Qatar as well as in the wider Middle East region and beyond. He also provides non-contentious construction advice, having worked on a number of important projects in the Middle East and the UK, and he brings a strong track record in rail projects. Walker has acted on the East London Line rail project, forming part of the London Overground railway, and he has completed secondments to clients in the rail sector both in the UK and Qatar. “Matthew’s skills and experience are well known to K&L Gates lawyers who have already worked closely with him on rail and other projects in Qatar,” said Michael Johns, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Middle East offices. “We are delighted that he is joining our team at such an exciting time in the development of our Qatar and Middle East practice.” Walker commented: “From my earliest meetings with K&L Gates, I was impressed by the ambition and drive of the firm and its lawyers. It is clearly a firm going places in the Middle East and I look forward to playing my part in this growth.”
Written by John on 30 May 2013.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News, Moves News ♦ Doha, Middle East, Qatar
Addleshaw Goddard is increasing its capability across the Arabian Gulf and targeting further growth, with the addition of a new office in Qatar – the firm's third office opening in the GCC region in the last nine months. With bases in Doha, Dubai and Muscat, Addleshaw Goddard joins a select group of international law firms, offering specialist expertise in Construction, Projects, Corporate, Finance, Arbitration, Renewable Energy, Private Wealth Management and Litigation across three important jurisdictions in the GCC. The Qatar office will be led by Hussein Damirji, formerly a partner at US law firm Patton Boggs, who specialises in corporate, commercial and family office (high net worth) investments. He will be joined by fellow partner, banking and finance expert Martin Brown who joins the firm from Denton's Doha office. Hussein and Martin will be supported by a team of associates. Paul Devitt, Addleshaw Goddard Managing Partner said: "This latest investment is a very exciting development for our capability in the Gulf region. By developing broad and relevant service lines across the GCC, we are well placed to provide clients with specialist, local market expertise in their own country, on pan-regional assignments and also in relation to their UK investment portfolios." "We are very pleased that Hussein and Martin are joining us to lead our offering in Qatar. Both Hussein and Martin are incredibly well respected and their track-records, combined with our strong presence in Oman and Dubai sends out a clear message about our long-term commitment to the region and to Qatar in particular." Hussein Damirji has worked in the GCC and MENA regions for decades and is fluent in English, Arabic, French and German. He specialises in corporate and commercial matters and has extensive experience advising clients on banking and securities law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and employment law. He has advised clients in multiple jurisdictions including Iraq, Jordan, the UK, Turkey and the United States. Previously described as "Iraq's most high profile business lawyer," his reputation and market knowledge singles him out as a go-to-lawyer for high-profile matters in the region. Hussein has previously worked for a leading global financial management and advisory company where he oversaw all aspects of European and Middle Eastern equity offerings. Martin is a specialist in international finance and acts for a variety of financial institutions as well as sponsors and corporate borrowers. He has extensive experience of cross-border syndicated financings, debt capital markets, fund formation and management, real estate finance, Islamic finance, general corporate acquisition transactions, and restructurings. Martin has been based in Qatar since 2008 and has worked on many conventional and Shari’ah-compliant financing transactions throughout the GCC, Africa and Europe. Opening an office in Qatar is the latest in a number of strategic investments made by Addleshaw Goddard to deliver a high quality, borderless client service anywhere in the world, whether through its own offices or preferred firm network. The firm first opened an office in the GCC region in September 2012 with the launch of its Dubai office which is led by international construction and engineering expert Andrew Greaves. Its second office in the region opened in Oman in January 2013, in association with Nasser al Habsi Law Firm and is led by banking, finance and project finance law expert Roger Byrne and corporate specialist Charles Schofield.
Written by John on 29 January 2013.
♦ Moves News ♦ Abu Dhabi, Doha, Qatar, UAE
Patton Boggs LLP is pleased to announce that Brian J. Pierce has joined the firm’s Corporate Finance practice group as a partner. Mr. Pierce, who will work throughout Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, joins Patton Boggs from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where he was Special Counsel - Middle East. Mr. Pierce enhances the Patton Boggs team with strong experience in project development and finance, mergers and acquisitions, international corporate finance transactions and general corporate matters. He represents corporations, consortia, financial institutions and governmental entities in the MENA and Arab Gulf regions. A deep understanding of Middle East culture and business practices guides his practice. “Brian Pierce brings a wealth of regional and global experience and solid client relationships to Patton Boggs,” noted William L. Nash III, managing partner of the firm’s Abu Dhabi, UAE office and a member of the firm’s International Business and MENA practice groups. “His excellence as a lawyer and understanding of the region and MENA business culture is the foundation of his success. Brian is a great addition to our growing MENA practice.” In recent years, Mr. Pierce has advised clients on a number of substantial transactions in the areas of project development and finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. For example, he represented Emirates Aluminum Company (EMAL) in connection with the $7 billion financing of its aluminum smelter complex in Abu Dhabi. In the M&A arena, he represented ING Group in its $100 million divestment of its US-based private market real estate investment management business. “Brian Pierce’s breadth of experience, particularly in the MENA region, further enhances his technical expertise as a lawyer and his strong record of successfully representing clients,” said Khalid Al-Thebity, managing partner of Patton Boggs affiliate office in Riyadh. “His addition to our Middle East team – in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh – is further testament of the firm’s commitment to this region and our clients. His understanding of the business climate, having lived and worked here for many years and experience servicing it from abroad for several more, makes his addition a tremendous asset to the firm’s current and future clients.” “We particularly look forward to Brian’s ability to support the firm’s strong client base in the infrastructure and construction projects sectors,” added Susan Bastress, managing partner of the firm’s Doha office. “Patton Boggs is well positioned in MENA, as the region continues to develop its energy, health care, educational and finance capabilities. Brian is a significant addition to our capabilities.” In addition to Mr. Pierce, two senior corporate associates recently joined the firm’s MENA practice. Sally Soubra, based in the firm’s Abu Dhabi office, comes from Latham & Watkins LLP. Owen Delaney, now in the firm’s Doha office, joins Patton Boggs from Vinson & Elkins LLP. For more than 30 years, the law firm of Patton Boggs LLP has provided legal and policy advice to sovereign governments, government-owned corporations and private-sector clients requiring corporate and strategic advice throughout the MENA region. The firm combines local knowledge with extensive regional experience and proficiency in U.S. and international law and policy, offering clients practical legal guidance for operating in and from the area.