Written by John on 06 March 2013.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News ♦ Kuwait
Leading global energy law firm Baker Botts L.L.P. continued to expand its Middle East operations today by announcing an alliance with the International Legal Group (ILG) of Kuwait. This is the firm’s first foray into Kuwait, a country with a significant strategic role in the region. Through the alliance, Baker Botts and ILG will provide expanded resources to their combined client base, including access to local and international legal experience across a range of subjects, disciplines and jurisdictions. A principal objective of the alliance is the enhanced ability of both firms to better serve foreign companies active in Kuwait and Kuwait-based companies active internationally. "We are excited about the prospects our alliance offers and see a genuine fit between the practices and cultures of Baker Botts and ILG," said Andrew Baker, the Managing Partner of Baker Botts. "Many of our key clients are active in Kuwait, and our arrangement with ILG will enable us to work for them more effectively." Dr. Rashid Alanezi, the Chairman of ILG, said: "We believe our alliance with Baker Botts will enable us to offer our Kuwaiti client base a breadth of experience that is superior to that otherwise available in the Kuwaiti legal market. We are delighted to be associated with the firm , and look forward to our working together on major representations across the board." The ILG alliance adds Kuwait to well-established Baker Botts offices in the Middle East, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. After 40 years in the region, the firm has built a vibrant practice with more than 25 lawyers addressing a wide spectrum of issues for clients with operations or interests in the region. The alliance was announced at an event in Kuwait City, featuring James A. Baker, III, who was the U.S. Secretary of State when the U.S. forged a coalition of allies during the first Persian Gulf War that liberated Kuwait from an invasion and short-term occupation of the country by Iraqi armed forces. Baker is a senior partner at Baker Botts. His family has been involved in the development and management of the firm for more than 140 years. "I hold a special place in my heart for Kuwait and the people of this wonderful country," Baker said. "And so, it is especially rewarding for me to see that the law firm my great grandfather, my grandfather, my father, my oldest son and I all have helped develop will now have representation here."
Written by John on 05 March 2012.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News ♦ Kuwait, Kuwait City
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP has announced the opening of an office in Kuwait in association with Mashora Advocates and Legal Consultants. Kuwait becomes the international law firm’s 16th office globally and third in the Middle East. The Curtis Kuwait office will be headed by David Pfeiffer, who joins Curtis as a partner with 16 years of experience in Kuwait. The office will be located at Mashora Tower, Qibla Area, Kuwait City. The firm’s phone number there will be +965 2240 4470 and the email will be kuwait@curtis.com. Mashora Advocates and Legal Consultants is considered to be Kuwait’s premier law firm with 25 lawyers. Mashora has built an outstanding reputation in the area of corporate and commercial law, litigation, real estate, joint ventures, banking and finance. Mashora is managed by Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, a Kuwaiti national with more than 25 years of experience in the Kuwait market. "We are very excited to be expanding into Kuwait,” said George Kahale III, chairman of Curtis. “This move is another important part of our strategic growth in the Middle East, where we have already established a strong presence in Oman and Dubai over the past few years. The combined strength of Curtis’ international experience, the addition of David Pfeiffer to head the Curtis Kuwait office and Mashora’s well-known capabilities in the Gulf region will provide clients with the highest level of legal service in Kuwait.” "We are very happy to be associating with Curtis,” said Mr. Al Humaidan, who served from 2006 to 2009 as Chairman of the Kuwait Municipal Council and President of the Kuwait Lawyers Association from 1998 to 2006. “Our alliance will create one of the most significant international law offices in Kuwait, which will greatly benefit our clients and enable us to grow in a wide range of practice areas.” "I am thrilled to be joining Curtis because of its strong international focus and reputation along with its commitment to the Middle East,” said Mr. Pfeiffer, who brings 18 years of experience in the Middle East. “Curtis provides a substantial international platform that will allow us to establish a solid base in Kuwait by working closely with its team of highly regarded lawyers around the world to deliver the highest quality service to our clients in all practice areas.” David Pfeiffer offers a combination of local and international expertise that is unmatched in Kuwait. He has been recognized, including by Chambers Global, as one of the leading commercial lawyers in Kuwait, where he has been based since 1996. He most recently was the managing partner of the SNR Denton Kuwait office after serving as the managing partner of Bryan Cave Kuwait. He has practiced law in New York, Chicago, Riyadh and Jeddah, in addition to Kuwait. Mr. Pfeiffer earned his J.D. at the University of Wisconsin Law School and an LLM at Georgetown University Law Center. He received his M.A. at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland.
Written by John on 04 November 2010.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News ♦ Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Riyadh, UAE
Global law firm White & Case LLP has strengthened its Middle East presence through an association with the law office of Dr. Waleed N. Al-Nuwaiser in Riyadh. The new practice – Dr. Waleed N. Al-Nuwaiser in Association with White & Case LLP – marks the continuation of the Firm's long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia that extends more than 50 years. "White & Case was one of the first law firms to focus on the Saudi market, initially through our relationship with Saudi Aramco, which began in the 1950s and continues to this day," said White & Case chairman Hugh Verrier. "We look forward to working with Waleed and his team to continue to advise our clients on Saudi law and reinforce our position as a firm that is second-to-none in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East." Dr. Al-Nuwaiser oversees a legal team of seven lawyers comprising both Saudi Arab and international lawyers, all of whom will continue with the new practice. Their legal expertise encompasses commercial and corporate law, M&A, inward investment, public-private partnerships, WTO, finance and Islamic finance and CMA regulations. In addition, Dr. Al-Nuwaiser advises foreign investors, private companies, the Saudi government and Saudi public institutions. "We are extremely pleased with our new association with White & Case," said Dr. Al-Nuwaiser. "More than any other firm, White & Case's leading presence in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Region gives us an excellent platform from which to serve our long-standing clients as inbound and outbound investment continues to grow and the Saudi economy diversifies." White & Case's association with Dr. Al-Nuwaiser adds to the Firm's strong presence and reputation in the Middle East, where in addition to Riyadh it has offices in Abu Dhabi and Doha. The Firm provides a broad range of services to clients involved in commercial and financial transactions, from investments and project finance and construction contract law, to acquisitions and Islamic-based financing, among many others. In addition to its extensive work in Saudi Arabia, the Firm advises clients doing business in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. White & Case has been a long-term participant in the Saudi legal market. The Firm's on-the-ground presence in Saudi Arabia dates back to 1989. It has represented Saudi Aramco and its predecessor company, the Arabian American Oil Company, for more than half a century. Recent notable work by the Firm in Saudi Arabia includes:
- Representing Saudi Basic Industries Corporation in connection with its US$2.7 billion joint venture with China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation to build and operate a petrochemical complex in China.
- Advising a consortium of lenders in the financing of a US$2.1 billion gas-fired power plant in Saudi Arabia, sponsored by GDF Suez SA, Aljomaih Holding Co of Saudi Arabia, Sojitz Corporation of Japan and Saudi Electricity Company.
- Advising the lenders of a US$2.5 billion independent power producer (IPP) project in Saudi Arabia, the first IPP in the Middle East fully backed by Chinese engineering, procurement and construction support.
- Representing the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia in connection with its role as sole subscriber to US$2.66 billion of notes issued by Saudi Basic Industries Corporation.
Written by John on 02 November 2010.
♦ Recent Deals ♦ Dubai, Kuwait
Clyde & Co's Middle East corporate team has completed an acquisition for NASDAQ-listed Automatic Data Processing, Inc’s Dealer Services division (ADP). ADP Dealer Services Gulf FZ-LLC, a subsidiary of ADP established in Dubai, has acquired Kuwait based software company Professional Application of Computers Company WLL (PACC). PACC has been the distributor of ADP's Autoline software in the Middle East since 1992. Dubai based corporate partner Ben Gillespie led the Clyde & Co team advising on the acquisition, which included senior associate Lee Keane and associate Rachel Chadwick. ADP said: "We chose Clyde & Co as advisors in this transaction because of their pre-eminent reputation in the Middle East for corporate work and were impressed with the service provided." Ben Gillespie said: "This strategic acquisition for ADP in the Gulf region required commerciality, creative thinking and a strong team effort. Having assisted ADP with the establishment of their Dubai operations we are pleased to have successfully delivered this transaction overcoming a variety of regional challenges while ensuring that a high-standard of legal advice and client service were maintained at all times." NASDAQ-listed Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of business outsourcing solutions with nearly $9 billion in revenues and more than 585,000 clients worldwide. Its Dealer Services business unit provides integrated solutions to 25,000 automotive, truck, motorcycle, and marine recreational dealers throughout the world. Clyde & Co has four Middle Eastern offices, which operate as a single unit; Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE; Doha in Qatar; and an associated office in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. The firm formalised its presence in the Middle East in 1989 after many years of client activity in the region. Today Clyde & Co is recognised by the market as one of the major international law firms in the Middle East.