Tag: muscat
Written by John on 17 November 2015.
♦ Moves News ♦ Muscat
Nick Simpson has joined Dentons as a partner in its Corporate and Commercial team in Muscat. Previously a partner at Kemp Strang in Sydney, Simpson has a wide breadth of experience in corporate and commercial law. Paul Sheridan, Dentons Managing Partner in Muscat, commented, "Given Nick's strong corporate background, he is a perfect fit for the market in Oman, which continues to enjoy both strong inward investment and collaboration between Omani and international businesses. We are very pleased to welcome him to the Firm." Simpson has broad experience and has worked on a variety of corporate transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, capital raisings and restructurings as well as on commercial matters. His focus is largely on advising an international client base, on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, company flotations and offerings. Simpson said, "I am delighted to be joining Dentons again, especially at such an exciting time for the Firm. Oman is a very interesting market and I look forward to working with all my colleagues, here and around the world." Simpson is dual qualified in Australia and in England and Wales. He was a member of the corporate and commercial department of Dentons (then Denton Wilde Sapte) in London between 1999 and 2001, before moving to Australia. After some time with a major Australian firm, he set up his own firm, Hogan Simpson, which merged with Kemp Strang in 2012.
Written by John on 06 September 2013.
♦ Moves News ♦ Muscat, Oman
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP has announced that Charles Cruden has joined the international law firm as Counsel in its Muscat office. Mr. Cruden brings to Curtis more than a decade of experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law, compliance, domestic and cross-border investments, joint ventures, infrastructure, projects and real estate transactions. Charles Cruden is one of two new Counsel, along with James Kellick, to move to Curtis in Muscat at this time. Curtis Oman is also adding three new associates there to its growing team of lawyers. We are very happy that Charles Cruden has joined our expanding practice in Oman and the GCC,” said Bruce Palmer, managing partner of Curtis in Muscat. “His significant corporate and commercial law experience in Oman will enable Curtis to continue to grow in the region and help our clients there grow as well.” Mr. Cruden is a qualified Solicitor (England & Wales) who has advised oil & gas companies, construction firms, industrial corporations, real estate development organizations and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman. As a published author, Mr. Cruden has written articles for legal periodicals on topics including foreign investment and real estate transactions. He has spoken at industry conferences on matters such as structuring joint ventures and foreign direct investment. Mr. Cruden earned a Diploma in Legal Practice with Merit and a Diploma in Law with Merit from the University of Exeter He earned both his M.A. and B.A. degrees at St. John’s College, the University of Cambridge. He is a member of the Law Society, England & Wales. Curtis Oman has been helping Omani and international companies, financial institutions and governmental agencies in the Sultanate for more than 15 years.
Written by John on 06 September 2013.
♦ Moves News ♦ Middle East, Muscat, Oman
International law firm Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP has announced that James Kellick has joined the firm as Counsel based in its Muscat office. Mr. Kellick brings more than 15 years of litigation and other alternative dispute resolution (ADR) experience to Curtis, including LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL arbitration. He has advised clients in relation to a wide range of commercial matters covering a number of industry sectors. He was most recently with Trowers & Hamlins in Muscat. James Kellick is one of two new Counsel, along with Charles Cruden, to move to Curtis in Muscat at this time. Curtis Oman is also adding three new associates there to its growing team of lawyers. We are excited that Jamie is joining Curtis,” said Bruce Palmer, managing partner of Curtis in Muscat. “With the continuing rise in the use of arbitration in Oman, his many years of experience and accomplishment in both arbitration and litigation will be very valuable for Curtis and our clients both here and throughout the Gulf Region.” Mr. Kellick, who has been ranked by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 for his work in Oman and the UAE, has counseled government organizations and state-owned industries, as well as leading international and local companies. His varied caseload includes trust matters (both contentious and non-contentious), fraud cases, regulatory investigations and cross-border asset recovery claims. Mr. Kellick is an advocate of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He has handled matters in both civil law and common law jurisdictions, and regularly speaks at seminars concerning arbitration and ADR practice, most recently at a panel discussion for the Disputes Resolution Board Foundation Annual Conference in Doha and at the Oman Society of Engineers Annual Conference in Muscat. He was recently appointed as a guest lecturer for the new DIFC Courts Academy in Dubai. Mr. Kellick has published articles that include the Oman chapters in international arbitration journals: Global Arbitration Review "The European and Middle Eastern Arbitration Review" in 2010 and 2011; the "International Comparative Legal Guide to International Arbitration, 2010;" and, most recently, the Middle East Business Review 2013.” He earned a Dip. Legal Practice degree in the Department of Professional Legal Studies at the University of Bristol, his Dip. Law at Nottingham Law School and his BSC at the University of Hertfordshire. Curtis Oman has been helping Omani and international companies, financial institutions and governmental agencies in the Sultanate for the past 15 years. Curtis was the first U.S.-headquartered law firm licensed to practice in Oman.
Written by John on 27 March 2013.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News ♦ Middle East, Muscat, Oman
Duane Morris LLP announced today that it has opened its first office in the Middle East through a joint venture with the Al Mashaikhi Law Firm, a multi-practice law firm in Muscat, Oman. The newly established joint venture, to be known as the Dr. Said Al Mashaikhi and Partner Law Firm—A GCC representative office of Duane Morris—significantly expands the capabilities and geographic reach of both firms. The Omani firm was founded by name partner Dr. Said Al Mashaikhi, and Duane Morris partner Jeffrey Rodwell, formerly based in Duane Morris' London office, who has relocated to Muscat to serve as the managing director. Duane Morris previously expanded its global footprint with the formation in 2010 of an enhanced joint law venture with Selvam LLC in Singapore, creating Duane Morris & Selvam LLP, followed in 2011 by a strategic alliance with Mexico City firm Miranda & Estavillo. Duane Morris also has offices in London as well as inHanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, in addition to its 20 U.S. locations. "We are excited about the opportunities that our new venture with Dr. Al Mashaikhi and his colleagues opens for our clients and the firm," said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO John Soroko. "Oman's key location and role in international commerce, as well as an affluent population and a modern, open economy, create an abundance of business possibilities. Our two firms have been in talks for more than a year, and by formalizing our relationship as a new joint venture with Dr. Al Mashaikhi's firm, Duane Morris greatly expands its transactional capabilities not only in Oman, but also throughout the Gulf region." Because Oman is a member of the six-country Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a trade and economic alliance that facilitates regional commerce among key states in the region, joint venture law firm is able to provide legal services across the entire region. The other five GCC countries are The Kingdom of Bahrain, The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. "We are pleased to join forces with such an excellent and long-established American firm," said Dr. Said Al Mashaikhi, founder of the Al Mashaikhi law firm. "Duane Morris has a strong presence in the United States and globally, as well as an impressive reputation for client service. We look forward to leveraging the global Duane Morris platform and working with the firm's lawyers to expand the services we offer. We believe our mutual reputation for superb legal service will have great impact on the business community that we now expect to serve together." Dr. Al Mashaikhi has more than 15 years of experience practicing law in Oman and surrounding GCC countries. His experience encompasses legal work for banking and financial services clients, construction projects and disputes, foreign investments, and work in business and commercial law and foreign claims. Duane Morris will coordinate its Omani involvement through its London office but also expects significant interaction with its New York, Vietnam and Singapore offices. Duane Morris' interest in Oman was sparked by its relationship with ICT, LLC, an influential investment banking firm with significant interests in the country. By many international indices, the Sultanate of Oman is one of the most developed and stable countries in the Arab world, and is also the oldest independent state in the region. Oman is strategically located at the juncture of the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, known as the Gulf of Oman. While its principal exports are petroleum-based, the country also has a significant financial services sector that is active both regionally and globally, as well as interests in the metals industry. As a member of the World Trade Organization, Oman enjoys full diplomatic relations and trade relationships with all the world's developed countries. It has Double Tax Treaties with most of its trading partners and a Free Trade Agreement with each of the United States and Singapore. Additionally, Oman has historically close ties with Southeast Asia and the Far East, particularly with India, Vietnam and Singapore, where Duane Morris currently provides legal services throughout Southeast Asia.
About Dr. Said Al Mashaikhi and Partner Law Firm—A GCC Representative Office of Duane Morris
Operating from its home base in Muscat, Oman, the new joint venture will represent clients in both inbound and outbound transactions originating in Oman, as well as in the other five member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The joint venture will focus on major areas, such as project, equipment and asset-based finance; trade finance; real estate; private equity and sovereign wealth funds work; and Islamic finance. The firm will handle dispute resolution matters through its domestic constituent firm.
Written by John on 19 March 2013.
♦ Moves News ♦ Middle East, Muscat, Oman
Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP has announced that Simon Ward has joined the international law firm as Counsel based in its Muscat office. Mr. Ward had been the head of disputes at Al Busaidy, Mansour, Jamal & Partners, the largest local firm in Oman and an affiliate of Clifford Chance. Simon Ward is an experienced litigator who has acted as both arbitrator and lead counsel before the Omani Courts and in domestic and international arbitrations, including under the auspices of the ICC and the London Court of Arbitration. He also has substantial experience in Omani/UNCITRAL ad hoc arbitration and general dispute resolution before Omani courts, and has recently been appointed to the Oman Court of Appeal Roll of Arbitrators. Mr. Ward brings a wide range of litigation experience to Curtis, including commercial, construction, regulatory, health and safety, environmental, and employment, both in Oman and overseas. Mr. Ward is listed in Chambers for Dispute Resolution in Oman, where he is "highly commended for his arbitration practice." Chambers also lists Curtis partner James Harbridge for Dispute Resolution in Oman. We are very happy that Simon Ward has decided to move to Curtis," said Bruce Palmer, managing partner of Curtis in Oman. "Simon's experience and reputation in commercial arbitration, especially here in Oman and the other GCC countries, will further strengthen our position as a leader in the field of arbitration throughout the Gulf region." "Curtis was a natural choice for me, given its strong international reputation in arbitration and the respect with which the firm is held in this region," said Mr. Ward. "I am very enthusiastic about moving to Curtis and collaborating with my new colleagues both in the Middle East and around the world." Mr. Ward is the latest prominent addition to Curtis' global arbitration practice. Within the past year, Jean-Claude Najar and Nadia Darwazeh moved to Curtis in Paris from General Electric and the ICC's International Court of Arbitration, respectively, while Professor Tullio Rodolfo Treves joined Curtis in Milan. Mr. Ward began his career in his native New Zealand, where he regularly appeared for top tier clients at all levels of courts. He has also acted as prosecution counsel for an environmental protection agency there. Mr. Ward earned his LLB, with first class honors, at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, where he has since lectured part time in law and has presented several seminars on arbitration and risk management. His article, "Litigation and Dispute Resolution in Oman," was published in The Report: Oman by the Oxford Business Group, now in partnership with Curtis. Curtis Oman has been helping Omani and international companies, financial institutions and governmental agencies in the Sultanate for the past 15 years. Curtis remains the only U.S.-headquartered law firm licensed to practice in Oman.