Dentons is rebuilding its presence in Dubai with the strategic relocation of a London-based partner.
Nik Colbridge, a corporate specialist, is moving this month to expand the firm’s equity capital markets (ECM) practice in the Middle East
Upon arrival, he will look to expand the corporate team by recruiting locally, signalling Dentons’ commitment to growing its Dubai operations.
Colbridge joined Dentons in 2015 and has spent the past ten years in the firm’s London office, advising clients on international financing transactions mainly within the capital markets.
He represents corporate issuers and financial institutions in public and private international equity, securities offerings, and joint ventures, with a focus on the emerging markets.
Paul Jarvis, CEO of Dentons UK, Ireland, and Middle East, who is based in Abu Dhabi, said: “Nik’s move contributes to our strategic focus on the Middle East as a fast-growing legal market with increasing requirements for capital markets expertise.”
Colbridge added: “There is a long tail of privatisation work in the region, and a flourishing segment of emerging companies looking at capital markets as a possible route to growth. Our global ECM practice continues to expand in line with demand and this move brings us closer to the clients in the Middle East region and adjacent regions, including Africa and Central Asia.”
His relocation follows recent departures in the Dubai office of Dentons. Alex Roussos recently left his role as managing partner and co-head of the Middle East banking and finance practice for Greenberg Traurig based across the firm’s UAE and Saudi Arabia offices, while Ahmed El-Bayouk left his role as a senior associate to join Drake & Scull International as general counsel.
In January, the firm appointed Ahmed Butt as a partner in the banking and finance team, while Faris Shehabi and Hazel Shakur Quinn were both promoted to Dentons’ partnership in April.
Elsewhere, Akin has announced the hire of investment management partner Skye Smith, who will begin in the firm’s Dallas office and relocate to Abu Dhabi in the coming months. She has joined from DLA Piper, where she was a partner.
The firm said her addition reinforces its commitment to growth in the Middle East and strengthens its position as a leading investment management advisor in the Abu Dhabi global market, where sovereign wealth funds manage approximately $1.7 trillion.
Smith advises institutional investors, with a focus on sovereign wealth funds, and complex investments across private equity, venture capital, infrastructure, real estate, and hedge funds.
“We are continuing to expand our investment management offerings in Abu Dhabi. The Middle East is a growing asset management market and an area of intense focus for Akin, serving our clients in their most sophisticated transactions,” said Akin co-chair Abid Qureshi. “Skye brings significant experience working with sovereign wealth funds in Abu Dhabi, and we’re pleased to welcome her to our team.”
Earlier this year, Akin announced that corporate partner Alexander Malahias and project finance partner Jennifer Riddle have joined the firm and will be based in the Abu Dhabi office until it opens its new office in Riyadh later this year.
