Gateley Middle East has significantly bolstered its corporate offering with the hire of a six-strong team led by new Dubai managing partner and head of corporate, Darren Harris.
He is joined by corporate partner Nora Al Muhamad, legal directors Amun Bashir, Nadine Wilson, and Gemma Kotak, and associate Norlisa Hanlon Rosslee.
All six join from the Dubai office of Clyde & Co.
The new team will work alongside existing Dubai partners Amrik Sangha (corporate), Thenji Moyo (employment), Mark Tiggeman (construction), senior counsel Anthony Frances (commercial dispute resolution) and those in Gateley’s corporate practice under the leadership of UK-based partner, Beth Mather.
Harris brings over 20 years of experience advising corporates, private equity houses, venture capital investors and entrepreneurs, founders and owner-managers of homegrown Middle East businesses on M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and general corporate law. He has significant experience of growing firms in the Middle East having previously held managing partner and senior partner roles in the region.
Al Muhamad has over 16 years of experience advising prominent family-owned businesses on succession and legacy planning, family office structuring and investments, governance, private client, and corporate restructuring. Her clients span the education, healthcare, infrastructure, real estate, retail, and consumer sectors.
In addition to the appointments, the firm plans to relocate its Dubai office to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The office is currently located in Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT).
“The arrival of Darren, Nora and the team is a coup for us, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise that will significantly enhance our corporate practice and deepen our regional capability,” said Rod Waldie, CEO of Gateley. “We have had a presence in Dubai since 2007 and we see these hires and the move to the DIFC as a game changer, providing our people and clients with a first class innovative meeting and workspace and helping us to attract and retain the best talent we can in one of the largest and most vibrant business precincts in the Middle East.”
Harris said: “As the new head of the Dubai office, I am excited by our plans to grow our Middle East offering with a focus on attracting further top talent, maximising key market growth opportunities and investing in long term relationships with clients to support their evolving needs.”
“The outlook in the Middle East remains very positive and our focus on regional and international M&A, reorganisations and working with family businesses, investors and entrepreneurs aligns with the Middle East market,” he added.
