Addleshaw Goddard and CMS have announced partner moves in the UAE.
Addleshaws has added employment partner Rachel Hill in Dubai. She joins from Hadef & Partners, where she was a partner and head of the firm’s employment practice.
Hill has more than 16 years of experience in both litigation and employment, advising multinationals, local UAE companies, government entities, and financial institutions. She has spent the last ten years in the Middle East providing employment advice at firms including DLA Piper, Al Tamimi & Company, and Hadef & Partners.
Commenting on the appointment, Addleshaw Goddard’s head of Middle East, Robin Hickman, who took up the role this month, said: “Increasing our specialist capabilities will enable us to grow our market share at a time when the region’s economies are on a robust path of diversification and expansion.”
Her focus at the firm will be Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), and UAE onshore employment laws and advice. She also has an understanding of the local UAE court system.
Her appointment follows the arrival of Anna Zeitlin from PwC to develop a fintech practice.
Addleshaws has more than 20 partners operating across four offices in the Middle East, in Dubai, Doha, Muscat, and Riyadh.
Earlier this month the firm said it is targeting 40% income growth in the Middle East over the next five years.
Elsewhere in the UAE, CMS corporate partner Graham Conlon has relocated to Abu Dhabi.
Previously, Conlon was sharing his time between Dubai and Central/Eastern Europe, advising on private equity, joint venture, and M&A transactions throughout the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.
He brings nearly 25 years of experience to Abu Dhabi as the firm’s head of international private equity.
David Moore, managing partner, UAE at CMS, commented: “Graham is an established M&A and private equity specialist and brings a strong international offering that will significantly bolster our practice across the Middle East and allow us to better support local and international clients on inbound and outbound investment opportunities.”
“Graham’s relocation follows our move to the ADGM earlier this year, which both showcases the strength of our offering and our commitment to continue to grow our presence in Abu Dhabi and the Middle East,” he said.
Conlon’s relocation follows the appointment of disputes partner Damian Watkin, who joined the firm’s Abu Dhabi office in September last year.
In addition to Abu Dhabi, CMS has five offices across the Middle East, in Dubai, Istanbul, Muscat, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv.
Last week the firm announced a new managing partner in Muscat.
