Jones Day expands to Middle East, opens office in Dubai
Increases International Presence with 32nd Office
March 2009
Washington, DC -- Jones Day has announced the opening of its 32nd office in Dubai, in a region where the Firm has been representing clients for more than 20 years. The Dubai office opens with six lawyers and will focus on energy, finance, arbitration, and M&A.
Jones Day's Managing Partner, Steve Brogan, said: "The Gulf Region continues to become ever more important in the global economy. As the largest and leading economy in the region, Saudi Arabia has been an important source of client representations over the past several decades. Our historic relationships in the Kingdom have led to other opportunities for the Firm in the region, including in the United Arab Emirates. His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in his role as Ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the UAE, has displayed extraordinary vision and leadership in developing Dubai as an important center of the infrastructure needed to support the Gulf Region’s future growth. We are very pleased to be investing in a new office in this vitally important economic center of the world."
Arman Galledari will relocate from Jones Day's London Office to become Partner-in-Charge of the Dubai Office. Mr. Galledari's practice focuses on energy and project finance. He has acted on the development, financing, and acquisition of complex energy and infrastructure projects and on some of the highest-value cross-border, long-term natural gas and power purchase agreements.
"We've been advising clients in the Middle East for a number of years and look forward to continuing to do so from Dubai," said Mr. Galledari. "Our international strength in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, private equity, energy, finance, real estate, and international arbitration makes Dubai an ideal place for us to establish an office so as to be of maximum service to clients."
Mr. Galledari is joined by finance lawyer Jennifer Calver and corporate lawyer Dan Partovi, also from Jones Day's London Office, and litigation partner Sheila Shadmand from the Firm's Washington Office. In addition, finance specialist Ali Awais from the Dubai office of Baker Botts and locally qualified Aziz Kurtha, who has over 30 years experience advising on all aspects of UAE law, will join the office. Jones Day will be one of the few international firms qualified to advise on all areas of UAE law.
This is the second new office Jones Day has opened in 2009. In January, the Firm opened an office in Mexico City, which was also the outgrowth of decades of work in Latin America.
Jones Day is a global law firm with 32 locations in the most important centers of business and finance throughout the world. With more than 2,400 lawyers, including more than 400 in Europe and 200 in Asia, it ranks among the world’s leading law firms. Jones Day acts as principal outside counsel to, or provides significant legal representation for, more than half of the Fortune Global 500 companies.