Simmons & Simmons' Abu Dhabi office has been hit by the departure of a three-lawyer team to Reed Smith Richards Butler – the second team to leave the office in as many months.

Corporate lawyer Arash Amai will join the transatlantic law firm as a partner, while infrastructure and projects lawyers Gillian Hamblin and Raya Abu Gulal both join as associates.

The additions boost Reed Smith's headcount in the United Arab Emirates to 13, making it one of the largest foreign offices in the jurisdiction.

For Simmons, the departures come just a month after it was announced that City rival Allen & Overy (A&O) was recruiting two of its partners to launch a local practice.

Project finance and corporate partner Ibrahim Mubaydeen and corporate partner Francois Duquette will head the office for A&O, which is expected to open for business in September.

Simmons has pledged to rebuild the office and has transferred Dubai projects partner George Booth to beef up the Abu Dhabi practice.