Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is to become the latest firm to launch in Dubai after announcing its plans to open in the region before the end of 2007.

The West Coast US firm will open its new office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) with Washington tax partner Peter Baumbusch relocating to oversee the launch.

He will work closely with a team of lawyers across the firm including US-qualified London partners Paul Harter (corporate) and Tony Bonanno (tax). The firm will also look to recruit UK and US lawyers to staff the office.

The office will be Gibson Dunn's first outside the US and Europe, although it has had a practice focusing on Middle East work for years. It will advise on regional and outbound investment and financing work.

Gibson Dunn managing partner Ken Doran said: "Gibson Dunn has a strong existing client base with some of the largest institutions in the Gulf region."

Baumbusch added: "It makes sense for us to open a Dubai office. Investment activity in the Gulf states and the Middle East continues to grow. Dubai is at the centre of one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world. We expect to be up and running by the end of the year – subject to [DIFC] approval."

Dubai has been the centre of aggressive recruitment from numerous firms in recent years. Lovells, Herbert Smith and King & Spalding have all launched offices there over the last 12 months.