Serle Court's Khawar Qureshi QC is to head the first barristers' set based outside the UK, as McNair Chambers launches in Qatar at the end of the month.

McNair launches on 30 March, with Qureshi set to be joined in Doha by high-profile names including former House of Lords judge Lord Slynn of Hadley and fellow Serle Court tenants William Ballantyne and Michael Palmer.

The chambers will offer advice in commercial law, public international law and international arbitration.

Qureshi, who will continue as a tenant at Serle Court, said the move was prompted by buoyant economic conditions in the Middle East and a wish to be closer to clients already served in the region.

He commented: "I've been coming to Qatar for nearly 20 years and I'm struck not only by the growth of the economy, which is clearly evident, but by the enlightened combination of innovation and prudent planning employed by the Government and state entities and also by the local business community themselves.

"The rest of the world is really sitting up and taking notice of Qatar. This, of course, generates more international contracts and this is where we can really play a part."

He added: "Many members of our chambers have been advising clients in Qatar and the region for the last 20 years and we wish to improve our service by having a local presence."

The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority granted the license for the new set, which is named after former International Court of Justice president Lord McNair, at the beginning of the month.

Meanwhile, City law firm Simmons & Simmons has appointed a new corporate partner in the Middle East. Vanessa Abernethy, formerly a senior associate at Clyde & Co, joins Simmons' Dubai office.

She specialises in securities law and financial regulatory matters and joins an office that numbers around 25 lawyers, including five partners.

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