Latham & Watkins has moved to shore up its Abu Dhabi base, relocating a partner from Dubai.

Ken Schuhmacher becomes the first permanent partner in the emirate since the US firm rolled out its ambitious three-office launch in the Middle East last year. Until Schuhmacher's relocation last month, the office has been run by project finance counsel Mark Godfrey.

Schuhmacher's relocation takes the number of lawyers in the office to three, with Latham set to increase this to six later this month through the relocation of two associates from London and one from the US.

Middle East managing partner Bryant Edwards said the firm aims to grow the office to two or three times that size and will be looking to add one or two more partners.

He said: "We are feeling good about our investment here. It has been a tough year to grow, but we have been aggressive."