White & Case is opening an office in Doha, after receiving approval from the Qatar Financial Centre Authority to establish a base in the region.

City-based corporate partner Andrew Macklin will relocate to Doha to head up the new office, with a number of lawyers from other offices also transferring to the new outpost.

The office will be White & Case's third in the Middle East and will focus on corporate and finance work. The US firm already has offices in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, which have 30 lawyers spread between them.

Macklin commented: "White & Case has been active in Qatar for almost 20 years, initially through our relationship with Qatar Petroleum, for whom we continue to work and, more recently, through our work with other leading Qatari companies."

"Having an office in-country reinforces our commitment to serving our existing clients, while strengthening our position to be of service to new clients, particularly in financial services and infrastructure."

White & Case chairman Hugh Verrier added: "Our clients in Doha are at the forefront of some of the world's major transactions. By expanding our presence in the Middle East, we will be able to serve our clients there better."

Other international firms with a presence in Doha include Eversheds, DLA Piper, Denton Wilde Sapte, Latham & Watkins and Dewey & LeBoeuf.

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