Lovells has hired former Reed Smith partner Stephen York to head up its Middle East dispute resolution practice.

York, who left Reed Smith's London office last autumn, will join Lovells next week (1 February) as a consultant, with a brief to grow the firm's regional disputes practice.

He specialises in arbitration and was a partner with Kilpatrick Stockton in London before joining Reed Smith in September 2008. York previously worked with firms including Pinsent Masons in Hong Kong.

Lovells has only one senior associate in Dubai specialising in disputes work but wanted to expand the practice in response to client demand.

Lovells Asia and Middle East managing partner Crispin Rapinet said: "Stephen brings plenty of experience and has very broad-based credentials as a litigator as well as an arbitrator.

"He is also an expert in mediation, an area which is only just kicking off in Dubai," Rapinet continued. "He has experience in industry sectors relevant to us."

Lovells has four partners in Dubai and a total of 25 lawyers. The firm also has a presence in Saudi Arabia through an alliance it formed in September last year with Al-Yaqoub Attorneys & Legal Advisers.

Lovells considered applying to launch in Abu Dhabi last year, but was deterred by reports of local authorities clamping down on new entrants. It will now inherit a 10-lawyer office in the emirate when its merger with Hogan & Hartson goes live on 1 May.