DLA partner joins to lead accounting firm's first legal office

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Legal has opened its first office in the Middle East with the hire of a partner from DLA Piper's London office.

The accounting giant's legal arm opened in Dubai last month, with partner Waseem Khokhar leading the office. PwC has also hired partner Michel Chalhoub from Dubai-based Naji Beidoun and Associates.

Khokhar left DLA Piper's London office in October to take up the role with PwC Legal. He had been a partner in the international firm's litigation and regulatory department since 2008.

The new office, which currently has one associate in addition to the two partners, will advise on general corporate, commercial and dispute resolution matters.

The firm plans to use it as a hub for servicing legal clients across the Middle East and intends to grow the base slowly. It had been planning the launch for some 18 months before opening.

PwC Legal said the launch came as part of a wider strategy to target areas that it has identified for long-term business opportunities, including the emerging markets, where it already has legal associations in China and India. It decided to push ahead with the launch despite the economic problems in Dubai.

PwC Legal's London-based senior partner, Leon Flavell, said: "People have questioned the timing but for us this is a part of a wider opportunity and long-term investment in the region. As a strategy we don't believe in looking at short-term opportunities but look for recipes for long-term success, and we believe in the prospects of this area."