Taylor Wessing has hired Hammonds partner Mark Fraser to bulk up its Dubai construction practice.

Fraser, who will join the UK top 50 firm at the start of May, has been a partner at Hammonds for three years, and has advised on construction law, arbitration and insurance matters, with a focus on the Middle East.

He will be the lead partner in the construction practice in Dubai and will work alongside four equity partners already in the office. Taylor Wessing launched in the Middle East in 2008 after merging with its longstanding Dubai alliance law firm Key & Dixon.

Fraser told Legal Week: "Taylor Wessing has a serious pedigree in the Middle East and their ideas for expansion were the same as my own, so the move was irresistible.

"I expect more expansion will follow once we have looked at what the opportunities are – various possibilities are being considered."

Christopher Dixon, Taylor Wessing's managing partner in the Middle East, commented: "Mark's recruitment is the latest development in the long-term strategy for our Dubai office, and we are excited to welcome him."

News of Taylor Wessing's hire came as Charles Russell expands its Bahrain office with a partner relocation and the hire of its first trainee in the country. London corporate and commercial partner Andrew Sharpe will move to Bahrain, while the firm has appointed a trainee who will split their time between London and Bahrain.