Simmons & Simmons has appointed a new Middle East finance head as City partner Philip Abbott returns to London after his secondment to the region.

The Middle East financial markets group will now be overseen by Qatar partner Samer Eido, who has been at Simmons since 2005 and is based in the Doha office.

Eido's practice is focused on general banking law, corporate lending, trade finance, real estate finance, debt restructuring and refinancing with a focus on conventional and Islamic structured finance. He also advises on capital markets.

Eido speaks English, Arabic and French and holds banking client relationships which include HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Commercial Bank of Qater, Morgan Stanley and Alkhaliji Commercial Bank.

Abbott has headed the Middle East financial markets department since relocating to Dubai in 2008. His practice is focused on real estate financings, structured finance, restructuring as well as funds formation.

Commenting on the handover, Simmons City-based firmwide head of financial markets Jeremy Hoyland said: "Our financial markets practice has made excellent progress under Philip's leadership in difficult market conditions and we are well-placed to advise our clients on their key issues going forwards."

"Samer is very well known in the region and I know will continue the development of our practice with key regional and international clients."

Simmons has three offices in the Middle East region in Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.