International law firm launches office in the Emirate following Dubai's real estate fall-out

Dewey & LeBoeuf has launched an office in Abu Dhabi, securing its fourth post in the Middle East.

City corporate finance partner Stephen Jurgenson has relocated to the region to head up the new branch with a team of associates.

Jurgenson will work closely with capital markets partner Camille Abousleiman and energy and infrastructure partner Jim Simpson, who will support the outfit from London.

The office will serve as a base for the US-based law firm's insurance and clean energy practices in the Middle East. It will also offer services in project finance, infrastructure development, banking and capital markets.

Dewey chairman Steve Davis commented: "Our four offices in the Middle East work together in a combined effort to service the region and it would be sub-optimal to be without any of them, because while they work together collectively, each of the Emirates has its own distinct domestic sub-market.

"Post-crisis, Abu Dhabi's economy has remained very strong, while Dubai has suffered from the fall-out of real estate, and we decided that we would be handicapped if we didn't have an office there."

The new outfit adds to the international law firm's existing Middle East offices in Doha, Dubai and Riyadh.

Jurgenson commented: "We've been in the Middle East for a long, long time and recently we've felt that Abu Dhabi has grown in importance in the region and is the place for us to be.

"There is a lot of growth potential here and we plan to expand the office further in the coming months and years in line with expected increasing demand."

The news follows a number of law firms ramping up their presence in Abu Dhabi, with Bird & Bird applying for a licence in the Emirate in May this year.