Wragge & Co has launched its first office in the Middle East, with the national firm opening a new base in Abu Dhabi.

The firm is making its entrance in the region via a joint venture with local lawyer Mohamed Al Mehairi and the relocation of City projects partner Jane Pittaway. The office opened yesterday (1 December) under the name Wragge & Co Legal Consultants.

Al Mehairi has taken the role of chairman and senior partner in the new outfit, while Pittaway has been appointed as managing partner.

Al Mehairi was most recently an adviser to the executive council of the Government of Dubai, a post he left in April.

Wragges senior partner Quentin Poole (pictured) said: "We've been doing an increasing amount of work in the Middle East for some time now, to the point that it was really starting to necessitate a presence on the ground.

"Our approach to opening international offices is very much focused on ensuring we are empathetic with the local culture, and securing Mohamed allows us to establish an office with local ties, contacts and sensitivities already in place. We will be looking to grow the office to around 10 fee earners in the next 12-18 months."

Pittaway heads Wragges' aerospace and defence group and specialises in complex commercial contracts and projects, while Al Mehairi focuses on contracts, legislation and dispute resolution.

The opening marks the second office opening this year for Wragges, following its Paris launch in April with a 10-partner team from its former French referral firm Lefevre Pelletier & Associes. The addition of a base in Abu Dhabi takes Wragges' global office count to seven, alongside bases in London, Birmingham, Brussels, Guangzhou, Munich and Paris.