Middle East firm Al Tamimi has moved to strengthen its Qatar banking and finance practice with the hire of Gide Loyrette Nouel partner Sami Fakhoury.

Fakhoury, who specialises in structured and project finance, will join the Al Tamimi partnership on 1 March.

He spent eight years in Gide's Paris office before being promoted to partner and head of the Dubai office in January 2009.

His departure in November last year came after Gide announced it was closing five offices in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

Fakhoury said: "I am delighted to be joining the leading law firm in the Middle East at this time of growth in Qatar. Al Tamimi has a reputation for excellence which is unrivalled in the region, and there are significant opportunities for growth in the Middle East and North Africa."

His appointment follows the hire of Patton Boggs partner Jay Fortin to head the same office in January.