UAE firm Habib Al Mulla is set to align its career framework and development systems with merger partner Baker & McKenzie's as the firms gear up for their combination this July.

The Dubai-based firm will adopt Bakers' more stringent training and development programme, bringing in a more rigorous career path for its lawyers, who will follow Bakers' structure. This will include Bakers' partnership structure. 

The model will be introduced in stages after the tie-up goes live, with a six-month bedding-down period in which Habib's current ratings system will continue to run internally. Appraisals for all of the firm's lawyers – including partners – have already been tightened in the run-up to the union.

The merger, which is set to go live on 1 July under the name Baker & McKenzie Habib Al Mulla in the UAE, will see Habib join Bakers' global Swiss verein structure. 

Habib chief executive officer Rob Morris (pictured), told Legal Week: "There is a lot more to focus against under the new model and structure, not just in terms of legal work, but also in managing matters, client service, improving business skills and adding more value to clients – although this was also a key priority for us as we have been developing our own career development programme.

"By changing the length of the career track, the process is made more robust. Our lawyers will get the opportunity to work on different areas and get much more exposure to various types of work and cultures, plus work with new clients and work across other jurisdictions on large transactions. The experience and skills they will pick up during the process will be very valuable to them." 

The firm is also planning to ramp up its presence in its other existing Gulf offices after the merger, including Doha, where Bakers currently has an outpost. 

Following the merger, Bakers will have 73 offices in 45 countries. It already has several bases in the Middle East and North Africa, including Riyadh, Cairo and Abu Dhabi.