Eversheds has created new management roles in the Middle East as the firm continues to roll out chief executive Bryan Hughes' '2020 Vision' strategy.

Hughes unveiled the strategy, which aligned partners in the firm's four practice groups (HR, litigation, real estate and corporate and commercial) with its 11 sector groups when he was reappointed as CEO in 2012. The plan is now being put in place across the Middle East.

As part of the integration of the strategy, United Arab Emirates (UAE) based disputes partner Nayiri Boghossian has filled the newly created role of regional litigation head. Appointments for regional real estate and HR chiefs are expected to follow shortly.

Last year Jordan-based M&A partner Nadim Kayyali was appointed head of the Middle East corporate and commercial group. Other appointees include dispute resolution partner Ben Bruton, who has been named as head of the firm's UAE practice, and Nasser Ali Khasawneh, who is now regional managing partner in Dubai.

Boghossian said: "The reason we have made this change is two-fold; it is part of the firm's global approach to align practice areas with sectors, but my main task is to get our seven Middle East offices working as one team so that we can share expertise across the region." 

She added that construction currently topped the list of sectors that the practice was focusing on, while disputes related to the sector remained a strong area. The firm is also bulking up its capability in the region, with construction and engineering partner Richard Ward relocating from London to Doha in April. 

There are about 80 fee earners working across Eversheds' Middle East network. The firm most recently opened a second office in Erbil, Iraq. 

Eversheds initially launched in the region with bases in Doha and Abu Dhabi before gaining offices in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Dubai through its merger with Middle Eastern law consortium KSLG in 2011.

The deadline for entries to the Corporate Counsel Middle East Awards 2014 is 13 March.