Holman Fenwick Willan set to open three offices in the Middle East
HFW poised to open in Saudi Arabia's capital as well as Lebanon and Kuwait with local tie-ups before the end of the year
November 09, 2015 at 08:55 AM
3 minute read
Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) is poised to launch three offices in the Middle East by the end of the year.
The UK top 50 firm is planning to open in Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh as well as Lebanon and Kuwait, with all of the moves expected to be in partnership with local firms.
The openings will add to the firm's existing regional base in Dubai, which opened in 2006. It currently has nine partners listed on its website in Dubai. The firm also has a best friend relationship with Salem Al Maddfa Advocates & Legal Consultants in Abu Dhabi.
HFW previously had a best friend alliance in Saudi with Allazzam Law Office owned by Faisal Allazzam, however, the alliance, which was signed in 2010, ended roughly 18 months ago.
Earlier this year, HFW announced an alliance between its Singapore office and local law firm AsiaLegal, which took effect from 1 July.
Overall, the firm has 13 offices across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Several other international firms have also bolstered their presence in the Middle East recently, mainly in Saudi Arabia, after a spate of firms opted to relocate from Abu Dhabi and Qatar to focus on Dubai.
Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is preparing to re-enter Riyadh through a joint venture with a local firm before the end of the year.
Earlier this year, US firm Shearman & Sterling struck an alliance with Riyadh-based practice Abdulaziz Alassaf & Partners, which has 16 lawyers.
DLA Piper is also planning to open a third office in the region in Al Khobar, in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The firm already has bases in Jeddah and Riyadh.
It is understood that law firms' interest in the country is, in part, in anticipation of a surge in legal work in nearby Iran as sanctions against the country are expected to end next year.
One lawyer in Riyadh said that law firms were also making moves into Saudi due to client demands.
"It is not as crammed or mature a market as Dubai for instance and flying in and out of Saudi from Dubai is not working anymore because clients want to pick up the phone and meet you straight away."
By comparison, there have not been any recent openings in Lebanon and Kuwait where international firms are thin on the ground. Dentons opened in Lebanon in 2010 and DLA Piper launched in Kuwait in 2008, both through tie-ups with local firms.
HFW did not respond to a request for comment.
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