Clyde & Co has launched in Oman through an associated office in the capital city Muscat.

The association with Fatma Al Mamari Advocacy and Legal Consultancy Firm in Muscat gives the firm its fifth base in the Middle East. The office will have a focus on advising clients on foreign direct investment into the country and a broad range of corporate and commercial law issues.

The firm's managing partner Marla Valdez will join Clydes, while legal director Stephen McKenna will relocate from Clydes office in Abu Dhabi.

Valdez advises on energy and infrastructure projects, M&A, and regulatory and compliance matters, with a focus on the oil, gas and mining sectors. She was previously a partner at Dentons in Oman and was central Asia managing partner and co-chair of energy, transportation and infrastructure of legacy firm SNR Dentons.

Chairman of Clydes' regional management board Jonathan Silver said: "We pride ourselves on our ability to understand and advise our clients on commercial and legal risk across borders, which is why continued international expansion is central to our growth plans.

"Having operated in the region for almost 30 years, we are excited to be able to offer clients such an experienced team 'on the ground' in another key market in the region, which is experiencing strong growth in our core sectors, such as infrastructure, energy, education, and healthcare."

Clydes already has offices in Doha, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Earlier this week, Clydes announced that it was launching its second office in Germany with a four-strong partner hire from Ince & Co in Hamburg.

Yesterday (15 February), Legal Week revealed that fellow insurance player DWF is set to launch a construction and infrastructure-focused office in Qatar.