MELA-2018_Winners-19April2018-25_International_FRS

Finalists: Ashurst; Baker McKenzie; Clyde & Co (Highly Commended); Dentons; DWF; Eversheds Sutherland; Stephenson Harwood.

DLA Piper retained the prestigious International Law firm of the Year title for a second year running as its business continues to thrive in the region.

During the past 12 months, the firm has increased its Middle East partner count by 33% to 24, complementing its 100+ lawyers spread out across nine offices in the GCC region (the only global firm to have a presence in every GCC country). The firm has also expanded its already extensive offering, adding its Middle East Tax practice last year in anticipation of expected tax changes and regulation in the region.

By ensuring its lawyers are fully immersed in their clients' businesses, the firm offers tailored, relevant advice, on top of its vast directory of value-added services. Those include the in-house knowledge sharing and support project What In-house Lawyers Need, commercially-focused sector summits and the Leadership Alliance for Women Middle East diversity programme to promote and develop female lawyers.

The firm has also invested in and created a number of tools (such as a contract dashboard and document review software) to improve efficiencies and help lower costs for clients through its recently established Service Delivery and Quality team.

One judge lauded it for "putting innovation at the forefront of its client delivery services".