A&O Quits Qatar, Quinn Emanuel Holds Off Formal Launch
Quinn Emanuel is still considering a formal launch two years after it gained a license to open.
May 08, 2019 at 04:42 AM
3 minute read
Allen & Overy will close its Qatar office later this year nearly a decade after it opened, following a review of its operations in the country.
Following the closure of the base in Doha, sole resident Qatar partner and office head Samer Eido will split his time between the Magic Circle firm's London and Middle East offices. He will continue to act as the relationship partner for A&O's Qatari clients, the firm said in a statement.
The firm said the office's 11 staff members are being offered the opportunity to relocate or being helped to find new roles.
In a statement, the firm said the decision was based on several business reasons, including that "the majority of work for Qatari clients is performed by A&O lawyers outside of the country".
A spokesperson for the firm said in a statement: "We reluctantly took this difficult decision following lengthy assessments of our operations in Qatar and the need for us to have a presence there. We will continue to serve Qatari clients from other offices in our global network.
"The Middle East remains a strategically important region for us, having had an established presence here for over 40 years, and this decision does not diminish our capability in the region."
The office is expected to close by July 31, 2019, the firm said.
Meanwhile, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan is yet to make a decision about a formal launch in Qatar, almost two years after it secured a licence to open a base there.
The U.S. firm named London construction and engineering practice chair James Bremen on the filing as its local representative, and according to LinkedIn there are currently three Quinn associates working in Qatar.
A spokesperson for the firm said: "We hold a licence and have people in the country. At present we have a small, targeted presence servicing existing clients and matters. At this stage, we haven't formalised the office although over time we may do so."
The office would be Quinn's first in the Middle East.
A&O meanwhile still has two offices — in the United Arab Emirates, as well as an association in Saudi Arabia.
It opened its Doha base in 2010 with the relocation of London real estate partner Robert Porter.
The following year, it hired banking and finance partner Eido from Simmons & Simmons to boost the office.
A&O is the latest firm to withdraw from the country, following a flurry of pullouts in recent years.
In 2017, both Clifford Chance and Herbert Smith Freehills exited, citing business cases for servicing Qatar clients from their other bases in the region.
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