Winston & Strawn is closing its Dubai base, with U.S. rival Squire Patton Boggs raiding the office for seven lawyers.

Squire has hired three partners and four associates as part of the raid, including Winston's Middle East managing partner Campbell Steedman.

One more associate may join the group in the move, while the remaining two associates in the Winston office are not expected to join.

Steedman is joined in the partner trio by corporate partner Christopher Skipper and Shibeer Ahmed, who led Winston's Middle East finance practice.

Winston said in a statement that the firm expects to close its Dubai office in the first quarter of 2020, "in order to centralise resources for the Middle East practice in key global markets with higher concentrations of industry- and practice-specific expertise".

Winston chairman Tom Fitzgerald added: "Our clients are located throughout the Middle East and have cross-border legal needs that reach beyond Dubai – particularly into London, which continues to grow as a significant legal hub for the practice. This centralisation of resources positions us to more effectively to provide our clients with the depth and scope of services their businesses require."

The hires follow a period of international growth by Squire.

The firm launched a new global commodities and shipping group in Singapore with the hire of two Reed Smith partners at the end of last year, and has since hired a HFW partner duo to the office.

It also boosted its London base with several partners during 2019. The firm also recently refreshed its London and European management.

Squire global managing partner for clients and strategy Steve Mahon said in a statement: "Our presence in the Middle East is a critical element of our global practice, and we are committed to strategic growth to support our many clients doing business across the region.