Law firm highlights – October 2019

• 

  Hirst & Kelsall

  Clyde & Co has announced the appointment of Matthew Kelsall as its new chief executive officer (CEO) with effect from January 1, 2020. Kelsall replaces Peter Hasson, who will step down having been CEO since 2005. Kelsall will take on the role of CEO designate from November 1, 2019, to coincide with Peter Hirst taking on the role of senior partner and will work with him and Peter Hasson to ensure a smooth transition.  Kelsall has a deep understanding of Clyde & Co having joined the firm in 2007. He has held executive positions in each of its main regions, including that of chief operating officer in the Middle East and North Africa, Asia Pacific and North America. Peter Hirst, Clyde & Co’s senior partner elect, led the recruitment process alongside the firm’s Management Board. As the new leaders of the firm, Hirst and Kelsall will work closely together to develop long-term strategy and drive effective delivery of it to ensure Clyde & Co continues to build on its significant, market-leading global positioning across its core sectors. Peter Hirst said, “Matthew’s knowledge and understanding of the organisation, the global legal market and the day-to-day operations of a large and fast-growing global law firm, all make him the outstanding candidate for the CEO position. “I look forward to working with Matthew over the coming months to affirm our long-term strategic direction. A key focus will be on making sure we have the people, culture, technology and offerings in place to allow us to stay ahead of the continuously evolving needs of our clients in today’s fast-moving and increasingly unpredictable business environment.” Matthew Kelsall said, “I’m honoured to take on the role of CEO and I thank Peter and the Board for entrusting me with the responsibility. We have a huge opportunity to further strengthen the market-leading offerings we have built around the world and I look forward to working with the Senior Partner, the Management Board and our top class management team to achieve our ambitious goals.” Peter Hasson joined Clyde & Co from professional services firm Robson Rhodes in 1997, going on to become the firm’s first CEO in 2005. In that time the firm has grown from a 12 office, 130-partner, £125m revenue business to become a 52 office, 400-partner, £611m global firm. On standing down as CEO on 1 January 2020 he will take up the role of Consultant, working on a number of specific projects on behalf of the Management Board. Peter Hirst said, “The Board and I would like to thank Peter for his outstanding contribution over the past 20 years. The firm is unrecognisable to the one he joined and that owes so much to Peter’s management and drive. We’re very pleased that he is staying on until the New Year to ensure a smooth transition and provide us with the benefit of his experience.” Peter Hasson said, “I thank all those I’ve worked with at the firm over the past twenty years for their hard work, determination and support, which has enabled us to grow to become a truly global player in the legal market. Matthew is someone I’ve known and worked with for a very long time and is an outstanding choice as CEO. I have every confidence that together, Peter and Matthew can take our firm to the next level and I look forward to working with them during the leadership transition and beyond. ”

• Ince has announced that Rania Tadros, head of Ince’s Dubai office, has been appointed to the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee for the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre (EMAC). Established in 2016, EMAC is a central hub for the arbitration and mediation of maritime related proceedings in the UAE. Speaking on her appointment to the Board of Trustees, Rania Tadros said, “I am honoured to be selected to join the Emirates Maritime Arbitration Centre as a Trustee on its Board. EMAC is hugely important to the UAE for its role in making sure future maritime growth occurs in a fair and regulated environment. I hope to bring the knowledge and experience I have gained at Ince to further expand the exciting work EMAC is involved in. There’s huge opportunity for the maritime industry in the region and I look forward to being part of the continued growth of the Emirates as a maritime hub.” Tadros joined Ince in London over 20 years ago and moved to Dubai in 2013. She has been Head of Ince’s Dubai practice for the last 5 years. Tadros specialises in maritime matters, including high profile shipping disputes and non-contentious shipping work as well as energy and infrastructure related cases. Since opening in 2006, the Ince Dubai office has grown to be ranked as a Tier 1 shipping firm in the region which provides the highest quality legal advice and strategic guidance to its clients.

• Maples and Calder, the Maples Group’s law firm, has announced the recent expansion of its global Regulatory group currently comprised of 18 lawyers in five locations, including the Cayman Islands and the British Virgin Islands. With immediate effect, Chris Capewell has been appointed as head of the Cayman Islands Regulatory group and will oversee the practice group’s operation and business development strategy. Of Counsel, Dave Sherwin, will also transition to the Regulatory group, with immediate effect, working closely with Chris and other members of the Group, including partners, Tim Dawson and Hugo Lodge, and consultant, Martin Livingston. Additionally, Martin Byers will be joining the Group in October as a dedicated regulatory lawyer, supporting its BVI law practice. “In response to the demands of a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, we are delighted to be able to better assist clients with continued growth of our specialist Regulatory group,” said Alasdair Robertson, global managing partner of the Group’s law firm. “We are pleased that Chris and Dave have agreed to take on their respective roles. The restructuring of our Regulatory group offers our clients an even higher quality of service as we aim to bridge the gap between pure regulatory advice and transactional advice, which we see as being complimentary rather than standalone specialist areas.” In January 2019, Maples and Calder and MaplesFS consolidated their offerings under a single brand, now called the Maples Group, bringing together their internationally recognised offerings to address demand from clients for a complete and seamless service to the industry.

• Dubai Real Estate Institute (DREI), the educational arm of Dubai Land Department (DLD), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UAE-based regional law firm BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP (BSA), at Cityscape Global 2019. The MoU aims to develop professional skills in the real estate industry to promote Emiratisation and was signed by Hend Obaid Al Marri, CEO of DREI, and Dr Ahmad bin Hezeem, senior partner, BSA. Al Marri said, “We are pleased to be signing an MoU with BSA that will further consolidate our mission to educate and enlighten real estate professionals interested in the real estate sector through best practice international standards to be the global leading real estate environment and attract investments. We look forward to uplifting the careers of young Emiratis and look towards BSA for their training and preparation to enter one of the most dynamic real estate markets in the world.” Bin Hezeem said, “The real estate industry in the UAE is extremely competitive at the moment, and the regulatory environment is constantly changing. This requires the adoption of bespoke programmes that help develop the skills of young professionals, facilitating them to better navigate these changes. Coupled with our collaboration with DLD, our aim is to support the career paths of young Emiratis through workshops and training programmes that will empower and equip them to be the future leaders of the industry.” As part of the agreement, BSA and DLD will work together across research and training and development programmes aimed especially at young Emiratis entering the real estate industry. The announcement follows a previous MoU between DLD and BSA to promote foreign and local investment opportunities in Dubai through an innovative framework that will boost transparency and streamline transaction processes for investors in the sector. As part of the Real Estate Lawyer (REL) initiative, DLD is introducing several investment products to lift restrictions in the current real estate laws that will allow for more vigorous real estate investment in Dubai. The initiative will especially facilitate the purchase and sale of properties by corporate entities with ultimate foreign ownership, therefore opening up the market to more corporate investors.