Clyde & Co bolsters Middle East and Africa regulatory expertise with partner hire

Clyde & Co announced the appointment of Omar Khattab as a partner in its white-collar crime & sanctions team, further strengthening the firm’s global Regulatory & Investigations (R&I) practice and supporting its long‑term strategy to further build its fully integrated international R&I platform.

Khattab is joining Clyde & Co in Dubai from Norton Rose Fulbright. His appointment strengthens the firm’s R&I services across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Egypt, supporting Clyde & Co’s global strategy to meet rising client demand for complex cross-border advice on regulatory compliance, enforcement and investigations. The appointment follows the firm’s launch of a dedicated R&I capability in the Americas last month with the appointment of Jeff Cottle and his team from Eversheds. Cottle has been appointed as head of regulatory & investigations, white-collar crime and sanctions, Americas, as well as co-head of white-collar crime and sanctions, EMEA. He will work closely with Omar and the wider MEA R&I team to advance key initiatives to meet our clients’ needs.

Khattab is a recognised financial crime specialist whose practice includes regulatory investigations and compliance, and risk management – fields in which we see significant potential for growth across the region. He has worked throughout the MENA region, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and has experience in Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Iraq, and Libya. He also has asset recovery experience which spans major international financial centres, including the US, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Canada, and several others.

Sam Tate, partner and global head of regulatory & investigations at Clyde & Co, said, “Expanding our Regulatory and Investigations offering is a strategic priority for the firm, particularly as clients face increasingly complex cross-border risks. Omar’s experience in fraud, asset recovery and white-collar crime, combined with his regional insight, will be invaluable to clients navigating high-stakes disputes and regulatory challenges.”

Peter Hodgins, partner and chair of the MEA board at Clyde & Co, said, “Omar’s appointment reflects our continued investment in the Middle East and Africa and our commitment to building a market-leading regulatory and investigations practice in the region. His expertise and cross-border experience will further enhance our ability to support clients facing evolving regulatory scrutiny and complex disputes. Working closely with our global Regulatory & Investigations team, we support clients through investigations by regulators and prosecutors and help them manage risk across highly regulated and high-risk sectors, and Omar will play a key role in strengthening that offering in the region.”

Commenting on his move, Omar Khattab said, “Clyde & Co offers an international platform with a strong sector focus and a clear commitment to supporting clients on complex regulatory and investigations matters. I am looking forward to contributing to the development of its White-Collar Crime & Sanctions practice in the Middle East and Africa, working closely with colleagues across the global R&I practice supporting clients on complex and cross‑border matters.”