Dechert strengthens M&A and private equity practice with Dubai partner hire

Dechert LLP announced that Adnan Bekdur has joined the firm as a partner in its corporate and securities practice, establishing a dedicated corporate presence for the firm in Dubai. His arrival strengthens the firm’s Middle East offering, enhancing its M&A, private equity and sovereign wealth capabilities in the region.

Bekdur advises leading global funds, corporates and alternative capital managers on a broad range of corporate transactional matters. Drawing on more than a decade of experience in both the UK and United Arab Emirates, he brings deep market knowledge and a strong track record of guiding clients through complex cross-border transactions.

Bekdur also brings valuable experience advising sovereign wealth funds and a detailed understanding of their unique structures, sensitivities and objectives. For more than 20 years, Dechert has been a trusted advisor to some of the largest and most active sovereign wealth funds in the world, and Adnan joins a multidisciplinary team that works across the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia advising sovereign wealth fund clients.

“With his deep understanding of the Gulf Cooperation Council and adjacent markets, and his strong relationships with sovereign wealth funds, regional private equity and alternative capital investors, Adnan is a strong strategic fit for our business as we continue to build out our platform in the Middle East,” said Mark Thierfelder, co-chair of Dechert.

“Adnan’s arrival marks an exciting time for Dechert as we continue to strengthen our global private equity, M&A and sovereign wealth capabilities,” said Ken Young, co-chair of Dechert’s corporate and securities practice. “Adnan will be instrumental in driving our ability to win and execute complex cross-border corporate transactions throughout the Middle East region.”

Bekdur said, “Dechert has a world-class M&A and private equity practice, a preeminent client base and a stellar reputation for navigating some of the largest, most complex transactions in the industry, making this an unparalleled opportunity. I am looking forward to working with colleagues across the firm to support the firm’s continued growth.”

Bekdur is the latest of more than 50 lateral partners Dechert has welcomed so far this year. This reflects the firm’s strategic goal of strengthening its capabilities across its steeples of excellence in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and securitization, finance and restructuring, investment management and litigation.

For more than a decade, Dechert has advised Middle East clients from the Dubai International Financial Centre, assisting regional and international clients on their transactions and projects throughout the MENA region, particularly in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The firm’s Dubai office provides clients with private equity, investment funds, finance and Islamic finance, and capital markets advice, with this new hire enhancing its M&A transactional capability.