MENA – Brian J. Pierce joins Patton Boggs MENA practice

February 2013

PATTON Boggs LLP has announced that Brian J. Pierce has joined the firm’s Corporate Finance practice group as a partner. Pierce, who will work throughout Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, joins Patton Boggs from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, where he was special counsel – Middle East.

Pierce enhances the Patton Boggs team with strong experience in project development and finance, mergers and acquisitions, international corporate finance transactions and general corporate matters. He represents corporations, consortia, financial institutions and governmental entities in the MENA and Arab Gulf regions. A deep understanding of Middle East culture and business practices guides his practice.

“Brian Pierce brings a wealth of regional and global experience and solid client relationships to Patton Boggs,” noted William L. Nash III, managing partner of the firm’s Abu Dhabi, UAE office and a member of the firm’s International Business and MENA practice groups. “His excellence as a lawyer and understanding of the region and MENA business culture is the foundation of his success. Brian is a great addition to our growing MENA practice.”

In recent years, Pierce has advised clients on a number of substantial transactions in the areas of project development and finance, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. For example, he represented Emirates Aluminum Company (EMAL) in connection with the USD7 billion financing of its aluminum smelter complex in Abu Dhabi. In the M&A arena, he represented ING Group in its USD100 million divestment of its US-based private market real estate investment management business.

“Brian Pierce’s breadth of experience, particularly in the MENA region, further enhances his technical expertise as a lawyer and his strong record of successfully representing clients,” said Khalid Al-Thebity, managing partner of Patton Boggs affiliate office in Riyadh. “His addition to our Middle East team – in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh – is further testament of the firm’s commitment to this region and our clients. His understanding of the business climate, having lived and worked here for many years and experience servicing it from abroad for several more, makes his addition a tremendous asset to the firm’s current and future clients.”