Clyde & Co announces four new partners in UAE

Clyde & Co LLP strengthened their MENA team with the hire of four new partners in the UAE. 

RHYS LEWIS joins as partner of the corporate and commercial team in Dubai from Holman Fenwick & Willa. He brings more than 15 years regional experience and extensive expertise in the defence and security sectors having acted for major international security organisations and defence contractors across the Middle East and North Africa region. Lewis’ practice spans a wide range of areas including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, consortium bids and strategic finance. 

ROBERT LAWRENCE, partner, dispute resolution in the Dubai office, specialises in shipping and international trade. An English qualified lawyer, Lawrence has been in the UAE since December 2006 and has an in-depth understanding of the local shipping market. Since arriving in UAE, his practice has broadened considerably as he now handles a wide range of shipping litigation. Whilst his practice is predominantly litigation focused, he also advises clients on non-contentious shipping matters. Lawrence has successfully litigated cases before the English and the UAE Courts. 

ROSS BARFOOT joins Clyde & Co’s Abu Dhabi office from Trowers & Hamlins in Abu Dhabi. Ross is a corporate partner in the Abu Dhabi office with over 10 years experience. In addition to advising both foreign corporations and local companies on a mix of corporate advisory, M&A and private equity, Barfoot regularly advises his clients on corporate re-organisations, commercial, corporate governance and joint venture work. He has significant experience of advising clients in the oil & gas, defence, media, food & beverage and education sectors. 

SIDANTH RAJAGOPAL is an aviation finance partner based in the MENA region. Prior to joining Clyde & Co in 2013, He was a partner at Indian law firm Clasis Law, which is Clyde & Co’s associated Indian firm. Rajagopal specialises in the financing, leasing and purchasing of aircraft and engines for both the commercial and private jet markets. He has provided both financing and non-contentious advice to a number of the leading airlines and has been involved in a considerable number of transactions across the commercial aircraft. He acts primarily for banks, aircraft purchasers, lessors and airlines, operating across the Middle East, India and Africa.