Double partner hire at BLP

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has announced the appointments of two new partners into its Dubai office to further boost the Firm’s UAE offering. Raza Mithani, an International Arbitration and Dispute Resolution partner, joins the firm from King & Spalding, and Alexander Sarac, an Energy and Infrastructure Partner, joins from DLA Piper.

Prior to joining BLP, Mithani led the Commercial Disputes Practice for King & Spalding in Dubai. Recognised as one of the ‘rising star’ arbitration specialists in the region, Mithani has a long track record of successfully representing clients including private equity companies, financial institutions and a range of multinationals in complex and high value disputes. His sectoral experience covers financial services, aerospace and defence, energy, construction and insurance. Mithani has appeared for clients in many of the landmark cases to come before the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts since its creation, and prior to that the English Courts. Before moving to Dubai in 2008, he practised as a barrister from leading chambers in the UK, where he was appointed by the Crown as Treasury Counsel. At BLP, Mithani will help expand the firm’s contentious business in the region – with a focus on international and commercial arbitration.

Sarac joins BLP as an Energy and Infrastructure partner and comes in from DLA Piper where he was a legal director in the Finance and Projects team, based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania since April 2013. He has built a significant Africa-based infrastructure practice and has exceptional knowledge of the African market. Sarac’s appointment continues BLP’s development of its capability in Africa where the Firm has leading expertise in ENR, finance and infrastructure. Sarac will strengthen the Firm’s international Project Finance Practice and will enhance further BLP’s ability to advise clients in relation to investments into and out of Africa in conjunction with the wider team in Europe and Asia. Prior to his time at DLA Piper, he was general counsel at EcoSecurities, a start-up energy and environmental markets company. He is dual-qualified in English and German law.

Richard Davies, BLP’s country managing partner, UAE, commented, “Strategically, these hires are hugely important for BLP both globally and specifically for our Middle East and Africa practice. They will enhance our Middle East practice, and help us to join up our efforts in Africa, Europe and Asia, regions where we as a Firm are exceptionally strong. Raza will help us to grow our international arbitration business and with Dubai making strenuous efforts to enhance its reputation as a global international arbitration centre, we will be on the front foot as this develops and able to respond to our clients’ needs with a physical presence. Alexander’s appointment will support and enhance the great client work already being done by our Africa Group and broaden our MEA reach. By having Alex on the ground in the UAE, we will be able to work closer than before with our impressive energy and infrastructure teams in Europe and Asia and offer clients an even better service.”