Kobre & Kim enhances capabilities in the Middle East

Kobre & Kim has opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, expanding its globally integrated disputes and investigations offerings in the Dubai International Finance Centre jurisdiction as well as the greater Middle East and Africa.

The location will serve as a hub for litigating high-value, complex cross-border disputes with a nexus to both the DIFC and the MEA region. Additionally, Kobre & Kim Dubai will offer global and local private clients integrated strategies to protect their assets and reputation in civil and criminal proceedings and investigations aimed at asset forfeiture and confiscation.

“Disputes and investigations in the DIFC, as well as in the broader MEA region, are growing in terms of both complexity and scale,” said founding partner Steven Kobre. “As such, there is an increasing demand among sophisticated clients for deep expertise that few global firms can provide. We look forward to continuing to meet that demand, both for clients based within the Middle East and Africa as well as for our existing global client base with commercial interests in the region.”

Mahmoud Selim, an experienced business legal professional, and leading DIFC court practitioner Paul Hughes have joined Kobre & Kim in Dubai.

Selim, who joined the firm as the MEA regional managing director earlier this year, will lead the firm’s commercial strategy within the region. Selim will advance the firm’s regional business in partnership with global leadership to meet the growing demand for international judgment enforcement, asset recovery litigation and private client services. A former public prosecutor and investigations magistrate and a frequent commentator on legal developments in the Arab world, Selim brings two decades of experience in the region, including ten years of practicing law in Dubai and the DIFC.

Hughes, who joins the firm as a partner, brings nine years of experience litigating disputes and leading investigations in the UAE and the wider region, including his particular expertise in cross-border shareholder and company disputes, having split his practice between international arbitration and DIFC courts. His addition will also enhance the firm’s enforcement offerings, having acted on some of the largest and most complex enforcement actions in the DIFC and Abu Dhabi Global Market (“ADGM”) courts.

Three lawyers – principal Richard Clarke, as well as associates Nada Oteifi and Katy Fisher – have joined Selim and Hughes in Dubai.

As the firm expands its geographic presence to the DIFC, it will continue to partner with local Dubai and UAE counsel, leveraging its role as conflict-free special co-counsel to build a strong network of advisors while also coordinating strategy across different jurisdictions.

“Kobre & Kim’s further commitment to the MEA region reinforces the firm’s position as a global leader composed of trusted advisors with a deep local understanding of key markets around the world,” said Selim. “Our efforts have always been the product of multi-disciplined, highly coordinated global teams that can drive forward a client’s overall litigation strategy; quarterback simultaneous proceedings around the world; and merge seamlessly with existing co-counsel.”

“Kobre & Kim’s conflict-free profile makes it a considerable asset to corporate entities and private clients native to and operating within this region and a valuable partner to local counsel,” said Mr. Hughes. “I am excited to part of the further development of the firm’s Middle East and Africa presence.”

The firm opened its first Middle East location in 2015 in Tel Aviv, Israel.