Law firm highlights – September 2023

• Allen & Overy (A&O) announced the appointment of Khalid Garousha as interim global managing partner, effective from September 1, 2023, for an eight-month period to April 30, 2024. Garousha is the regional managing partner in the Middle East and Turkey and will also retain this role. He has worked at A&O for 23 years and has been a partner based in the UAE since 2004. He is noted as one of the Middle East’s most highly regarded and well-respected M&A and ECM practitioners. Wim Dejonghe, senior partner at Allen & Overy commented, “Following careful consideration, the Board unanimously selected Khalid as interim global managing partner. Khalid is ideally suited to take up the role and I would like to thank him on behalf of the firm for his commitment and leadership. I look forward to working closely with him to continue delivering on our strategic aims, staying focused on our clients and people and holding the proposed merger vote by the end of October.” Khalid Garousha, interim global managing partner at Allen & Overy commented, “It is a privilege to be asked by the Board to take up this role. Wim and I will work together during this exciting time to continue growing our firm and to deliver excellent service to our clients.”
• Linklaters has announced the expansion of the firm’s global Making Links Programme to Asia and the Middle East, building upon the successful experience of running the programme in the UK, Europe and the US. The Making Links Asia University Programme is designed specifically to help talented university students from underrepresented groups in their early careers by supporting them on the development of technical and professional skills whilst building strong commercial fluency and a global outlook. This is the first robust needs-based programme launched by an international law firm focussed on the Asia region. The programme will be offered in Linklaters’ network offices in Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong SAR, Jakarta, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo. Applications close on October 31, 2023. Victor Wan, partner and chair of Linklaters’ Asia people committee, commented, “The Making Links programme has received positive feedback in the UK, Europe and the US, and we are now thrilled to be offering the programme to upcoming legal talent in Asia and the Middle East. Our aim is to level the playing field, ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunity in the legal profession.” The programme forms part of Linklaters’ global Making Links initiative, underscoring the firm’s longstanding commitment to attracting, recruiting and developing the next generation of talent, regardless of personal background, social identity and socio-economic circumstances, by increasing opportunities available to students in the early stages of their career development.
• Dentons has moved into iconic new office space in Jeddah as part of the Firm’s expansion plans within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dentons is uniquely positioned as one of the few international law firms to have two offices in Saudi Arabia, with a presence in both Jeddah and Riyadh and were a part of the first wave of international law firms to be granted a foreign law firm license by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice. The new office space is located at the Headquarters Business Park, an iconic landmark for Saudi Arabia’s second largest city and across the new Jeddah Waterfront. It enables Dentons to further grow its already expanding team in Saudi Arabia, as well as enabling its global practice and industry experience to be much more accessible to clients in this part of the region. This development follows the recent move of the firm’s Riyadh office to premier location, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), cementing Dentons’ commitment to Saudi Arabia. Dentons’ long-standing presence in the country, combined with our global capabilities, allows the firm to provide clients with a full-service offering across the Kingdom.