This week’s Movers & Shakers (Oct 20, 2021)
HFW continues to expand global transactional offering with Riyadh partner hire
HFW has launched a transactional offering on-the-ground in Saudi Arabia with the hire of Euan Pinkerton. Pinkerton advises on finance (conventional, Islamic and capital markets), corporate matters and financial regulation, as well as on the procurement, development and financing of large-scale projects. He has more than 20 years’ experience – including a decade living and working full-time in Saudi Arabia – spanning a wide range of sectors including infrastructure, energy (including LNG and renewables), petrochemicals, aerospace, defence, transportation and manufacturing. Pinkerton joins HFW’s Riyadh office from US law firm Baker Botts, having previously been a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills and White & Case, and will work closely with HFW’s transactional teams across the Middle East and globally.
Alistair Mackie, global head of corporate, HFW, “Euan is one of the most experienced projects and transactional lawyers in Saudi Arabia, and we’re very pleased to welcome him to HFW. We see Saudi as a key jurisdiction for the further development of our business in the Middle East. We do a lot of transactional work in Saudi from our offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Kuwait, but adding on-the-ground expertise in the Kingdom is a real step-change in our offering. Our global transactional practice has grown significantly over the past three years and we will actively pursue opportunities to continue that growth.”
Norton Rose Fulbright grows Middle East team with senior corporate hire
Norton Rose Fulbright has expanded its Middle East practice with the hire of partner Zubair Mir in Dubai. Mir joins the firm from Herbert Smith Freehills where he was the Middle East managing partner, head of Middle East corporate and part of the Dubai office since its launch in 2007. Prior to Herbert Smith Freehills, Mir was one of the founding partners of the Dubai office of Norton Rose Fulbright. Mir’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and asset management across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asian regions. He specialises in advising global private equity houses and sovereign wealth funds on their strategic cross-border investments.
Mohammed Paracha, head of Middle East at Norton Rose Fulbright, commented, “Zubair is a highly respected practitioner who shares our vision and will work seamlessly with our existing team. His addition enhances our ability to provide clients with robust, multi-disciplinary advice to help them navigate an increasingly complex business environment as a number of regional governments seek to diversify the economy and increase foreign direct investment.”
Zubair commented, “Norton Rose Fulbright has a long history in the Middle East and remains committed to the region. I’m excited to return to the firm and play a critical role in the further development of the practice. The firm’s in-depth understanding of the regional markets and industries provides me with a great platform to meet clients’ growing needs.”
Morgan Lewis’ new partner in Dubai
Morgan Lewis announced that 40 lawyers have been elevated to partner which was effective October 1, 2021. Amanjit K. Fagura was promoted to partnership in the firm’s Dubai office. Amanjit K. Fagura brings international experience and a global perspective to her work on private placement transactions and the structural and documentation requirements associated with Islamic investment and finance products. Fagura’s practice predominantly focuses on assisting fund managers in the structuring and documentation of Shari’ah compliant investment solutions. She also advises investor clients, including banks and private and institutional investors in relation to Shari’ah compliant investment transactions. She is fluent in Punjabi and is admitted to practice in England & Wales. With a law degree from the University of Cambridge, Fagura also assists regional and international clients on matters such as Sukuk and bond issuances, and both conventional and Islamic financings and refinancings. Before joining Morgan Lewis, Fagura was an associate in the finance practice of another international law firm, resident in Dubai.
“I am very proud to announce our new partnership class from across the globe, our practices, and myriad industries. In this time perhaps more than any other, our clients rely on us to help them navigate today’s unprecedented issues as well as to prepare them for what is next,” said firm chair Jami McKeon. “These talented new partners have distinguished themselves by staying ahead of the trends and helping our clients position their businesses in the best path forward. We celebrate their unwavering commitment to our clients and our firm, while continuously demonstrating their excellence, strength, resilience, and empathy.”
Ince promotes maritime solicitor to partner in Dubai
Ince has announced that Natalie Jensen has been promoted to partner. Jensen joined Ince in 2016 as a senior solicitor and her promotion to partner in the Dubai office, which will come into effect on October 1, 2021, will bolster the firm’s shipping and marine insurance practice locally and internationally. This appointment reflects the firm’s continued success and growth across the Middle East and its wider international network, as well as its support of the development of its industry-leading talent. Jensen has over 10 years of experience in the maritime and international trade industries, as well as the energy and marine insurance sectors, handling both contentious and non-contentious matters. She has first-hand experience of working at a leading International Group P&I Club where she advised on a wide variety of FD&D matters and gained invaluable experience into owners, charterers and P&I Club’s requirements for their legal advisors. She has extensive expertise representing clients in both the English High Court, UAE Courts and DIFC, as well as London and Dubai based maritime arbitration centres. Natalie’s client base spans shipowners, charterers, bunker suppliers, cargo interests, P&I Clubs and insurers, whom she advises in connection with matters arising out of charterparties, bills of lading, contracts of affreightment, other contracts of carriage and bunker supply contracts. Her expertise extends to disputes arising out of allisions. In addition, Jensen advises clients on a wide range of marine insurance matters.
Rania Tadros, managing partner at Ince in Dubai, commented, “Natalie’s well-deserved promotion to Partner is testament to her skills and exceptional development over the last five years. Natalie has been a key trusted advisor to her clients and a crucial member of the Dubai team. I look forward to continuing to work closely with Natalie in this new, exciting chapter of her career with Ince.”
