This week’s Movers & Shakers (Aug 8, 2018)
Eversheds Sutherland bolsters its energy and infrastructure practice and BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates appoints head of corporate for in the firm’s Riyadh and Abu Dhabi offices.
Eversheds Sutherland bolsters its Energy and Infrastructure practice
Eversheds Sutherland has announced the relocation of two senior partners to expand the Energy and Infrastructure practice in the region.
Karim Mahmud
Iwan Walters
Iwan Walters and Karim Mahmud joined the Dubai office in April and July respectively.
Both Iwan and Karim have significant global experience advising on energy and infrastructure projects across the MENA region. As Dubai develops as a capital hub for investments in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and other regions around the world, the global practice is keen to mobilise service expertise to advise its clients.
With a growing trend to develop renewable energy schemes in the Middle East and Africa, Iwan has been appointed head of clean energy and sustainability MENA. As one of Eversheds Sutherland’s leading clean energy and sustainability lawyers, he has advised on the development of renewables work in the MENA region, including Egypt, Oman, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
With over 25 years of experience, Karim has been appointed head of conventional energy and infrastructure MENA. He will focus on the development of major energy and infrastructure projects in the oil and gas, conventional power, transport and social infrastructure sectors. Karim has advised project sponsors, governments (including national energy companies) and major engineering companies on multi-$bn projects in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe.
Tawfiq Tabbaa, regional managing partner, commented, “I am delighted that Iwan and Karim have relocated to Dubai. We have one of the largest teams in the Middle East and continue to invest. Our priority is to provide our clients with a global perspective coupled with local knowledge and expertise. With Iwan and Karim on board we are well-placed to deliver this.”
Rob Pitcher, co-head global energy and infrastructure, said, “Iwan and Karim have been working for clients based in the MENA region for many years. It is important for our clients that they are based in Dubai. Infrastructure and clean energy projects require global consistency and our clients and their investors expect us, in all our work, to incorporate best approaches and lessons learnt from other markets, as well as understanding the dynamics of local markets. Iwan and Karim bring these attributes to the work we are doing for our very important clients in these sectors.”
Iwan and Karim have joined a strong existing team across eight offices in six countries in the MENA region – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Amman, Doha, Baghdad, Erbil and Tunis. Team partners include Clint Dempsey, Paul Taylor, Shalagh Massingham, Iyad Zawaideh, Muhammad Arif Saeed, Dani Kabbani, Richard Ward, Tawfiq Tabbaa and Farès Koussay El Heni. Iwan and Karim’s relocation follows the appointment of partner Paul Taylor to the Dubai team in the Middle East.
BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP appoints head of corporate for both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi
BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP has announced the appointments of both and Francois Chemaly as the head of corporate for the firm’s Riyadh office and the head of corporate for the Abu Dhabi office respectively.
Marc Saroufim
Francois Chemaly
Mark, as a US-trained consultant with over 15 years’ experience in advising clients on legal matters within the corporate and commercial sectors, will offer his services and expertise to our clients based in Saudi Arabia.
For many years Marc has been representing high profile clients, including local and international companies, family-owned businesses, high-net worth individuals, government organizations, and SMEs throughout KSA. Marc specialises in transactions involving joint ventures, M&A, real estate development, agency and distribution, franchises, corporate formations, employment, and company restructuring.
Commenting on his recent appointment, Marc stated, “I am delighted to be joining BSA as the Head of Corporate, in my previous dealings with the firm I have always been struck by its professionalism and commitment to client satisfaction. BSA is a strongly established firm in the region and I greatly look forward to expanding the firm’s service offering.”
Francois, also has over 15 years of advisory and transactional experience both in-house and in private practice. He has assisted a vast range of domestic and international clients with the realisation and implementation of their business strategies and the attainment of their corporate goals. Francois’ clients include, individuals, private, semi-public and public entities who he has advised on joint ventures, IPOs, company incorporation, conversion, acquisition, dissolution, restructuring, compliance and corporate governance.
Addressing his new role, Francois commented, “BSA has a strong presence in the UAE and beyond, I am excited to join a firm with such a strong reputation, which I hope to further enhance through my leadership of the corporate team in Abu Dhabi.”
BSA senior partner, Dr. Ahmad Bin Hezeem, added, “It is an exciting time of expansion and growth for the firm as we continue to thrive in the region. We are excited to have both Marc and Francois on board and look forward to the added value their leadership will bring to our clients in both Riyadh and Abu Dhabi.”
