Clyde & Co Bolsters Corporate Presence in the Middle East with Rapid Expansion

Clyde & Co Bolsters Corporate Presence in the Middle East with Rapid Expansion

Clyde & Co, a renowned global law firm, made an official announcement on Tuesday regarding the addition of 13 lawyers to its Corporate & Advisory practice. Among the notable hires are Nora Al Muhamad, Darren Harris, and Alan Wood, all joining as partners.

Nora Al Muhamad brings over 14 years of extensive expertise as a corporate lawyer specialising in the Middle East. Recognised for her proficiency in assisting family businesses, she has established herself as a trusted advisor for numerous prominent family-owned enterprises, guiding them through essential matters such as succession planning and legacy projects throughout the region.

Nora's professional background also encompasses comprehensive experience in advising corporate clients on intricate domestic and international corporate restructuring initiatives. At her previous law firm, she held a leadership role in the family business and corporate restructuring practice, showcasing her ability to navigate complex legal landscapes and deliver valuable solutions to clients.

Darren Harris, an accomplished corporate lawyer, brings an impressive track record of over 18 years of professional experience, with a remarkable 12 years spent in the Middle East. Throughout his career, he has successfully represented clients in a wide range of cross-border transactions, focusing on areas such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity, venture capital, joint ventures (JVs), and corporate advisory matters.

Darren's expertise extends across multiple regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and the UK, providing him with valuable insights into diverse legal frameworks and international business landscapes. Before joining Clyde & Co, he held a prominent position as a leader, overseeing the legal function and serving as the head of corporate at his previous firm.

Alan Wood is a highly seasoned corporate lawyer with a remarkable career spanning over 30 years, including an impressive 14 years dedicated to the Middle East. For the past six years, Alan has focused his expertise specifically on Saudi Arabia, becoming a recognised authority in the field.

Alan's practice revolves around representing a diverse clientele, including both private sector entities and government organisations. His extensive experience encompasses a wide range of areas, such as cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joint ventures (JVs), corporate structuring, reorganisations, corporate governance, compliance, and general corporate advisory services. Notably, Alan assumed a leadership role as he spearheaded the corporate function in Saudi Arabia at his previous firm.

Naji Hawayek, partner and head of Clyde & Co's corporate practice in the Middle East, conveyed his excitement regarding the ongoing expansion of their corporate practice and expressed satisfaction in welcoming the new joiners to the firm.

“Our corporate practice strategy focuses on aligning with market opportunities and our clients’ priorities ensuring that we are best placed to support them on their domestic and cross-border matters. These latest hires follow tremendous growth in our practice over the last year, deepening our position as one of the largest and most well-established corporate practices in the region,” Naji Hawayek said.

“We are delighted to join Clyde & Co’s established and successful Middle East and Africa (MEA) corporate team. We see Clyde & Co as a great platform to continue our success of advising on M&A, corporate restructuring and family business succession planning and legacy projects. Clients will benefit from increased on-the-ground scale from one of the largest corporate teams in the region,” Darren Harris stated.

Over the past year, Clyde & Co has significantly strengthened its corporate partner group in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), now consisting of 27 members. This expansion includes the notable hires of Mohammed Almarzouki and Anas Alswailem in Riyadh, Mohamed Barakat, Mostafa Elsakaa, and Sameh Dahroug in Cairo, following the establishment of an associated office in the region.

Additionally, Amalia Lui joined the team in Dares Salaam, Gasant Orrie in Cape Town, and Roshanak Bassiri Gharb was promoted to partner in Dubai.

“I am delighted to welcome our new colleagues. This is an exciting time for the firm as we continue to grow our extensive full-service offering in the region. We are very proud of our rapid expansion across MEA over the past year, including the opening of associated offices in Cairo and Kenya; the addition of 12 new partners; and the promotion of 5 partners and 13 legal directors,” Sara Khoja, partner and chair of Clyde & Co’s MEA board, added.

Clyde & Co, a prominent international law firm, boasts a strong presence in the MEA region, leveraging its extensive 30 years of experience. With a remarkable team of more than 90 partners and over 540 staff members, the firm operates through nine strategically located offices and associated offices in Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Doha, Dubai, Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Riyadh.

The firm distinguishes itself by offering comprehensive legal services, combining the expertise of local and international specialists across a wide range of key business sectors and practice areas. This full-service approach enables the firm to provide clients with tailored and effective solutions that meet their specific needs in the ever-evolving landscape of the MEA region.

Clyde & Co's Corporate & Advisory practice operates on a global scale, offering comprehensive support to a diverse clientele engaged in corporate transactions, commercial ventures, employment matters, finance arrangements, and intellectual property (IP) and technology issues. The firm's expertise extends to both mature and emerging markets, catering to the unique needs of clients worldwide.

With a broad range of experience, Clyde & Co is well-versed in serving clients across various industries. Their knowledge spans major sectors including education, healthcare, hospitality, technology, marine, transport, energy, construction, commodities, and insurance.