HFW Continues Expansion in the Middle East with Kuwait Partner Hire

HFW Continues Expansion in the Middle East with Kuwait Partner Hire

HFW has strengthened its presence in the Middle East by hiring a new partner in Kuwait, as the firm reports a more than 60% increase in its Middle East revenue over the past two financial years.

Kashif Syed has joined HFW’s Kuwait City office from International Legal Group. With over 16 years of experience in the Middle East, including 13 years in Kuwait, Syed brings expertise in cross-border transactions, M&A, corporate restructuring, insolvency, employment, consumer, and competition law. He has previously worked at DLA Piper and Dentons.

Rula Dajani Abuljebain, head of HFW’s Kuwait office, commented on Syed’s appointment: “It is extremely rare to find lawyers in Kuwait with Kashif’s combination of deep local market knowledge and an international law firm background. Kashif also has experience in many of HFW’s core sectors—including aviation, construction, energy, and shipping—and his broad skillset will benefit our clients in Kuwait and the wider region.”

She added that the firm intends to continue growing in Kuwait as part of its broader plans for expansion across the Middle East and globally.

Syed expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “HFW has the unique distinction of being the only international law firm in Kuwait, and its international clout and sector expertise represent an unrivaled offering for clients in the region.”

Syed is the fifth partner HFW has added in the Middle East in the past two years, joining a roster that includes corporate and commercial partner Abdulrahman Al-Ohaly in Riyadh, construction partner Slava Kiryushin in Dubai, and shipping and offshore partners Robert Lawrence and Ian Chung in Dubai.

This announcement follows HFW’s recent launch of a new entity in Saudi Arabia, after receiving a licence from the Saudi Ministry of Justice to practise in the Kingdom. HFW has been operating in the Middle East since 2006 and now has 20 partners and 60 lawyers across its offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait City, and Riyadh.