Skadden Opens First Middle East Office In Abu Dhabi, Hires Michael Hilton As Regional Head

Skadden Opens First Middle East Office In Abu Dhabi, Hires Michael Hilton As Regional Head

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is expanding its global footprint with the opening of its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi. The firm has appointed Michael Hilton, former regional managing partner for MENA at Freshfields, to lead the new office.

Hilton, a corporate specialist, joined Freshfields in 1998 and spent nearly 24 years with the firm. In the past decade, he was a key figure in Freshfields' M&A practice across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He had served as regional managing partner for MENA since July 2022, before being succeeded by dispute resolution partner Sami Tannous earlier this month.

A spokesperson for Freshfields commented on Hilton’s departure, saying, “We wish Michael all the best in his future endeavours.”

Skadden, headquartered in New York, has more than 20 offices globally, with over 1,700 lawyers. The firm provides a range of legal services, including corporate, litigation, arbitration, and investigations, to clients across the Middle East. While Skadden has not commented officially on its plans for the Abu Dhabi office, the new expansion underscores the growing demand for legal services in the region.

Abu Dhabi’s robust activity in recent years, driven by sovereign wealth fund investments, energy transitions, and digitalisation, has made it a prime location for legal services. This year alone, several high-profile lawyers have made their move to the UAE capital, including Benjamin Crawford from Allen & Overy, Graham Conlon from CMS, and James Burdett from Baker McKenzie.

Skadden’s new office in Abu Dhabi is set to play a significant role in supporting the firm’s growth in the region.