Haris Meyer Hanif rejoins Allen & Overy
Haris Meyer Hanif rejoins Allen & Overy
He was serving as head of finance for the Middle East and North Africa at Freshfields’
Allen & Overy has announced that Haris Meyer Hanif has rejoined the firm in Dubai after 11 years. He had earlier spent two years at A&O in Dubai and held roles in London.
Hanif specializes in complex restructuring and insolvency matters, leveraged and acquisition financings, and private capital transactions. He has expertise in advising financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds.
His return is being seen as a coup for the firm in the run-up to its merger with the New York firm Shearman & Sterling. The union is likely to be finalized by May. It will create a firm of almost 4,000 lawyers globally and a revenue of $3.5bn.
On Hanif’s return, Khalid Garousha, the regional managing partner for the Middle East and Turkey and the firm’s current global managing partner, remarked, “We are thrilled to be growing A&O’s restructuring and insolvency offering for our clients in the Middle East and welcome Hanif back into our team at such an exciting time for the region.”
Abu Dhabi-based Garousha was appointed managing partner on an interim basis last September following the sudden resignation of former managing partner Gareth Price.
Adam Banks, the firm’s Dubai-based partner commented, “Hanif has been in the region for many years and is well-known to our key clients. He’s a terrific addition to our team, and I’m looking forward to leveraging our joint expertise and experience to continue crafting innovative and commercial solutions for our clients.”
Hanif added, “I would be working alongside Banks to build “the deepest and strongest bench of dedicated restructuring, insolvency, and capital solutions specialists in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the wider region”.
He further stated, “Those closest to me know I have always had a lot of affection for, and friends at, A&O. This feels like going home, albeit after quite a spell away. I have admired the ambition, depth, breadth, and product balance of its successful Middle East platform, and I am excited about what is planned – both in the Middle East and the wider firm.”
Hanif previously served at Freshfields as head of finance for the Middle East and North Africa for 11 years. He advised London-based asset manager Hayfin on its first UAE investment. He also acted for the Chalhoub Group, the largest luxury retail operator in the Middle East, on its acquisition of a majority stake in digital luxury retailer Threads Styling.
