K&L Gates opens doors in Dubai

INTERNATIONAL LAW firm K&L Gates LLP has established its first presence in the Middle East with the opening of an office in Dubai.

Co-founded by senior dispute resolution partner Neal R Brendel, who has relocated from its Pittsburgh office, the firm has also hired corporate partner Paul de Cordova from the top-10 UK City firm Ashurst. In addition to stints in the London and Tokyo offices, de Cordova worked on the launch of Ashurst's own Dubai office as well as a second in the UAE.

Brendel said that the emirate had proved itself to be a 'leading venue for international dispute resolution'. 'The client community and the international bar have taken notice,' he added.

Brendel and de Cordova are also joined by London corporate associate Richard A Dollimore.

The UAE has emerged as a key area of expansion for international law firms in recent years, with many firms opening in the business centres of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

However, the region has not been spared the effects of the tightening of credit markets and subsequent global economic downturn.

K&L Gates chairman and global managing partner Peter J Kalis commented that the region 'is, has been, and will continue to be of strategic importance to the global economy'.

De Cordova added that K&L Gates's broad-based practice and depth of resources would enable it to 'stand apart' from the considerable competition among firms for clients' business in the region.

K&L Gates also opened offices in Singapore and Frankfurt in Germany in 2008.