http://www.thelawyer.com http://www.thelawyer.com http://www.thelawyer.com/magazine/graphics/logo-rss.png http://www.thelawyer.com http://www.thelawyer.com/gearing-up/1015868.article http://www.thelawyer.com/gearing-up/1015868.article Civil unrest is holding Bahrain back but lawyers believe that slow transactional work is down to more than the political situation Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/out-of-africa/1013442.article http://www.thelawyer.com/out-of-africa/1013442.article SNR Denton’s Africa practice co-chair has been seconded to Dubai to help beef up the firm’s presence in the Middle East Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/united-effort/1013441.article http://www.thelawyer.com/united-effort/1013441.article As the UAE tries to increase its influence in the international community, foreign companies and law firms are waiting for promised legislation that could make it easier for them to do business there Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/news-and-analysis/regions/middle-east/riyadh-mission-ticket/1013438.article http://www.thelawyer.com/news-and-analysis/regions/middle-east/riyadh-mission-ticket/1013438.article International law firms in Saudi Arabia are turning their attention to home-grown female lawyers in a bid to gain access to new clients Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/kuwaiting-game/1011578.article http://www.thelawyer.com/kuwaiting-game/1011578.article Kuwait is instituting reforms with the aim of becoming the trade centre of the Middle East, but only a handful of global firms have grasped the nettle Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/safer-bet/1011577.article http://www.thelawyer.com/safer-bet/1011577.article Iraq’s legal market is showing signs of stability following a decade of turmoil, and with energy featuring, highly international firms are beginning to take note Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/kicking-off-in-qatar/1010596.article http://www.thelawyer.com/kicking-off-in-qatar/1010596.article Qatar is gearing up to host the Fifa World Cup in a decade’s time, which means teams of lawyers are also filing in. Dale McEwan reports on their goals Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/staffing-up/1008704.article http://www.thelawyer.com/staffing-up/1008704.article Dale McEwan looks at how law firms have adapted their recruitment methods in response to an altered legal sector in the UAE Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/big-and-tough/1008703.article http://www.thelawyer.com/big-and-tough/1008703.article Lawyers agree that Saudi Arabia is a major blip on their radars, but its culture means it remains a difficult legal market to navigate. Dale McEwan reports Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/from-build-to-billed/1007076.article http://www.thelawyer.com/from-build-to-billed/1007076.article Kuwait is finally realising its plan to improve its infrastructure, with private investment now part of the process. James Swift finds out how the legal profession is playing this one Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/shalom/1005312.article http://www.thelawyer.com/shalom/1005312.article While opening an office in Israel is a sensitive issue for magic circle firms, the country has become quite a magnet for individual lawyers - many from the UK - who are relocating in their droves. By James Swift Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/gulf-onstream/1005183.article http://www.thelawyer.com/gulf-onstream/1005183.article Recent purchases in the UK and elsewhere have put paid to the notion that money from the Gulf has run out. Luke McLeod-Roberts looks at the latest developments in Middle Eastern investment Sun, 1 Aug 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/dubai-or-not-dubai/1003597.article http://www.thelawyer.com/dubai-or-not-dubai/1003597.article Dubai’s position as the Middle East’s legal hub is under pressure from Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Saudi. Luke McLeod-Roberts asks leading lawyers in the region for their opinions as to the shape of things to come Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/latham-and-taylor-wessing-in-for-the-long-haul-on-back-of-dubai-govt-work/1003240.article http://www.thelawyer.com/latham-and-taylor-wessing-in-for-the-long-haul-on-back-of-dubai-govt-work/1003240.article Could debt fallout spell a ‘coming of age’ for the emirate? asks Luke McLeod-Roberts Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/filling-the-gulf/1002868.article http://www.thelawyer.com/filling-the-gulf/1002868.article As Dubai’s economy suffers, international law firms are looking at Saudi Arabia as their next port of call. Luke McLeod-Roberts reports on the benefits and drawbacks of launching in the country Sun, 6 Dec 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/arbitrary-decision/1001642.article http://www.thelawyer.com/arbitrary-decision/1001642.article Firms and sets may look at Saudi as a golden ticket, but the country is still wrestling with the creation of a credible legal system that will satisfy international business. Sun, 9 Aug 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/which-way-now/1001641.article http://www.thelawyer.com/which-way-now/1001641.article The Middle East may be the spiritual home of Islamic finance, but the region needs to decide in which direction the practice is headed. Sun, 9 Aug 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-middle-east-spread/1000406.article http://www.thelawyer.com/dla-piper-middle-east-spread/1000406.article DLA Piper is now firmly ensconced in the Middle East with offices in six locations acrossthe region, but has it spread itself too thin? Luke McLeod-Roberts reports Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/six-of-the-best/1000399.article http://www.thelawyer.com/six-of-the-best/1000399.article If during 2008 many firms equated the Middle East with bulking up a Dubai office with lawyers from London and New York, in 2009 there has been a paradigm shift. This shift consists of an increased focus on other Middle East and North Africa (Mena) markets and recruitment from within the region. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/conference-call/1000397.article http://www.thelawyer.com/conference-call/1000397.article As transactional markets tighten in the Middle East, firms might welcome advice on how best to mould ­individual business models to meet client demands and foster existing client relationships to hold on to key work. Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/middle-east-layoffs-suggest-theres-no-place-like-home/136968.article http://www.thelawyer.com/middle-east-layoffs-suggest-theres-no-place-like-home/136968.article Last week The Lawyer broke the news of the first legal job cuts in the Middle East. Seven Trowers & Hamlins employees lost their jobs in Dubai, Muscat and Riyadh, six of them associates and most from project finance (23 February). Mon, 2 Mar 2009 14:35 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/middle-east-special-report-arabian-blights/136485.article http://www.thelawyer.com/middle-east-special-report-arabian-blights/136485.article Previously touted as many firms’ saving grace, the Middle East economy has finally started to suffer. Which firms are strong enough to weather the storm and which will be left out in the cold? asks Jonathan Ames Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:57 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/hidden-talent/134951.article http://www.thelawyer.com/hidden-talent/134951.article As international private practice law firms continue their rush to the Gulf, in-house counsel are taking on an increasingly vital role. But is the calibre of legal talent in the region up to the job? wonders Jonathan Ames. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:17 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/circling-the-sand/134950.article http://www.thelawyer.com/circling-the-sand/134950.article Dubai’s marketing team cannot be faulted, but with the emirate arguably becoming oversubscribed, law firms looking to gain footholds in the Middle East market would do well to consider its neighbours and rivals. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:11 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/outward-bound/134949.article http://www.thelawyer.com/outward-bound/134949.article The Abu Dhabi United Group grabbed the headlines with its takeover of Manchester City FC, but the move was merely the most visible example of the United Arab Emirates’ foreign investment boom. Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:53 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/gulf-streamlining/134946.article http://www.thelawyer.com/gulf-streamlining/134946.article By bringing in Western regulation expertise, the Dubai government is making sure it is seen to be taking the issue of regulatory competence seriously. By Jonathan Ames Mon, 29 Sep 2008 15:05 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/gay-lawyers-in-the-gulf-pride-denied/134939.article http://www.thelawyer.com/gay-lawyers-in-the-gulf-pride-denied/134939.article For lesbian and gay lawyers, a move to the Gulf, where homosexuality is illegal, is not an easy choice. What is it like to live and work in the region and what role do law firms play in ensuring the welfare of their staff? Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:14 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/leasehold-of-life/134407.article http://www.thelawyer.com/leasehold-of-life/134407.article Changes to Dubai property law over the past six years have opened up the market to foreign ownership and is helping to bring about the creation of a recognisably westernised property asset class. Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:39 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/making-the-right-connections-is-key-to-conquering-saudi-legal-market/134462.article http://www.thelawyer.com/making-the-right-connections-is-key-to-conquering-saudi-legal-market/134462.article Merely having a presence in the kingdom is not enough Mon, 8 Sep 2008 13:51 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/arabian-rites/133765.article http://www.thelawyer.com/arabian-rites/133765.article Saudi Arabia is on the radar of most of the biggest Western law firms, but the country’s lack of suitably qualified sponsors means inventive entry strategies are critical Mon, 14 Jul 2008 05:59 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/sovereign-rights/132437.article http://www.thelawyer.com/sovereign-rights/132437.article After running to Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds for help, the West is now calling for regulation. Hypocrisy is an understatement. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:08 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/the-nuclear-option/132438.article http://www.thelawyer.com/the-nuclear-option/132438.article As Middle Eastern economies boom, energy resources are becoming depleted. Nuclear power could be the answer Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:07 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/sharia-scholars-boards/132439.article http://www.thelawyer.com/sharia-scholars-boards/132439.article The growth of sharia-compliant Islamic finanical institutions is making them a force to be reckoned with. But industry regulators say there is a need to clarify the role of sharia scholars' boards. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:06 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/real-estate-lawyers-eye-cis-as-middle-east-reaches-saturation/131867.article http://www.thelawyer.com/real-estate-lawyers-eye-cis-as-middle-east-reaches-saturation/131867.article So the Middle East is hot. Big news. If another firm cottons on to the fact then Ashurst client Serco had better get the Dubai metro up and running quick sharp or there will be nose-to-tail traffic all the way to Muscat. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:04 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/dubai-stock-exchange/129795.article http://www.thelawyer.com/dubai-stock-exchange/129795.article Dubai’s new stock exchange is the first step towards putting the country on the international investment map. Pervez Akhtar and Kamar Jaffer report Mon, 5 Nov 2007 00:08 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/dws-project-finance-team-sets-its-sights-on-middle-east/127989.article http://www.thelawyer.com/dws-project-finance-team-sets-its-sights-on-middle-east/127989.article Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) is looking to Africa and the Middle East along with its strength in energy and natural resources to save an ailing banking practice by channelling its energies into the project finance market. Mon, 20 Aug 2007 00:04 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/rules-of-attraction/126012.article http://www.thelawyer.com/rules-of-attraction/126012.article The Dubai Financial Services Authority is increasingly aligning the Dubai International Financial Centre with the UK on investment fund legislation. By Mark Watterson and Tim Coak Tue, 29 May 2007 09:36 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/fuel-carriageway/126011.article http://www.thelawyer.com/fuel-carriageway/126011.article Allocating risk on non-recourse or limited recourse financings within the petrochemical business can be tricky, say Bimal Desai and Emil Pellicer Tue, 29 May 2007 09:31 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/bridging-the-gulf/126155.article http://www.thelawyer.com/bridging-the-gulf/126155.article After the oil crash of the 1980s, the Saudi Arabian legal market is returning to its glory days. But will International law firms realise the potential and have the skills to benefit, asks Andreas Haberbeck Mon, 28 May 2007 14:41 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/omania/126145.article http://www.thelawyer.com/omania/126145.article Oman's real estate sector is booming and, after Sultani Decree No 12/2006, foreign investors are all after a piece of it, says Paul Sheridan Mon, 28 May 2007 00:10 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/saudi-arabia-the-big-build/126146.article http://www.thelawyer.com/saudi-arabia-the-big-build/126146.article With a population set to hit almost 50 million by 2050, the Saudi Arabian government is spearheading a flood of infrastructure projects. By Leroy Levy and Rachel Rayfield Mon, 28 May 2007 00:09 GMT http://www.thelawyer.com/sharia-reliant/126147.article http://www.thelawyer.com/sharia-reliant/126147.article Sharia-compliant funds are one way to get a foot in the door in the Mena region, say Neil Miller, David Baylis and Judy Kawaf Mon, 28 May 2007 00:08 GMT