Clifford Chance boosts Abu Dhabi with NY move

Clifford Chance New York-based M&A partner John Graham has moved to the firm’s Abu Dhabi office to help build its corporate presence in the Middle East.

Graham will take a lead role in developing corporate capabilities in Abu Dhabi alongside the firm’s existing real estate and project finance practice groups.

Clifford Chance New York head of corporate, Brian Hoffmann said: “Abu Dhabi is a very active market. Clients like to be able to pick up the phone and be able to meet with you very quickly. The firm did not have partner-level M&A capabilities in the office so Graham’s move is significant.”

Graham joined the New York office of the magic circle firm in 2006 from US firm King & Spalding, where he was co-head of corporate.

Last year, Graham worked alongside Steve Gatti in Washington, DC and a UK team led by partner Patrick Sarch advising on the e739m (£583m) merger between UK clearing house LCH Clearnet and US group Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation.

Hoffmann said: “We pride ourselves on having a great deal of lawyer mobility at Clifford Chance which means we move our lawyers to where there is the most demand for them.”

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