Clydes scoops Trowers' ex-Saudi head for Middle East push
Clyde & Co has scooped heavyweight Trowers & Hamlins partner Adrian Creed in a boost for its Middle East project finance practice.
Adrian Creed
Creed joins Clyde & Co’s Abu Dhabi office. He formerly led Trowers’ Saudi Arabian practice and has acted for clients including the Saudi Binladin Group and Etihad Etisalat. Creed was also a key player in Trowers’ Syrian and Libyan practices.
His departure continues a troubled 12 months for Trowers’ Middle Eastern offices. In May 2011 the firm confirmed the closure of its Jeddah office after just one year (23 May 2011).
In September (6 September 2011) the firm named Bahrain partner Abdullah Mutawi as its new United Arab Emirates head, but was forced to admit that it had just one associate on secondment to Saudi Arabia a week later (11 September 2011).
In contrast, Clyde & Co has been building up in the region during recent months. The firm recently hired Simmons & Simmons senior associate Jason Majid for its Doha office and DLA Piper Kuwait partner Adrian Low, who joined Clyde & Co in Dubai.
Creed is the third partner who will be based full-time in Clydes’ Abu Dhabi office, alongside David McElveney and Niall O’Toole.
O’Toole said Creed would primarily work alongside the firm’s project and construction teams on key infrastructure projects in the Middle East.
Creed added that he would also be developing a wider projects practice in the emerging Middle East and North African, Indian and African markets.
Readers' comments (7)
Anonymous | 11-Jan-2012 11:53 am
A good move for Clydes - Adrian is good lawyer with a lot of regional knowledge and connections, as well as being a very nice chap
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I am in Saudi | 11-Jan-2012 12:52 pm
What does this have to do with Saudi? When was this guy the head of anything in Saudi Arabia? I am not sure I understand.
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Anonymous | 11-Jan-2012 1:31 pm
Another example of a net contributor leaving Trowers because of the firm's inability to axe the partnership's expensive failures.
AM's promotion is a positive step but only time will tell whether Trowers has the stomach for "well done and farewell" conversations with several old timers.
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The Septic Skeptic | 11-Jan-2012 2:07 pm
Good luck to Adrian and well done for finally moving on after so long at Trowers.
With one exception, everyone connected with the Trowers Saudi practice has now gone to other firms. A classic example of how not to run a law firm - lack of partner presence on the ground in Saudi, no senior management commitment from London, inappropriate associate staffing (other office rejects), and a failure to overcome a MENA office-wide silo mentality.
Thank God there is Birmingham and the new high speed train in just what Trowers will need to allow its London partners to commute to work.
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Anonymous | 12-Jan-2012 4:51 am
A sensible move by all involved. Clyde & Co are a serious player in the region and are particularly knowledgeable on local laws and practice. Adrian is a good lawyer, committed to MENA and a good fit with Clydes.
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Anonymouse | 13-Jan-2012 10:37 am
Bit rough that Sceptic.
Some of us were rejects from other firms.
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Anonymous | 1-Feb-2012 8:19 am
Update.
Everyone connected with the Trowers Saudi practice has now moved on or is in the process of moving.
What say you now Amison?
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