Dechert snares Dewey capital markets pair as losses escalate
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Dewey & LeBoeuf is set to lose four partners in London and the Middle East including City capital markets rainmaker Camille Abousleiman, in the latest string of departures from the embattled US firm.
Abousleiman, one of the firm’s highest-profile City partners, is leaving the firm to join Dechert’s London office alongside fellow capital markets partner Louise Roman Bernstein.
They are set to be joined by United Arab Emirates corporate partner duo Gavin Watson and Chris Sioufi, who are understood to be leaving to join a rival firm yet to be confirmed. A source close to Dewey has indicated that their destination could also be Dechert, which currently does not have an office in the Middle East.
The departures bring the number of Dewey partners to leave the firm in 2012 to 58.
Abousleiman joined legacy LeBoeuf Lamb Greene & MacRae in 2007 from Dewey Ballantine, which ended up merging with his former firm less than a year later (17 January 2007). He is a key figure for the firm’s Lebanese and emerging markets practice.
The exits follow the resignation of Mark Davis and Russell Van Praagh to join McDermott Will & Emery in London, reported earlier today (16 April 2012).
Bernstein, Watson and Sioufi declined to comment. Abousleiman, Dewey and Dechert were unavailable for comment.
* See here for more on Dewey and the 2007 merger.
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Readers' comments (18)
Anonymous | 19-Apr-2012 8:31 am
Gavin, Chris and Samer. Yawn. Just like the last raid a few years ago, the whole office will not go with them. Decent lawyers and staff are able to get jobs elsewhere. Doesn't Gavin realise Dubai is a small town and he is known for this modus operandi? Do they have any clients to take?
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Anonymous | 19-Apr-2012 12:22 pm
Reminds me of the Kardashians "trying to Take Dubai".
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Anonymous | 19-Apr-2012 4:47 pm
Gavin Watson is well known for this in Dubai. Every move is his last, every Firm worse than the previous. It is the second time to kill an office. Dewey's problems are well documented but it will have served the Dubai office well, as anyone who has had dealings with them will know they have had their problems. It will be interesting to see who will get Managing Partner status - Chris Sioufi or Gavin Watson. It seems that they can't live with or without each other. Camille is the big draw here, and they are probably hoping he will feed work to them in Dubai. Dechert should have done more diligence and opened in Abu Dhabi where there is at least a chance of building a client base.
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Anonymous | 20-Apr-2012 7:32 am
It is well known that there's too many law firms in Dubai; they are all struggling for work. Good luck making friends Dechert.
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Anonymous | 20-Apr-2012 7:41 pm
Abu Dhabi would had been better. There are too many firms in Dubai scratching around for work. It has been quiet for a long time.
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Anonymous | 23-Apr-2012 8:52 am
Wasting their time. Dubai lawyers are sniffing around for work to the extent that even the big players are desperate.
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Anonymous | 23-Apr-2012 11:40 am
Only the big boys will survive. The work simply isn't there.
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Anonymous | 23-Apr-2012 2:40 pm
I guess this group in Dubai just change the nameplate on the door AGAIN.
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