Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has scooped Pervez Akhtar from magic circle rival Allen & Overy, making him its new Middle East corporate head .
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has scooped corporate rainmaker Pervez Akhtar from magic circle rival Allen & Overy, making him its new Middle East corporate head .
Akhtar rejoined A&O last year (20 March 2009) following a brief spell as an executive director with Middle East private equity house Abraaj Capital. He had previously been head of Middle East corporate at the firm.
Freshfields global corporate head Edward Braham said of Akhtar: “He is one of a select group of senior international lawyers who have spent considerable time in the United Arab Emirates working on complex deals. His appointment demonstrates our long term commitment to the MENA region.”
Following the hire, Freshfields will have a five-partner strong presence in Dubai, with Akhtar leading a corporate practice that currently features Bertrand Pellet and Patrick Ko.
Pellett is one of two corporate partners, along with Tobias Müller-Deku in Riyadh, to have relocated to the Middle East in the past 12 months as Freshfields continues to bulk up in the region.
Managing partner Ted Burke added: “Our Middle East practice is very important to us and Pervez is a great fit. We’re very happy that he’s joining us.”
A spokesperson for A&O said: “Pervez Akhtar has decided to leave Allen & Overy. We would like to thank him for the contribution he has made during his time at Allen & Overy and wish him all the best for the future.”
Readers' comments (17)
Anonymous | 17-Dec-2010 5:07 pm
Big mistake to leave for Abraaj and hand over "relationships" to replacement AO partner. Clients have institutional loyalty - so AO won't be too upset.
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Anonymous | 17-Dec-2010 8:34 pm
Anonymous @ 5:07 -- you are entirely wrong I'm afraid. Clients are immensely loyal to Pervez, especially Abraaj. "Institutional relationships" in the Middle East are not quite what they might be elsewhere.
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Anonymous | 17-Dec-2010 9:09 pm
Just about every UAE law firm is looking for a big hitting corporate rain-maker and Pervez is simply the best. Good luck to him and a great coup for FF.
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Anonymous | 18-Dec-2010 5:22 pm
Akhtar is undoubtedly the best M&A lawyer in Dubai. This is a big win for Freshfields and a major blow for A&O.
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anon | 20-Dec-2010 12:17 pm
The last few comments sound a little suspect and overly defensive - dontchya think. A&O official line says it all I'm afraid. Good luck to him anyway.
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Anonymous | 20-Dec-2010 12:37 pm
I disagree, he was the best corporate lawyer at A&O (period) and they will suffer not just in Dubai but also in London.
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Really | 20-Dec-2010 3:00 pm
"Institutional relationships" in the Middle East are not quite what they might be elsewhere.
Tell that to Aramco / White and Case. Latham have hardly poached that work away...
A+O's offering is very strong in all areas and doesn't rely on 1 or 2 star names like most of the other firms (you know who you are).
Mr. Akhtar obviously has a strong link to Abraaj and hopefully that will serve him well in what remains a struggling market.
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Anonymous | 21-Dec-2010 7:42 am
Why did Pervez leave A&O - why was he unhappy?
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Anonymous | 21-Dec-2010 8:06 am
Superb move from Freshfields, massive blow for A&O.
Re institutional loyalty: it is simply not enough these days to have servile, mediocre partners powered by a strong brand, that is definitely not a sustainable strategy
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Anonymous | 21-Dec-2010 8:13 am
Ive come across this guy before. A rainmaker like very few but in all fairness, really (and i mean really) few technical skills. oh well, it takes both kinds to make a partnership work doesnt it. good luck to him.
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