Herbies targets Abu Dhabi office for growth

Herbert Smith London finance partner Andrew Newbery is relocating
to the Middle East to head the firm’s office in Abu Dhabi.

The office has been run by Middle East head Neil Brimson since it launched last May, but he will return permanently to Dubai when Newbery relocates at the end of March.

Newbery, who has been handling Middle East work since 1996, said his plan is to build the Abu Dhabi office into a standalone practice that will be linked to the firm’s base in Dubai and the associated office in Saudi Arabia.

“The business plan is to expand the Abu Dhabi office, but not to make it
an outpost of the Dubai office,” said Newbery.

Currently there are five lawyers based in the Abu Dhabi office, who mainly practise litigation and ­corporate work. Newbery’s practice, ;meanwhile, ­focuses on project finance.

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