K&L Gates expands into Doha
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US firm K&L Gates has expanded its Middle East practice with a new office in Doha, which is its second in the region and 38th worldwide.
Disputes partner Kenneth Freeling, who joined the firm in March after serving as managing partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Doha office, has led the set-up of the new base, which will be located in the city’s iconic Tornado Tower.
In a statement, Freeling said: “I have been practising in Doha for more than three years and have no doubt that K&L Gates is the ideal platform for Doha’s growing and dynamic economy.
“The breadth and depth of K&L Gates’ practices, in combination with its global reach in a single integrated firm, uniquely suits the broader needs of our Qatari clients in Doha and around the world, as well as our multi-national clients doing business in Doha.”
Firm chairman and global managing partner Peter Kalis added: “With the launch of our Doha office, K&L Gates formally enters an exciting and increasingly diverse legal marketplace which reflects Qatar’s admirable commitment to develop an advanced and diversified economy on the strength of its energy endowments. Our Doha office is a foundation block of our strategy for the Middle East.”
The Doha base will be supported by the firm’s Dubai office, which opened in June 2009, and assist clients with their legal and regulatory needs in areas including projects; energy and infrastructure; banking and finance; telecommunications, media and technology; real estate and construction; intellectual property; and dispute resolution.
The office announcement follows news earlier this week that K&L Gates had strengthened its Dubai office with the appointment of Paul Simpson, former UAE chief of Simmons & Simmons (6 September 2011).
