K&L Gates hires former Simmons UAE chief

US firm K&L Gates has recruited former head of Simmons & Simmons’ Middle East Paul Simpson as a finance partner in its Dubai office.

Simpson most recently served as regional managing partner of Simmons’ United Arab Emirates practice, where he oversaw operations across the firm’s Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha offices. He left in April 2010.

He has a broad range of experience across corporate, projects and finance work and regularly advises clients in a variety of energy, transportation, investment, finance, M&A and project development matters.

In a statement, founding co-partner of K&L Gates’ Dubai office Neal Brendel said: “(Paul’s) substantial experience throughout the Middle East will be of great benefit to the firm and our clients across the globe.”

Commenting on his appointment, Simpson added: “It is an honour to join K&L Gates and to be granted the opportunity to help build the firm’s Middle East and international projects practices.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues here in Dubai and throughout the world to better serve the firm’s clients in, and doing business in, the UAE.”

The firm opened its Dubai office in 2009 to support clients doing business in the UAE, wider Middle East and North Africa region. Its main practice areas cover projects and construction, dispute resolution and arbitration, insurance, corporate matters including M&A, investment funds and financial services regulatory advice, and banking and finance.