Simmons ramps up in Saudi via alliance as firm beefs up with promos

Simmons’ alliance with the three-partner, 15-lawyer, Jeddah-based firm has already gone live and is aimed at complementing the firm’s offices in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai.

According to Simmons’ Middle East head, Tim Field, the alliance will effectively be exclusive. The firm also hopes the alliance further Simmons’ regional focus on energy and infrastructure, financial institutions, life sciences and TMT work.

Hammad also has a small presence in Riyadh, which Simmon’s hopes to be able to develop alongside its alliance partner.

“Hammad Al-Mehdar & Co is a modern, progressive firm and has excellent relationships in the region,” said Field. “We have been working with them for about a year, so this [alliance] is a natural progression. We’re already starting to see the benefits: we have three large projects in the region, in energy, infrastructure and the financial institutions sectors, which we expect to kick off shortly.”

Simmons has also announced its annual round of partner promotions, with 13 associates made up across five jurisdictions.

Six of the new joiners are in London: three in the dispute resolution team, two in employment and one in banking.

Simmons’ German offices received the next highest number of new partners, with two in Düsseldorf and one in Frankfurt. Two partners were made up in Amsterdam, in dispute resolution and real estate. The firm also made up one partner apiece in Dubai and Milan.

Four of the 13 new partners are female.

Partner promotions:

Patrick Boylan – London - dispute resolution

Verena Braeckeler – Düsseldorf - employment

Luc Cohen – Amsterdam - dispute resolution

Davide D’Affronto – Milan - financial markets

Andrea Finn – London - employment

Frenk Huisman – Amsterdam - real estate

Duane Keighran – Abu Dhabi - real estate

Sascha Kuhn – Düsseldorf - dispute resolution

Joanna Pearson – London - dispute resolution

Anna Rentoul – London - employment

John Sayers – London - financial markets

Stefan Schramm – Frankfurt - financial markets

Richard Sims – London - dispute resolution