Trowers & Hamlin grows in the Gulf

Trowers & Hamlin continues to expand in the Gulf, with the opening of an office in Bahrain, its fourth in the region.

The move comes a month after the firm announced it was upgrading its office in Oman.

Driving the initiative is a growth in project finance work.

Martin Amison, head of the international projects department, said: "Project finance work in the region is only getting started. It is clearly the case that banks in Bahrain will have quite a say in this work."

Over the years, Bahrain has developed as a leading financial centre, and although its position has been challenged by emerging centres such as Oman and Dubai, it is still home to over 60 banks.

Amison added: "It is essential for us to have a local man in Bahrain near our banking clients."

Partner Christopher Trower has been sent to Manama to head the office. It is expected that other lawyers will fly in from the firm's other offices as the workload demands.

The opening comes six months after Clifford Chance shut down its office in Manama to concentrate on its regional practice in Dubai, which has consolidated its position as the key commercial centre in the region in recent years.

Amison shrugs off the closure as "an obvious opportunity" for his firm. Norton Rose is the only other City firm with an office in the country.