Clifford Chance has boosted its Middle East offering by relocating London real estate partners Andrew Rolfe and Catherine Cook to Abu Dhabi.

Clifford Chance has boosted its Middle East offering by relocating London real estate partners Andrew Rolfe and Catherine Cook to Abu Dhabi.

The firm opened its Abu Dhabi branch in September 2008 with a team of three partners and eight associates.

It has since expanded the office by transferring US corporate partner John Graham to the region alongside capital markets partner Michael Dakin, who moved to Dubai.

The latest moves are part of a drive by Clifford Chance to target projects work and major real estate developments in the region.

Clifford Chance Middle East managing partner Graham Lovett said: “‘When we opened our new office in Abu Dhabi in September last year we expected the growth we have achieved so far to take about three years.

“With these most recent moves we’ll have increased the Abu Dhabi office in size to six partners and 18 associates.”

Rolfe, who is co-head of the firm’s PPP practice, and Cook will work under Middle East real estate head Peter Deegan.

Cook has been a partner at Clifford Chance since 2007, when she moved from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) (20 August 2007).