Simmons & Simmons has formed an alliance with Saudi Arabia firm Hammad Al-Mehdar & Co. The news coincides with six new partners in London as part of Simmons’ 13-strong annual promotions round.
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