Eversheds has merged with Middle East law consortium KSLG, trebling its size in the region.
The merger, which goes live today (25 May), gifts Eversheds seven new partners and 30 fee-earners, as well as offices in Amman, Baghdad, Dubai and Riyadh. Eversheds already has its own offices in Abu Dhabi and Doha.
All the offices, except Riyadh, will be fully integrated into Eversheds’ LLP, but will be called Eversheds KSLG pending completion of the licensing arrangement.
Riyadh will operate as an associated office, due to regulatory restrictions.
KSLG is a consortium of full-service law firms, comprising: Dhabaan & Partners in Saudi Arabia; Khasawneh & Associates in the UAE; and Sanad Law Group in Jordan and Iraq.
As a result of the merger, Eversheds has called time on its existing alliance with Saudi firm Hani Qurashi Law Firm, which has offices in Jeddah and Riyadh.
According to Eversheds’ Middle East managing partner Christopher Jobson the merger will give the firm a boost across a range of practices, particularly regulatory work and policy reform, as well as a better relationship with in-house counsel across the region.
“We’ve known and worked with these guys for many years, and this has been built up over a significant period of time” said Jobson. “They’re quality lawyers giving quality service in a part of the world where you can’t always guarantee that.
“Clients are saying to us that they need wider coverage in the region. We’re all conscious of the dynamics in the region at the moment, but the Middle East is still a very important legal market and one that we can’t ignore.”
In a statement the firm’s chief executive Bryan Hughes said: “We’ve been looking to establish a region-wide offering for some time and, importantly, with a firm that’s totally aligned to our ambitions and values.
“KSLG’s strong domestic reputation and local knowledge will strengthen Eversheds’ international offering and will create a progressive corporate legal practice in the Middle East with a strong platform for growth.”
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