Clyde & Co has boosted its corporate offering in the Middle East with the arrival of partner Chadi Salloum from Morgan Lewis & Brockius in Dubai. 

Salloum joins the UK firm after just over two years at Morgan Lewis, where he was a partner in the firm’s corporate and energy practice and served as pro bono chair for its UAE offices. 

His appointment follows the partner promotions of Michael Ducker, Rizwan Osman and Mohammed Aldowish in Dubai and Riyadh as well as the recent relocation of partner Damian Watkin to Clyde’s Abu Dhabi office, the firm said in a statement on Tuesday. 

After getting his start at Skadden Arps Meagher & Flom in New York between 2000 and 2006, Salloum relocated to Rome to serve as international counsel at Chiomenti before eventually landing at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he was the firm’s Abu Dhabi managing partner from 2012 to 2019. 

His practice focuses on representing sovereign entities, multinationals, financial institutions, investors and sponsors in a broad range of transactional matters across numerous sectors, including healthcare, energy, technology, financial services and logistics, among others. 

Salloum also has experience advising clients on policy, regulatory and government matters as well as reporting obligations concerning corporations operating or headquartered in the Middle East. 

Upon joining Clyde, Salloum will work with the firm’s local clients and support those based in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East region. 

Clyde’s Middle East network is one of the largest in the region, with 47 partners and more than 400 legal and professional staff based in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and Riyadh. 

Mark Blanksby, partner and chairman of Clydes’ Middle East and Africa board, said: “Chadi’s appointment is our response to the evolving market opportunities in the Middle East and Africa – and a demonstration of our commitment to supporting clients in these markets. It’s great to have him on board.”

Philip O’Riordan, partner and head of the firm’s regional corporate practice, added that Salloum’s appointment will serve to strengthen Clydes’ position in Saudi Arabia, particularly as businesses look for legal advice amid a flux of growth opportunities resulting from the Kingdom's continued efforts to diversify its economy. 

Those efforts to become a regional commercial hub saw Saudi Arabia license 44 international companies, including UK listed law firm DWF, to open regional headquarters in Riyadh as part of its Future Investment Initiative in October. 

Other companies that announced their plans to open in Riyadh include multinationals in the technology, food and beverages, consulting and construction sector including Unilever, Baker Hughes and Siemens. 

A number of other law firms have made moves in Saudi Arabia as of late, with HFW hiring Baker Botts partner Euan Pinkerton in October to launch an on-the-ground transactional offering in Riyadh while Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle turned towards the Saudi capital to open its third Middle East site in August.