The Lawyer newspaper reports that Dubai-based banking and finance lawyer Nasser Ali Khasawneh will replace Chris Jobson as managing partner for the Middle East. Mr Jobson -- who will become the firm’s Middle East chairman – has been tasked with guiding Eversheds’ expansion into Qatar.

Acting internationally

The move takes place in the wake of Eversheds’ decision to cut the role of head of international – a position held by Stephen Hopkins since 2009. Now head of global accounts, Mr Hopkins is a relationship partner for one of the firm’s most lucrative clients, Tyco International.
Eversheds managing partner Lee Ranson told the newspaper: ‘Over the last five years our business, responding to our clients’ demands, has become increasingly global in its outlook. The idea of one person being head of international, therefore, no longer reflected the reality of a business where all our practice and sector group heads, and indeed all our partners, are thinking and acting internationally as part of their everyday activities.’