Vinson & Elkins has boosted its headcount in the Middle East with the appointment of two new partners. Corporate lawyers Sami Al-Louzi has joined from White & Case and Ahmed T el-Gaili from Sullivan & Cromwell.
Al-Louzi will become the fifth lawyer in Vinsons’ Abu Dhabi office after spending six years in White & Case’s Riyadh office (through its association with local lawyer Mohammed A Al-Sheikh) and two years in its Abu Dhabi office. His clients include Etihad Etisalat Co, which he has represented on capital markets and M&A transactions, including a US$533m rights issue in 2008.
Former Sullivan & Cromwell senior associate Ahmed T el-Gaili moved from London to join Vinson’s Dubai practice as a partner. He will be the office’s 14th lawyer and will provide advice on M&A and PE transactions. El-Gaili has also worked with Morgan Stanley’s New York global energy group, advising oil companies on M&As.
Since launching its first regional base in 2003 (in Dubai) – the firm now grown to 19 lawyers across Abu Dhabi (five lawyers) and Dubai (14 lawyers). Vinson’s Middle East managing partner, Lewis Jones, said Saudi Arabia was a key market for growth.
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