It has been a tumultuous six months for DLA Piper in the Gulf. Not only has it laid off more staff in the region than any other international firm, but it has also seen its once proudest achievement in the region-its tie-up with Riyadh-based firm Abdulaziz A Al-Bosaily (AAB)-crumble after only six short months (AAB has moved on though, striking an alliance with Clyde & Co).
The firm will be hoping that the appointment of Abdul Aziz Al-Yaqout as office managing partner of its Kuwait and Bahrain offices will steady its Gulf operations. In Kuwait, the firm enjoys a joint venture with local outfit Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif. Al-Yaqout will relocate to Kuwait from the firm's Cologne office and ALB understands that he assumed his new position earlier this month.
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Redundancies roll on at DLA
DLA Piper has announced that it is making a further 22 positions redundant in its Middle East offices after having already axed eight Dubai-based associates in early April 2009.
Saudi firm finds new ally after DLA Piper break up
Riyadh-based firm Abdulaziz A Al-Bosaily (AAB) has found a new partner in Clyde & Co, after breaking off its alliance with DLA Piper in January. The common thread is a former DLA Piper lawyer involved in establishing both the old and new alliances.