The office, which will undertake high-end corporate and finance work, will be headed by partner Robert Porter, a leader in the fields of international funds, real estate and cross-border joint ventures and acquisitions. He will be joined by corporate partner Chris Thornes, an expert in M&A and private equity, and a team of associates.
Managing Partner Wim Dejohnge said: "The pace of growth in Qatar over recent years has been impressive, fuelled by its status as the world's largest natural gas exporter. It has emerged from the global downturn relatively unscathed and is poised to take advantage of the broad, strategic interest it is attracting from investors around the world. As a centre for international capital flows, Qatar is an important cornerstone in our strategy to remain one of the pre-eminent legal advisers in the region."
Partner Robert Porter continued: "This move underlines Allen & Overy's long-term commitment to the Middle East and to meeting the needs of our clients both regionally and globally. This is an exciting time to be in Qatar, and we are looking forward to contributing to its economic development while growing alongside our clients in one of the most promising centres in the Gulf."
For further information, please contact Caroline Livesey, caroline.livesey@allenovery.com, in London on +44 (0)20 3088 4380 or Matthew Harries, matthew.harries@allenovery.com in Dubai on +97 14 426 7123.