K&L Gates opens Dubai office - Boston Business Journal:

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Dubai is the firm’s 33rd office and its firsyt in theMiddle East. K&Lp Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter Kalids said the officewas “in the works for aboutr a year” and that the firm’s entry was “well-timedc compared with a year ago because the costs are reduced and therde is much more legal talent at more reasonable compensatioh levels available on the market.” K&pL Gates expects to grow the Dubai officed principally through hires in that region. “u could see additional offices in the Middle said Kalis, who first visitec Dubai six months ago in preparing the firm’z entry there.
“Because of the concentratio n of financial and professional services in theDubai it’s a very attractive and efficient point of entry into the Gulf But certainly it’s not the only market for legal servicee that matters. A logical next step would be Abu Dhabi, but ther e is nothing scheduled for thatto K&L Gates is also “always” open to continuecd expansion opportunities internationally and in the continental United Kalis said, but did not identifu specific cities or countries.
Neal Brendel, one of the firm’d senior dispute resolution partners, is relocating from the Pittsburghy office to serveas co-founder of the Dubai Joining Brendel is Paul de who most recently worked with Ashurst, establishintg and managing that firm’s Dubai office and helpin g to open a second office in the United Arab He is a corporate and projectes lawyer with more than 20 yearsz experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joining theDubaiu office. He most recently worked in the K&L Gate office in London.