152 moves across the Gulf since January 2025, including 21 in-house general counsel, chief legal officer and head of legal appointments. Every entry carries the report it came from.
Compiled by Nigel Byrne, Legal Route, Dubai. October 2026 edition, updated 8 October 2026. A move missing or wrong? nigel@legal-route.com
The reported moves point to two dominant patterns. Disputes work continues to draw senior lateral hires, with arbitration and dispute resolution appointments at Three Crowns, Watson Farley & Williams, BonelliErede and Pinsent Masons reflecting sustained demand across the region. Regulatory and public policy capability is also being built out, notably at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, which is a signal that firms expect closer engagement with Gulf regulators and government stakeholders. Separately, the flow of senior counsel from institutions such as PIF into private practice at Hourani & Partners underscores the continuing traffic between regulators, sovereign entities and the firms that advise them.
Every move, by month
Newest month first. In-house appointments are edged in gold; the buttons above show only those, or only private practice. A month that is missing is a month in which nothing publicly reported met the bar.
Dimah Alsharif is appointed as Legal Senior Director at Saudi Pro League, from Badael Company. In-houseSource: Legal Era28 August 2026
Kadry Zaghawa joins Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan as Of Counsel. Source: The Oath25 August 2026
Amjad Hussain is promoted as Office Managing Partner for Doha and Dubai at K&L Gates. Source: The Oath25 August 2026
Mohammed Basama joins Reed Smith as Partner, Corporate Group, from King & Spalding. Source: The Oath17 August 2026
Amal Alotaibi joins Pillsbury as Partner, from Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia. Source: The Oath17 August 2026
Peter Loo is appointed as Chief Legal & Compliance Officer at Bybit, from Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Dubai. In-houseSource: Zawya5 August 2026
Amir Ghaffari joins Simmons & Simmons as Global co-head of international arbitration, from a UAE-UK boutique. Source: Global Arbitration Review3 August 2026
July 2026 6
Nick Humphrey joins Clyde & Co as Partner, Aviation, from Norton White. Source: Global Legal Post31 July 2026
John Maciver is promoted as Senior Partner at Pinsent Masons. Source: The Oath30 July 2026
Ahmad Hesham is appointed as General Counsel and Board Secretary at General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). In-houseSource: iGaming Business21 July 2026
Iman Al-Lawati is promoted as Head of Legal and Board Secretary at OQ8. In-houseSource: Legal Era16 July 2026
Abdullah Al-Hoqail joins White & Case as Partner, Project Finance, Riyadh. Source: Law Middle East7 July 2026
Baz Banai is appointed as General Counsel at AppliedAI, from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. In-houseSource: Legal Era6 July 2026
June 2026 8
Luke Stowe joins Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants as Partner, Capital Markets, Structured Finance and Funds. Source: The Oath29 June 2026
Brodie Collar joins Ocean Legal as Senior Associate, Shipping. Source: The Oath29 June 2026
Rami Bou Raad is promoted as Partner, International Arbitration, Riyadh at Baker McKenzie. Source: Global Arbitration Review25 June 2026
Robert Griffin and Skye Smith joins Skadden as Partners, Investment Management, Abu Dhabi, from Akin. Source: Law Middle East22 June 2026
Rimma Izmaylova joins Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants as Senior Counsel. Source: Legal Community MENA17 June 2026
Charlotte Bijlani joins Mishcon de Reya as Partner and co-head of the UAE disputes practice, from Watson Farley & Williams. Source: Global Legal Post16 June 2026
Simon Rahimzada and Vasi Papadopoulos joins Hogan Lovells as Partners, from Ashurst. Source: Global Legal Post8 June 2026
Christopher Neal and Selman Ansari joins Dentons as Corporate Partners, Dubai. Source: Law Middle East4 June 2026
May 2026 24
Feras Darwish is promoted as Group Chief Legal Officer at Bapco Energies. In-houseSource: Legal Era29 May 2026
Rita Al Semaani Jansen joins Watson Farley & Williams as Partner, from Ince. Source: Watson Farley & Williams22 May 2026
Natalie Jensen joins Watson Farley & Williams as Partner, from Ince. Source: Watson Farley & Williams22 May 2026
Khalid Hamed joins Watson Farley & Williams as Partner, from Ince. Source: Watson Farley & Williams22 May 2026
Alastair Holland joins Watson Farley & Williams as Partner, from Ince. Source: Watson Farley & Williams22 May 2026
Stephen Burke joins 39 Essex Chambers as Construction counsel, opening the Dubai office, from Addleshaw Goddard. Source: Global Legal Post16 May 2026
Nick Roudev joins Greenberg Traurig (Khalid Al-Thebity Law Firm) as Shareholder, TMT, Saudi Arabia. Source: Greenberg Traurig15 May 2026
Manar Hassan is promoted as Group Company Secretary (in addition to existing position as Legal Counsel) at Al Dahra. In-houseSource: Legal Era12 May 2026
Waleed Rasrommani joins Gibson Dunn as Partner, from Ashurst. Source: Gibson Dunn1 May 2026
Simon Elliott is promoted as Partner at Gowling WLG. Source: Legal Era1 May 2026
Richard Ashmore is promoted as Partner at Pinsent Masons. Source: Pinsent Masons1 May 2026
Remy Lerner joins Norton Rose Fulbright as Partner. Source: Norton Rose Fulbright1 May 2026
Murray Hundleby is appointed as General Counsel at Strata (Mubadala), from Peabody Energy Australia (General Counsel). In-houseSource: Mubadala1 May 2026
Mosaed AlAjeel is promoted as Partner at A&O Shearman. Source: A&O Shearman1 May 2026
Maha Lawson is promoted as Partner, Corporate at Clyde & Co. Source: Legal Era1 May 2026
Julia Ofer is promoted as Partner, Corporate at Clyde & Co. Source: Legal Era1 May 2026
James Visick is promoted as Partner at Freshfields. Source: Legal Era1 May 2026
Ibrahim Attar is promoted as Partner at Freshfields. Source: Legal Era1 May 2026
Harsha Kumar is promoted as Partner at A&O Shearman. Source: A&O Shearman1 May 2026
Gregg Hammond is promoted as Partner at Pinsent Masons. Source: Pinsent Masons1 May 2026
Anne Wicks joins Ashurst as Partner, Projects & Energy Transition. Source: Ashurst1 May 2026
Andrew Clarke is promoted as Partner at Dentons. Source: Dentons1 May 2026
Amro Bakhaidar joins Linklaters as National Managing Partner, Saudi Arabia, from Linklaters (Saudi practice). Source: Law Middle East1 May 2026
Adrianus Schoorl is promoted as Partner at DLA Piper. Source: DLA Piper1 May 2026
April 2026 3
Debopam Dutta joins Trowers & Hamlins as Partner, Banking and Finance. Source: Trowers & Hamlins28 April 2026
Aditi Gandhi is appointed as Head Legal – Gulf at Novartis, from Pinsent Masons Vario. In-houseSource: Legal Era8 April 2026
Bushra Abu-Tayeh joins Clyde & Co as Partner, Aviation, from Al Tamimi & Company. Source: Clyde & Co1 April 2026
March 2026 5
Mohammed Alammar joins Reed Smith as Partner, Corporate, from AlAmmar Law. Source: Reed Smith30 March 2026
Anmar Algharifi joins Reed Smith as Partner, Corporate, from AlAmmar Law. Source: Reed Smith30 March 2026
Bashar Al-Rousan is appointed as Group Chief Legal and Compliance Officer at G42, from Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company PJSC (ADQ). In-houseSource: Legal Era23 March 2026
Phillip Sacks joins Dechert as Dubai Managing Partner, from White & Case. Source: Global Legal Post17 March 2026
Leila Sassi is promoted as Managing Director, Head of Legal Middle East & CCA at Natixis Corporate and Investment Bank. In-houseSource: Legal Era10 March 2026
February 2026 4
Abdelkhalig Shaib is appointed as Group Chief Legal & Corporate Affairs Officer at Bank ABC (Arab Banking Corporation). In-houseSource: Bank ABC16 February 2026
Alexandre Brazeau joins Ashurst as Partner, Corporate. Source: Ashurst4 February 2026
Dounia Mansour joins Hogan Lovells as Partner, from King & Spalding. Source: Hogan Lovells3 February 2026
Nezar Al Abbas joins Ashurst as Partner, Projects & Energy Transition, from White & Case. Source: Ashurst1 February 2026
January 2026 11
Shaima Bakhsh joins A&O Shearman as Corporate Partner, Saudi Arabia, from Hassana Investment Company. Source: A&O Shearman15 January 2026
Ian Bevan joins White & Case as Partner, Real Estate and Hospitality, Abu Dhabi, from A&O Shearman. Source: White & Case15 January 2026
Peter Cullen joins Dentons as Partner, Capital Markets. Source: Dentons5 January 2026
Mohsin Shafi is appointed as General Counsel and Head of Legal at Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), from Latham & Watkins. In-houseSource: Law Middle East5 January 2026
Nick Braganza joins HFW as Partner, from Clyde & Co. Source: HFW4 January 2026
Shahrzad (Shazi) Askarpour is promoted as Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. Source: Global Legal Post1 January 2026
Sameera Kimatrai is promoted as Partner at Gibson Dunn. Source: Legal Era1 January 2026
Philip Vavalidis is promoted as Local Partner at White & Case. Source: White & Case1 January 2026
Mohamed Wahba is promoted as Partner at Hadef & Partners. Source: Hadef & Partners1 January 2026
Hannah Shipley joins Simmons & Simmons as Partner, Head of Middle East Tax. Source: Simmons & Simmons (LinkedIn)1 January 2026
Chris Bailey-Gibbs is promoted as Partner, Head of Employment at Hadef & Partners. Source: Hadef & Partners1 January 2026
December 2025 3
Walid Salib joins Hogan Lovells as Head of Saudi M&A, from Eversheds. Source: Global Legal Post17 December 2025
Mike Rainey and Asal Saghari joins Eversheds as Partners, Banking and Finance, Dubai, from King & Spalding. Source: Global Legal Post17 December 2025
Aisha Salem-Howey is appointed as General Counsel at MusicNation, from USPTO. In-houseSource: Global Legal Post17 December 2025
November 2025 5
Rakan Shiyab is appointed as General Legal Counsel at Invest Bank, from Standard Chartered. In-houseSource: Executive Moves25 November 2025
Magda Kofluk joins Trowers & Hamlins as Partner, Arbitration, Dubai, from Stephenson Harwood. Source: Global Legal Post17 November 2025
Anders Nilsson joins Reed Smith as Partner, Middle East head at his prior firm, from Bird & Bird. Source: Global Legal Post17 November 2025
Sebastian Rice is appointed as General Counsel of the Group at VEON Ltd., from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. In-houseSource: GlobeNewswire6 November 2025
Saeed Algahtani joins Morgan Lewis as Of Counsel, Disputes, Saudi Arabia, from Al Tamimi & Company. Source: Global Legal Post3 November 2025
October 2025 11
Emad Alshaikhi joins Reed Smith as Partner, Riyadh, from Mahassni & Co. Source: Reed Smith20 October 2025
Shadi Haroon joins Baker Botts as Chair of the Global Projects Department in the Middle East. Source: Baker Botts14 October 2025
Nasreen Alissa joins Trowers & Hamlins as Co-Resident Managing Partner, Riyadh office. Source: Trowers & Hamlins13 October 2025
Bilal Kahlon joins Trowers & Hamlins as Co-Resident Managing Partner, Riyadh office. Source: Trowers & Hamlins13 October 2025
Janet Gooi joins Clyde & Co as Partner, Global Corporate & Advisory, leading Middle East tax offering, Dubai. Source: Clyde & Co8 October 2025
Fadi Kilani is appointed as Chief Legal Officer at Al Khaleej Investment, from Drake & Scull. In-houseSource: Law Middle East8 October 2025
Gabriella Savastano joins CMS as Partner, Banking & Finance, Dubai, from Linklaters. Source: CMS6 October 2025
Charbel Sabeh is appointed as Chief Legal Officer at Dar Global, from Clyde & Co. In-houseSource: Law Middle East5 October 2025
Christian Adams joins Greenberg Traurig as Co-Managing Shareholder, Abu Dhabi office, from Latham & Watkins. Source: Greenberg Traurig1 October 2025
Chris Lester joins Greenberg Traurig as Co-Managing Shareholder, Abu Dhabi office, from Latham & Watkins. Source: Greenberg Traurig1 October 2025
Amar Meher joins Norton Rose Fulbright as Partner, banking and finance, Riyadh, from Addleshaw Goddard. Source: Norton Rose Fulbright1 October 2025
September 2025 5
Louisa Lynch joins Greenberg Traurig as Co-chair, Middle East and European hospitality group, from Pinsent Masons. Source: Global Legal Post18 September 2025
Victoria Wyer joins Dentons Dubai as Partner, Debt Capital Markets, from Dentons London. Source: Dentons15 September 2025
Ruby Khnom joins Clyde & Co as Partner and Head of Technology, Middle East, from Pinsent Masons. Source: Clyde & Co15 September 2025
Patricia Tiller joins Bracewell as Partner, LNG, Dubai, from Hunton Andrews Kurth. Source: Bracewell15 September 2025
Nicholas Kramer and Angela Croker joins Greenberg Traurig as Partners, Project Finance, Dubai, from Norton Rose Fulbright. Source: Global Legal Post4 September 2025
August 2025 1
Elias Hayek joins Greenberg Traurig as Co-chair, Middle East and European hospitality group, from Squire Patton Boggs. Source: Global Legal Post19 August 2025
July 2025 4
Charbel Fadel joins Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants as Head of Corporate and Commercial Practice, Dubai. Source: Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants9 July 2025
Josh McFadzen joins Clyde & Co as Partner, energy practice, Abu Dhabi. Source: Clyde & Co2 July 2025
Bryan Wilson joins Clyde & Co as Partner, energy practice, Abu Dhabi. Source: Clyde & Co2 July 2025
William Watson joins Paul Hastings as Partner, corporate finance, Abu Dhabi, from White & Case. Source: Paul Hastings1 July 2025
June 2025 4
Nassif BouMalhab joins Greenberg Traurig as Senior Arbitration Partner, from Clyde & Co. Source: Global Legal Post15 June 2025
Michael Hilton joins Skadden as Office head, Middle East debut, from Freshfields. Source: Global Legal Post15 June 2025
Leen Zaza joins Latham & Watkins as M&A Partner, from a Saudi independent firm. Source: Global Legal Post15 June 2025
Darren Harris joins Gateley as Corporate Partner, Dubai, from Clyde & Co. Source: Global Legal Post15 June 2025
May 2025 6
Greta Habib joins Greenberg Traurig as Shareholder, corporate/commercial, UAE (Dubai). Source: Greenberg Traurig26 May 2025
Anders Nilsson joins Bird & Bird (new Riyadh office) as Head of Region for the Middle East, leading the firm's new Riyadh office. Source: Bird & Bird20 May 2025
Stefan Mrozinski joins Paul Hastings as Partner, mergers and acquisitions, Abu Dhabi, from White & Case LLP. Source: Paul Hastings19 May 2025
Habeeb Rahman joins Paul Hastings as Partner, projects, Abu Dhabi, from White & Case LLP. Source: Paul Hastings19 May 2025
Alex Roussos joins Greenberg Traurig as Capital Markets Shareholder, UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from Dentons. Source: Greenberg Traurig8 May 2025
Ibaad Hakim joins Paul Hastings as Partner, energy and infrastructure, Abu Dhabi, from White & Case. Source: Paul Hastings6 May 2025
April 2025 11
Philip Chalmers joins Addleshaw Goddard as Partner, Finance, Dubai (promotion). Source: Addleshaw Goddard30 April 2025
Jasem Alanizy joins Addleshaw Goddard as Partner, Corporate, Riyadh (promotion). Source: Addleshaw Goddard30 April 2025
Charlotte Knight joins Watson Farley & Williams as Partner, Assets & Structured Finance, Dubai (promotion). Source: Watson Farley & Williams30 April 2025
Toufic Safie joins Stephenson Harwood as Partner, Corporate and Commercial, Dubai (promotion, effective 1 May 2025). Source: Stephenson Harwood22 April 2025
Richard Chamberlain joins A&O Shearman as Partner, Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure (ENRI), Dubai (promotion, effective 1 May 2025). Source: A&O Shearman22 April 2025
Mike Campbell joins A&O Shearman as Partner, Energy, Natural Resources and Infrastructure (ENRI), Dubai (promotion, effective 1 May 2025). Source: A&O Shearman22 April 2025
Jordan Ellis joins Stephenson Harwood as Partner, Private Wealth, Dubai (promotion, effective 1 May 2025). Source: Stephenson Harwood22 April 2025
Priya Shah joins Mayer Brown as Partner, Global Energy, Dubai, from Ashurst. Source: Mayer Brown21 April 2025
George Kazakov joins Paul Hastings as Partner, co-head of the new Abu Dhabi office, from White & Case LLP. Source: Paul Hastings14 April 2025
Dinmukhamed (Din) Eshanov joins Paul Hastings as Partner, co-head of the new Abu Dhabi office, from White & Case LLP. Source: Paul Hastings14 April 2025
Rafe Khokhar joins Mayer Brown as Partner, Capital Markets, Dubai. Source: Mayer Brown7 April 2025
March 2025 9
Alexander Malahias joins Akin as Corporate partner, co-lead of Riyadh office launch (based Abu Dhabi pending licence), from White & Case. Source: LawFuel23 March 2025
Sairah Narmah-Alqasim joins Pinsent Masons as Partner, head of employment practice, Riyadh, from Dentons. Source: Pinsent Masons19 March 2025
Jay Randhawa joins CMS as Partner (promoted), Infrastructure, Construction and Energy (ICE) Disputes, Riyadh. Source: CMS19 March 2025
Helen Dean joins CMS as Partner (promoted), Corporate, Muscat. Source: CMS19 March 2025
Ali Al Juma joins CMS as Partner (promoted), Corporate, Muscat. Source: CMS19 March 2025
Nora Al Muhamad joins Gateley Middle East as Corporate partner, Dubai, from Clyde & Co. Source: Gateley10 March 2025
Darren Harris joins Gateley Middle East as Dubai managing partner and head of corporate, from Clyde & Co. Source: Gateley10 March 2025
Iwan Walters joins Stephenson Harwood as Partner, projects, energy and infrastructure, Dubai. Source: Stephenson Harwood3 March 2025
Ibrahim Alajaji joins Pinsent Masons Saudi Arabia as Partner and Managing Partner, Riyadh, from Alsabhan & Alajaji. Source: Pinsent Masons3 March 2025
Sara Aalamri joins Clyde & Co as Partner, dispute resolution, Jeddah. Source: Clyde & Co11 February 2025
Nathaniel Horrocks-Burns joins Clyde & Co as Partner (promoted), projects & construction, Riyadh. Source: Clyde & Co11 February 2025
Ahmed Alhudaithi joins Clyde & Co as Partner, dispute resolution, Riyadh, from Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence. Source: Clyde & Co11 February 2025
Marie Chowdhry joins Pinsent Masons as Partner, financial services, Dubai, from Lean Technologies. Source: Pinsent Masons5 February 2025
Nabil Abou-Charaf joins Kirkland & Ellis as Partner, investment funds, Riyadh, from Morgan Lewis. Source: Kirkland & Ellis3 February 2025
January 2025 2
Seyavesh Rahnema joins Pinsent Masons as Partner, Finance and Restructuring, Dubai, from Norton Rose Fulbright. Source: Global Legal Post18 January 2025
Matteo Grassani is promoted as Group General Counsel at Zahid Group. In-houseSource: Law Middle East7 January 2025
About this tracker. Published by Legal Route, the Gulf-only legal search firm, from the same desk that writes the weekly Gulf Legal Brief and the free Gulf legal salary guide 2026. In-house leadership moves are tracked as well as private practice; sensitive moves are listed only once publicly reported. Get the moves with the market read behind them every week: subscribe free.