Leading UK law firm McGrigors has been granted a licence to establish a branch office in Doha by the Qatar Financial Centre Authority.
The move demonstrates McGrigors’ commitment to its long standing client base in the State of Qatar and will build on the firm’s existing activities in the Middle East, enhancing its focus on the infrastructure, energy and professional and financial services sectors.
The initiative has been led by James Elwen, a partner in the firm’s Energy and Infrastructure practice, who has relocated to Doha to lead the team in the new office.
The firm already carries out a significant amount of work in the region as a result of various energy transactions, and derived a significant percentage of its turnover in 2009-10 from the Middle East region. Further opportunities for growth are envisaged as the firm rolls out a full service offering to new and existing clients in Qatar and the wider region.
Richard Masters, managing partner of McGrigors, said: “ We already have a very significant and loyal client base in Qatar and are opening an office in Doha principally to service existing demand. However, the requirement for sophisticated legal services from extremely significant clients in the region seems likely to increase in the future, and we believe that our focus on the energy, infrastructure and professional and financial services sectors make this a strategically good fit .”
Roger Connon (image), a partner in the corporate team in Aberdeen, added: “ Qatar is a strategically important hub for many Aberdeen and UKCS oil and gas focussed businesses which are doing business across the Middle East.
“ We believe by having our own people on the ground in Doha, who are familiar with regional and national legal structures, we will be able better service energy sector businesses working in the region and increase efficiency .”
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Source: McGrigors, March 14, 2011;