Gateley has significantly bolstered its Middle East-based legal services offering with the appointment of a six-strong corporate team led by new Dubai managing partner and head of corporate, Darren Harris. 

Darren has been joined by corporate partner Nora Al Muhamad, legal directors Amun Bashir, Nadine Wilson and Gemma Kotak, who is a former Gateley trainee, and associate Norlisa Hanlon Rosslee. 

All six join from the Dubai office of an international law firm and have a strong track record of successfully advising regional clients. The new team will work alongside existing Dubai partners Amrik Sangha (corporate), Thenji Moyo (employment), Mark Tiggeman (construction), senior counsel Anthony Frances (commercial dispute resolution) and colleagues in the Group’s Corporate Platform under the leadership of UK-based, Beth Mather.

Darren has over 20 years’ experience advising corporates, private equity houses, venture capital investors and entrepreneurs, founders and owner-managers of homegrown Middle East businesses on M&A, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and general corporate law. Darren has significant experience of growing firms in the Middle East region having previously held managing partner and senior partner roles in the region.

Nora Al Muhamad is a highly-regarded lawyer with over 16 years’ experience advising prominent family-owned businesses on succession and legacy planning, family office structuring and investments, governance, private client and corporate restructuring. She is accredited by the DIFC for governance and succession planning. Her clients span the education, healthcare, infrastructure, real estate, retail and consumer sectors. 

The appointments are supported by Gateley’s planned relocation of its Dubai office to the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

Rod Waldie, CEO of Gateley, said: “The arrival of Darren, Nora and the team is a coup for us, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise that will significantly enhance our corporate practice and deepen our regional capability.

“The recruitment of best-in-class lawyers underscores our commitment to establish a Middle East hub that will provide clients with unrivalled integrated legal and non-legal business services. 

“We have had a presence in Dubai since 2007 and we see these hires and the move to the DIFC as a game changer, providing our people and clients with a first class innovative meeting and workspace and helping us to attract and retain the best talent we can in one of the largest and most vibrant business precincts in the Middle East.”

Darren Harris added: “The team and I are thrilled to be joining Gateley, an entrepreneurial and forward-thinking law firm. 

“The outlook in the Middle East remains very positive and our focus on regional and international M&A, reorganisations and working with family businesses, investors and entrepreneurs aligns with the Middle East market. 

“We are looking to leverage Gateley’s innovative and entrepreneurial approach to offer our clients a holistic blend of exceptional legal and complementary business services. 

“As the new head of the Dubai office, I am excited by our plans to grow our Middle East offering with a focus on attracting further top talent, maximising key market growth opportunities and investing in long term relationships with clients to support their evolving needs.”

Darren Harris
Nora Al Muhamed

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