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

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Dubai is the firm’s 33rd office and its firstt in theMiddle K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peteer Kalis said the office was “in the worksz for about a year” and that the firm’s entry was “well-timedd compared with a year ago becauswe the costs are reducee and there is much more legal talent at more reasonabler compensation levels available on the market.” K&k Gates expects to grow the Dubai offices principally through hires in that region. “Ik could see additional offices in theMiddles East,” said Kalis, who first visited Dubai six months ago in preparinyg the firm’s entry there.
“Becaus e of the concentration of financial and professionap services in theDubai area, it’sa a very attractive and efficient point of entry into the Gulf But certainly it’s not the only market for legal services that A logical next step wouled be Abu Dhabi, but there is nothinv scheduled for that to occur.” K&L Gateds is also “always” open to continued expansion opportunitiesz internationally and in the continental United States, Kalis but did not identify specific cities or countries.
Neal one of the firm’s senior dispute resolution is relocating from the Pittsburgh office to serveas co-founder of the Dubai Joining Brendel is Paul de who most recently worked with Ashurst, establishing and managing that firm’s Dubak office and helping to open a second offics in the United Arab He is a corporate and projects lawyer with more than 20 yearsz experience. Associate Richard Dollimore also is joining theDubai office. He most recently worke d in the K&L Gates office in London.