Latham & Watkins to launch in the Middle East

Latham's new offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and Doha, Qatar, are expected to open towards the end of the first quarter 2008 and will significantly bolster its practice in the Gulf Region. Corporate partner Rindala Beydoun will serve as the Office Managing Partner for the three offices.

Latham & Watkins' Middle East practice will focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, project development and finance, structured finance, leveraged finance and capital markets. Beydoun is a highly regarded corporate partner with broad experience across a number of industries. Beydoun has extensive experience advising on M&A and private equity deals and real estate projects in the region. Beydoun joins Latham & Watkins from Vinson & Elkins LLP. A number of Latham & Watkins partners and associates will transfer to the region in a move which reinforces Latham's commitment to its Middle East expansion plans.

Robert M. Dell, Chairman and Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins, said:

"The Gulf Region represents one of the most dynamic markets in the global economy and we are delighted to announce the opening of three offices in the region. While we have substantial experience advising companies and financial institutions operating in the Middle East, having a physical presence in the region is strategically very important for our continued global expansion. The region offers significant M&A and investment work opportunities around which we plan to build one of the premier transactional practices. This is an exciting development in the firm's global expansion."

Latham & Watkins has worked on a number of high profile deals in the Middle East region, including the groundbreaking Nakilat liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship financing in the State of Qatar. In what is the largest ship financing ever completed, Latham represented Qatar Gas Transport Company Limited (Nakilat Inc.) in connection with its $7.3bn project financing of more than 20 LNG vessels to transport LNG produced from Qatar's North Field, the world's largest non-associated gas field with approximately 15% of the world's total proven natural gas reserves, to established gas markets throughout the world.

Latham has also advised TAQA, a global energy company listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market, on major North American acquisitions, including: the C$5bn acquisition of PrimeWest Energy Trust, a publicly traded oil and gas royalty trust; the $2bn acquisition of Northrock Resources Ltd. from Pogo Producing Company; and the $540m acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources Canada Inc. from Pioneer Natural Resources Company. In addition, over the years, Latham has done extensive M&A work for the Qatar Investment Authority.

"We have deep experience representing clients on both their inbound and outbound investments in the region. The increase in cross-border and regional deal activity presents significant opportunities for our strengths in the twin areas of corporate and finance. Rindala's expertise and impressive connections throughout the region are great assets to our firm and Middle East growth plans. Having a partner of Rindala's stature within the region's deal community join Latham signals our commitment to building one of the leading practices in the Gulf," said William Voge, Global Chair of Latham & Watkins' Finance Department and Chair of the firm's Middle East Strategy Committee.

"I am delighted to join Latham & Watkins," said Rindala Beydoun. "Latham has an outstanding reputation in the region and a proven ability to successfully enter new markets. I am excited to be part of Latham's vision to build a significant Middle East practice as another strategically important hub in its global expansion."

Prior to Vinson & Elkins LLP, Beydoun held a senior in-house position at Mastercard International. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1991 and Duke University Law School in 1994.