Peter Monk appointed as new Head of Corporate in the Middle East

Peter, who has more than 20 years' experience as a corporate lawyer, specialises in domestic and cross-border M&A, private equity transactions and joint ventures. He represents clients operating across a range of sectors, including financial services, media and telecommunications, energy and shipping and logistics.

Prior to joining DLA Piper Peter spent 18 years with leading Australian law firm, Minter Ellison, the last 12 years of which as a senior corporate/M&A partner in the firm's offices in Australia and Asia. He also played a major role in developing the firm's Asian practice and was a member of the international partner selection committee.

DLA Piper has expanded rapidly in the Gulf since 2006 and now has over 65 lawyers in the Middle East, including 16 partners. Clients are able to draw on the experience of a team comprising internationally and regionally trained lawyers with expertise in a range of legal services. This full-service offering reflects DLA Piper's commitment to looking after the broad needs of clients in multiple markets.

"The Gulf is an extremely important market for us and as we continue to build our teams we will strengthen the depth and visibility of our experience as leading legal advisers", said David Church, Regional Managing Partner for the Middle East at DLA Piper. David continues:

"Our commitment to the region and to clients, needs to be supported with strong capabilities within the corporate market, which is why Peter's appointment is central to our long-term plans. In Peter we have more than two decades of strong, international experience which will bolster our existing capabilities."

Peter's arrival represents the latest move in DLA Piper's continued expansion in the Gulf which will be enhanced during 2008 with the development of offices in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Oman. From its Dubai office DLA Piper provides a full range of legal services which includes corporate and M&A, development and construction, projects, Islamic and conventional finance, TMT and litigation. It also has one of the largest real estate practices in the region and a dedicated regulatory team.

In recent months DLA Piper also appointed IP lawyer, Joycia Young, to head the IP practice across the Middle East, South Asia and Africa (MESA) and Anthony Ellis, a projects and finance partner specialising in privatisation, development, and the acquisition and disposition of infrastructure assets.

Peter Monk said: "It is tremendously exciting to join the team at DLA Piper, one of very few international law firms with a truly global approach to meeting clients' needs. If you combine DLA Piper's commitment to growing its Middle East practice with the enormous success that the gulf countries have achieved in recent years, I believe there is no more exciting place in the world to be right now as a corporate lawyer."

Peter's appointment was effective on 3 February 2008.