Hogan & Hartson to open office in Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Executive Council recently approved Hogan & Hartson's application to open a law firm office in the emirate. The Abu Dhabi office will be Hogan & Hartson's first office in the Middle East.

The firm plans to open the office on August 1, 2008, bringing its total number of offices worldwide to 25, spanning the United States, Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

The Abu Dhabi office will add depth to the firm's existing global capabilities in several areas, including:
* Energy
* Mergers and Acquisitions
* International Trade
* Infrastructure
* Renewable and Alternative Energy
* Project Finance
* International Business Transactions
* Private Equity
* Hotel Development
* Telecommunications, Media, and Entertainment
* Intellectual Property
* Construction and Finance
* Aerospace, Aviation, and Transportation
* Investments, among others

Hogan & Hartson partner Ray Batla will reside in Abu Dhabi and serve as Managing Partner of the new office. Batla, who previously served as Managing Partner of the firm's international offices and as a member of the firm's executive committee, focuses his practice on project finance, mergers and acquisitions, and energy and infrastructure matters.

Also relocating to Abu Dhabi will be partners Jay Gede and Sean Harrison. Gede, currently resident in the firm's Baltimore office, focuses his practice on renewable and alternative energy, project finance, and construction matters. Harrison, currently resident in the firm's London office, has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, oil and gas, port and infrastructure development, hotel development, and the hospitality industry. Several associates will relocate in the coming months from the firm's London and U.S. offices.

In addition, some of the firm's key partners with Middle East practices will work extensively in Abu Dhabi to support the practice there, including Mark Mazo (Chair of the international business transactions group) and Bruce Parmley (Chair of the real estate, hospitality, and lodging group).

'We have been representing clients active in the Middle East for more than 25 years,' said J. Warren Gorrell, Jr., Chairman of Hogan & Hartson.

'We have been increasingly focused on this region and this move further demonstrates our commitment to the Middle East practice and the clients we serve in this part of the world. We were particularly impressed by the vision displayed by the leaders of the Abu Dhabi government and business community, and by the opportunity to work with them in bringing forward their ambitious projects. Much of the extensive investment activity centered there, both inbound and outbound, focuses on industry sectors and practice areas that are traditional strengths of Hogan & Hartson. These are areas where we can add value in the market through our experience and global reach.'

The firm's Middle East practice has more than 50 lawyers who focus on meeting the needs of clients involved in in-bound and out-bound transactions concerning the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Asia, and Latin America.