Patton Boggs expands presence in Middle East

Patton Boggs now has lawyers resident in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha, Qatar who service clients in these important markets and throughout the Middle East. Working closely with the firm's lawyers based in the region, and with lawyer teams focusing on Abu Dhabi and Middle East matters from other firm offices, the firm's Abu Dhabi office provides full-service legal representation in a number of practice areas, including private capital and investment funds; banking and financial institutions; international business transactions; construction, infrastructure and real estate; Islamic finance; and litigation and dispute resolution.

'This is an exciting opportunity for Patton Boggs to build upon its long history of assisting clients in the Middle East,' said Stuart Pape, managing partner of Patton Boggs.

'By opening an office in Abu Dhabi, the firm is showing its commitment to its long-standing clients as well as opening the door to future clients,'

Pape said.

'Patton Boggs has cultivated deep client relationships and earned a reputation for integrity and confidentiality over many years working with major government-owned enterprises and local and international businesses in Abu Dhabi,' said Bill Nash, managing partner of the Abu Dhabi office. 'Now more than ever, having a presence in Abu Dhabi is incredibly important to meeting our clients' local, regional and international needs.'

Nash brings broad experience advising clients on an array of legal matters, including private investment funds, international transactions and joint ventures. Nash also represents institutional investors in connection with their U.S. and offshore investment activities.

Among the lawyers in the Abu Dhabi office is Simon Schmidt, an English lawyer, who has spent much of his career advising clients on a range of commercial matters, including regulatory and compliance issues affecting foreign corporations, international business transactions, and international investment in the Middle East.