Corporate attorney rejoins Latham & Watkins in Middle East

His practice focuses on capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, strategic investments and corporate counseling, and he has also had significant exposure to project finance and real estate transactions.

Stoehr previously worked in the firm's New York office as an associate from 1994 to 2000.

He has also served as managing partner of a private investment company in the United States, chief executive of the Class 1 World Powerboat Championship (the world's premier powerboat racing championship that counts the Governments of Qatar and Dubai among its stakeholders), chief executive of an international soccer-related media company, and corporate finance director and legal counsel of a NASDAQ-listed media and communications company.

Stoehr also worked on matters in connection with the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups.

"During his career, Craig has conducted business in more than 50 countries around the world and he has previously lived and worked in the Gulf Region. He brings a wealth of global experience and contacts to our Middle East operation which we are building into one of the premier transactional practices,"

said Rindala Beydoun, the Office Managing Partner for the firm's Middle East offices.

Beydoun continued: "Craig will help us serve the broad needs of companies and financial institutions operating in the Middle East. His diverse industry experience will add further heft to our corporate team and will allow us to tap into the exciting activities in the Gulf Region that make it one of the most dynamic markets in the global economy."

Stoehr said: "I am excited about being a part of Latham & Watkins' continued global expansion. I am obviously familiar with the firm's collegial culture and depth of talent, which were important factors in deciding to rejoin the firm at this time. Moreover, having previously lived and worked in the Middle East for almost four years, I am also excited about returning to a region I know well and enjoy, and, in particular, making my home in Qatar, which is most certainly becoming one of the premier places in the world to live and work."

Stoehr is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and received a law degree from Northwestern University.