DLA Piper celebrates opening of office in Qatar

The reception, to be attended by more than 150 guests, marks DLA Piper's entrance as the only global legal services practice with a presence in Qatar.

Speaking at a press briefing, Secretary Cohen commented on the burgeoning interest from international companies wanting to invest in Qatar and the surrounding region, and DLA Piper's ability to support those who require quality legal advice from experienced international advisers.

"This new office will serve as a bridge between Doha and the world, facilitating foreign investment in Qatar and supporting Qatari businesses in their global expansion."

said Secretary Cohen.

Lee I Miller, Joint Chief Executive Officer at DLA Piper, said: "Establishing a presence in Doha is a natural next step for DLA Piper as we continue to expand our operations across the Middle East. There are many exciting opportunities in Qatar and it is important for us to have an office here in order to support the needs of Qatari businesses and others investing in the country."

The new office in Qatar follows an announcement made earlier this month about DLA Piper's plans to establish a joint venture with the largest law firm in Kuwait.

With approximately 3,700 lawyers globally and offices across Middle East, Asia, Europe and the US, DLA Piper is one of the largest legal practices in the world.

DLA Piper will use its presence in Doha to provide a range of legal services, including projects, project finance, construction, corporate and real estate.

It already has more than 120 lawyers working in the Middle East and has acted for a number of Qatari entities.

With a permanent presence in the country, DLA Piper will be at the forefront of development and investment opportunities.

"Our vision to deliver high-value, high-quality services across several practice areas and markets requires us to be everywhere that our clients are." said David Church, Regional Managing Partner for the Middle East at DLA Piper.

"We believe that it is essential for us to further develop our presence in the Gulf region, which is one of the most active markets in the global economy. Qatar is an important part of this strategy and we look forward to reinforcing our reputation as providers of quality legal services."

Jeffrey Bailey, Head of the Qatar office at DLA Piper, said:

"The number and value of projects in development and planned for Qatar is truly exciting and it represents a significant opportunity for us. It is exciting to be able to play a part in the continued growth of Qatar and the business environment here. The team and I both look forward to developing the office to complement DLA Piper's global services."

Qatar is the most recent office to have been established by DLA Piper, which already has a presence in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait, Oman and an affiliation in Saudi Arabia.

The global legal services organisation, with revenues of more than $2 billion in the year ending December 2007, now has 65 offices in 26 countries.