DLA Piper's construction practice builds up in the UAE

The team, which is fully integrated within the 55 lawyer strong Finance and Projects Group, consists of three partners and 15 lawyers in the UAE alone, making it one of the largest dedicated construction practices in the region. It is set to increase to at least 25 lawyers across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the next 12 months.

David joins the team from Mallesons Stephen Jaques' Melbourne office and also brings over eight years experience as a civil engineer for a leading Australian contractor. He will play a critical role in consolidating the team's already strong position in the market.

David is supported in Abu Dhabi by partner Tim Burbury who has particular expertise on large mixed-use real estate projects, having spent the last five years working on structuring and negotiating the agreements for these types of projects. In Dubai, David works closely with partner Bruce Linke who has been advising master developers and developers in the region for the last two years and like David worked as a civil engineer and project manager for nine years on various property development, infrastructure and mining projects prior to becoming a lawyer.

The construction team has significant experience with the commercial, construction and operational aspects of major projects in the property development, energy, ports, transportation and power sectors, as well as PPP projects in the transportation and social infrastructure sectors.

David's appointment is not only part of the Finance and Projects Group's regional expansion plans but also part of a larger strategy of employing highly commercial lawyers with practical engineering experience. The Finance and Projects Group already has four partners and three senior legal consultants with engineering backgrounds.

Damian McNair, Regional Head of Finance and Projects for the Middle East, said: "Our focus of employing leading lawyers with civil engineering and project management backgrounds further enhances our unique position in the market. Our lawyers combine their practical background and expertise with commercial and black letter legal skills. The value of this pure construction expertise and practical experience cannot be underestimated."

David Nancarrow said:

"The construction and engineering team has an impressive foothold in the UAE market and is currently advising on some of the largest projects in the UAE. It's a hugely exciting time to be in the region leading such an exceptional team of construction lawyers who really understand our client's business. Because of our construction backgrounds we also understand that the signing of the contract is not the end of the project but simply the beginning of the real work for our clients."

David Nancarrow's arrival to lead the Construction and Engineering Group in the UAE coincides with the arrival of Tony Holland to lead the Finance practice, bringing the wider Finance and Projects practice in the region to over 55 lawyers.