UK law firm the first major international firm to enter Syrian market

Trowers & Hamlins, which has five offices in the Middle East, has signed an association with Sultans Law of Syria.

Following the signing Trowers & Hamlins is providing the Syrian Government advice on housing projects and the use of Public Private Partnerships in the utilities sector.

Trowers & Hamlins says that Syria's demand for expert advice in commercial and corporate law is expected to increase as the Syrian government seeks to grow its private sector, tap the project finance market and attract in more foreign direct investment.

Sultans Law, established in 1998, focuses on commercial law and is headed by Samer Sultan. Samer Sultan, who is Vice Chair of the Arab Regional Forum of the International Bar Association, studied law in the UK and has 14 years of experience in corporate and commercial work. As part of the development of his firm's commercial practice Samer has been seconded to a number of international law firms.

Sultans Law is one of the leading legal advisers to multinationals investing or operating within Syria. Clients have included Nokia Siemens, Cargill (one of the world's largest food and agricultural products companies), Ssangyong Corporations (one of South Korea's largest trading companies), Picanol (the Belgian-based worldwide supplier of textile solutions) and Italferr (a leading Italian railway engineering company). Sultans Law also advised on Syria's first major project finance deal (National Sugar Company).

Adrian Creed, Partner at Trowers & Hamlins, commented:

"We are delighted to have signed this association with Sultans Law. We're keen to continue the successful growth of our international practice from its base in the Gulf and Egypt. In Syria we found the right partner in Sultans Law. We have spent a lot of time getting to know Samer and his colleagues and to us it looks like a great fit."

"We have been very careful to pick a partner that shares our vision of what a commercial law firm needs to be delivering, that is interested in innovation and is as serious about customer service and quality of legal advice as Trowers & Hamlins."

Adds Samer Sultan of Sultans Law: "We are delighted to have entered into this association with Trowers & Hamlins. Their track record of working successfully in the Middle East and their commitment to developing new markets makes them a very attractive partner."

"The Syrian government is increasingly keen to develop the usage of Public Private Partnerships and of Islamic finance both areas in which Trowers & Hamlins proven expertise will be particularly useful."

Samer Sultan explains that Syria has recently seen the completion of several successful build operate transfer (BOT) tourism projects. He says that the Syrian government is keen to see the further development of the tourism industry and is hoping to attract more inward investment to fund the sector's growth.