DLA Piper event hosts Former US Secretary of Defense

Business Council, less than a day after the US election results were announced. Secretary Cohen spoke to an elite group of public and private sector industry figures to outline his views on the impact Barack Obama's re-election as US President will have on businesses in the region.

"President Obama's victory sent a strong message to the international community that the U.S. will continue promoting a policy of engagement and expanded trade relationships with key partners," commented William S. Cohen, former Senator from Maine and Secretary of Defense. "Clearly, Obama's victory means that the US will continue promoting job creation at home by helping American companies win new business abroad. Obama's focus will now be on averting the looming fiscal cliff in the US. Reviving the American economy will now be a legacy issue whose success will depend on his ability to work constructively with the Congress and engage them in a much more direct fashion."

Abdul Aziz Al-Yaqout, Regional Managing Partner at DLA Piper Middle East, commented: "It is clear from the event's discussions that there is a distinct trend towards closer cooperation between the US administration and the Middle East region which is good news for global as well as regional businesses. Our strategic alliance with the Cohen Group has enabled our clients to make the most of opportunities both in the US and the Middle East Region and we look forward to continuing this relationship for many years to come."

Danny Sebright, President of the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council and head of the Middle East practice group at The Cohen Group, also commented: "We anticipate that the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia will remain the centrepiece of America's trade and foreign policy toward the Middle East over the course of the next four years and continuing dialogue with leading business figures, like those we met today, is essential to ensure we discuss challenges and how they can be overcome. The recent trend toward closer coordination between the US and its partners in the Arab world is promising. Continuing to harmonise economic development and security efforts between our two communities will prove instrumental to maintaining peace in the region and supporting economic recovery in the United States. Indeed, the UAE has served as America's top export destination to the Middle East over the past three years and it's a crucial hub to support multinational security efforts and regional prosperity."

Prior to his current position, Secretary Cohen had a long career in public service, serving as the 20th Secretary of Defense from January 1997 to January 2001, where he oversaw the largest organisation in the US with a budget of $300bn and three million military and civilian personnel. He received a law degree from Boston University of Law (1965).

DLA Piper has a strategic alliance with the Cohen Group to help its clients maximise global business opportunities across key sectors such as aerospace and defense, financial services, information technology and telecommunications.