by Hadi Fornaji
Tripoli, 12 July 2012:
In the wake of Saturday’s election, the first International law firm has heralded the setting up of . . .[restrict]an office in Libya.
Clyde & Co has announced that is opening its fifth Middle East and North African office in Tripoli. The London-based law firm, which has 1,350 lawyers in offices in 27 countries, has indicated that it is finding a ready market for its service in Libya.
To head its new Tripoli office, Clyde has recruited Libyan lawyer Albudery Shariha from the Libyan Investment Authority, where he was General Counsel. He will be joined by four associates on 1 August. Given the level of enquiries received, Clyde & Co said that it will be actively recruiting both Libyan and international lawyers in the coming months. The Tripoli-based team will be supported by dedicated multilingual Libya desks in London, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Albudery Shariha said: “Libya is embarking on an exciting new phase this month and there are significant opportunities as the country rebuilds. Clyde & Co, with its long history of Middle East and African involvement and its energy and infrastructure expertise, is perfectly placed to advise clients looking to the Libyan market.
Adrian Creed, Clyde & Co’s Middle East and North Africa specialist said: “Albudery is one of the foremost lawyers in Libya and we are delighted that he is driving forward this initiative. His expertise will be invaluable. We expect to undertake a mix of contentious and non-contentious work for Libyan government entities and international clients. A large number of companies are actively exploring opportunities in Libya and we envision a steady increase in activity.”
Clyde & Co partner and board member Ben Knowles said: “Clyde & Co has never shied away from working in fast-moving and challenging jurisdictions. As patterns of global trade have shifted, the firm has actively invested in our emerging markets network to meet the evolving needs of our clients. We are thrilled to launch in Tripoli and to build on our existing Libyan practice. We believe the office has huge growth potential.”
The firm has been present for nearly 25 years in the Middle East with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha and via an associated office in Riyadh. Clyde & Co is currently advising the Libyan Government on a number of matters.
The official opening of Clyde & Co’s new offices in the Tripoli Tower will be on 1 August. [/restrict]
