Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) is pleased to announce a major expansion of its Dubai office with the arrival of new partners Natalie Jensen, Rita Al Semaani Jansen, Khalid Hamed and Alastair Holland, along with a team comprising a senior associate, an associate, a trainee and three paralegals. They all join from Ince Dubai, with Alastair’s start date to be confirmed.
Natalie has a wealth of expertise in the maritime, international trade and energy sectors, with extensive experience in both the UK and UAE markets. Having started her career at an International Group P&I Club, Natalie has invaluable experience advising on all aspects of contractual and charterparty disputes which is reflected in the commercial advice she offers clients. She advises on disputes arising out of charterparties, bills of lading, contracts of affreightment and other contracts of carriage, as well as those involving collisions and allisions. Her clients include shipowners, charterers, cargo interests, P&I clubs and insurers.
Qualified in Egypt, Khalid has over 30 years’ experience advising banks, insurance companies and manufacturing and trading companies throughout the Middle East. He is particularly well-versed in insurance and re-insurance disputes. His maritime insurance practice entails advising on numerous insurance coverage disputes before the UAE courts, principally for hull and machinery and marine cargo insurers.
Rita is a highly experienced corporate and commercial law specialist with experience in the UAE and wider MENA region. She advises clients on corporate and commercial law including in relation to national and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring and franchising.
Alastair has over 20 years’ Middle East experience advising clients on private M&A, equity capital markets, private equity and joint ventures. Clients comprise multinational corporations, high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses.
WFW Dubai Office Head Charlotte Bijlani commented: “I am delighted to welcome Natalie, Rita, Khalid and Alastair to WFW. From a disputes perspective, Natalie and Khalid joining us further enhances our reputation for contentious work, including maritime. Rita and Alastair’s arrival meanwhile adds to the strength and depth of our current corporate offering in Dubai”.
Natalie added: “It is wonderful to be joining WFW together with Rita, Khalid and Alastair and all our colleagues. We look forward to strengthening our own individual practices as well as collaborating together with new colleagues to help grow the firm’s already highly regarded disputes and corporate practices in Dubai”.
