Baker Botts has bolstered its corporate and disputes practice in Dubai with the double-hire of Trowers & Hamlins’ head of UAE Abdullah Mutawi, alongside fellow partner and international disputes resolution chief Lucas Pitts.
Mutawi will join the firm as a partner in the corporate group, while Pitts will add to the firm’s international disputes offering, with both being based in Dubai.
Mutawi has been a partner at Trowers for the last decade and became the head of UAE in September 2011. Before this, he was a senior associate at Norton Rose for four years. In his new role at Baker Botts, he will focus on cross-border M&A, capital markets and securities transactions for the telecoms and financial institutions sectors across the Middle East.
Lucas joined Trowers in March 2007 and recently led the litigation for the Bahrain domiciled commercial bank The International Banking Corporation. Lucas has experience of advising on disputes relating to telecommunications, banking, insolvency, aviation and fraud, with experience in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the US, Africa and Europe.
Baker Botts managing partner Andrew Baker said: ‘Both Abdullah and Lucas have a deep background and wealth of experience throughout the Middle East and Africa. Their addition will increase our regional and international capabilities in the areas of corporate law and international disputes Resolution.’
jaishree.kalia@legalease.co.uk
