Skadden has opened its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The office is located within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the emirate’s international financial centre. Michael Hilton, a corporate transactional attorney and former regional managing partner for the Middle East and North Africa at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, will lead the new office.
“Skadden’s presence in ADGM is a natural outgrowth of our already robust practice in the region and will enhance our ability to provide seamless, integrated service to local and international clients in connection with their most sophisticated legal needs,” said Jeremy London, Skadden’s Executive Partner.
Lorenzo Corte, a global head of Skadden’s transactions practices, added, “We have a long and successful track record of working with corporations, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds and other governmental entities in the region on many of their most high-stakes, high-profile matters.”
Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, noted, “With Skadden’s strong global platform, we are confident that the firm’s presence will further enhance the legal and advisory resources available to local and international clients within ADGM’s ecosystem.”
This move aligns with a broader trend of international law firms and financial institutions establishing a presence in Abu Dhabi. The ADGM has attracted numerous banks, hedge funds, venture capital firms, and crypto traders, with a significant increase in new firms in 2024. Recently, US-listed Golub Capital also announced plans to open an office in Abu Dhabi, reflecting the growing interest and activity in the region’s financial sector.
