Bird & Bird has appointed TMT specialist Kelly Tymburski as a partner at its UAE offices from Pinsent Masons, where she was a senior associate.

Tymburski, who is expected to spearhead the firm's push into the TMT sector in the region, focuses on both commercial and regulatory matters.

The UAE office has also hired Saarah Badr as a senior associate. Baadr joins from an in-house role with the Abu Dhabi Media Zone Authority, where she worked on regional IP, media and entertainment matters.

“We have been looking to develop our telecommunications capabilities in the Middle East and to capitalise on those opportunities in the region which are closely aligned to this area of expertise, for which we are traditionally known,” said the firm’s Middle East Managing Partner, Mark Pinder, in a statement. “I believe Kelly's extensive experience, supported by Saarah, will be key in driving the growth of our TMT practice to the next level in and across the Middle East and Africa.”

Prior to her stint at Pinsent Masons, Tymburski was an associate with DLA Piper in the Middle East.