DLA Piper has added international disputes, regulatory and trade compliance specialist Ramsey Jurdi as a partner to its litigation, arbitration and investigations team in Dubai from Chadbourne & Parke.

Jurdi has experience advising US and international companies on compliance with respect to economic sanctions and US export controls, defending white-collar criminal inquiries, conducting special investigations, and appearing in international arbitration proceedings under the rules of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre.

Prior to joining Chadbourne, Jurdi worked with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Jurdi's appointment comes as DLA Piper partner Daniel Jude, who specialises in contentious construction and engineering matters, returns to Dubai following a year in the UK. The firm’s regional disputes practice now has 30 lawyers, of whom six are partners.

"The Middle East is fast becoming a major hub for international trade and with that, we are seeing an increasing amount of US and other regulation in the region, on which our clients require guidance,” said Henry Quinlan, head of the DLA litigation, arbitration and investigations team, Middle East, in a statement. “Ramsey's market reputation and significant regional experience in this specialist and growing area complements our existing capabilities.”