UK law firm DWF has opened an office in Dubai, its first outside the British Isles, after hiring two lawyers from Holland & Knight, including construction partner Steven Hunt.

The Dubai office, with the aim of supporting clients across the construction, energy, insurance and transport sectors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, will have a team of four lawyers, including two partners. It will be led by partner Chris Ryan, who specialises in non-marine insurance, with a focus on property, construction and engineering.

Hunt has more than 11 years of experience in the UAE in in construction and real estate law, in particular construction dispute resolution and arbitration.

The other two lawyers are consultant Fernando Ortega, who also joins from Holland & Knight, and professional liability specialist Jeremy Speller.