David Bickerton has been elected the new regional managing partner of Clifford Chance in the UK and the Middle East. He takes over from Jeremy Sandelson, who has been voted the global head of the firm’s litigation practice.

Bickerton, who currently heads up the London capital markets practice, will have to step up to address the 12.6% decline in revenue from Clifford Chance’s UK and Middle East offices this year.

The Middle East is a region that is essential to the future of the firm, said Bickerton. The firm has invested in the development of its Middle East presence and has established offices in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Clifford Chance recently advised Tourism Development & Investment Company, a developer of tourism real estate assets within Abu Dhabi, in relation to its US$1.45bn sukuk trust certificate issuance program, which at the time was the first sukuk issuance in the Emirate in over a year and the largest sukuk issue in the UAE in 2009.

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