K&L Gates has launched its second office in the Middle East and its 38th office worldwide in Doha, Qatar after receiving approval from the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) to open in the country.
The office will be headed by Kenneth Freeling – Dewey & Lebouef’s previous Doha managing partner – who joined K&L Gates as a global partner in March 2011. Freeling assisted K&L Gates in lodging its application and obtaining approvals for the new office.
“I have been practicing in Doha for more than three years and have no doubt that K&L Gates is the ideal platform for Doha’s growing and dynamic economy,” said Freeling, whose practice encompasses the areas of intellectual property, antitrust, complex commercial, and construction litigation.
“With the launch of our Doha office, K&L Gates formally enters an exciting and increasingly diverse legal marketplace which reflects Qatar’s admirable commitment to develop an advanced and diversified economy on the strength of its energy endowments. Our Doha office is a foundation block of our strategy for the Middle East,” commented K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter J. Kalis.
Supported by colleagues in the Gulf region and throughout the world, the firm’s Doha lawyers will assist clients with their legal and regulatory needs in such established areas as projects; energy and infrastructure; banking and finance; telecommunications, media and technology; real estate and construction; intellectual property, and dispute resolution, among others.
“The addition of a Doha office significantly enhances our existing regional capabilities to serve clients in one of the most vibrant economies in the world,” said Neal R. Brendel, a founding co-partner of K&L Gates’ Dubai office, established in June 2009.
After opening in Dubai more than two years ago, K&L Gates also has continued to expand its capabilities through that office in order to meet client needs. This included the relocation of corporate partner Owen Waft from the firm’s London office in March and the addition of finance partner Paul Simpson earlier this week.ALB
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