International law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher recently bolstered its corporate finance practice by recruiting former Linklaters counsel Hardeep Plahe as a partner at its Dubai office. Plahe will be advising on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and financial regulation issues.

Plahe, who was one of the founding members of Linklaters’ Dubai office, is experienced in public and private M&A deals as well as joint ventures and reorganisations. Plahe has acted on various high-profile transactions, including serving as an advisor for the Royal Bank of Scotland on the sales of its retail and private banking businesses in the UAE. He has also worked on the $12 billion merger of the Emirates Bank International and the National Bank of Dubai, and the subsequent listing of Emirates NBD.

“He is one among very few lawyers in the region who consistently delivers the highest quality legal services, and who has a long-term commitment to the region. He is known as someone who really understands how the Middle East works,” said Paul Harter, partner in charge of Gibson, Dunn’s Dubai office.

Plahe’s appointment follows that of Chézard Ameer, who joined the firm’s Dubai office as a corporate partner from Ashurst in October 2010. Ameer was taken on board to head Gibson, Dunn’s international funds practice. ALB

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