UAE law firm Habib Al Mulla & Co recently appointed partner Rita Khaled to the newly created role of client relationship partner at its Dubai office. The move is part of the firm’s strategy it plans to follow as it transitions to a more commercially focused structure from the traditional law firm model.

Khaled, who has been a partner at the firm since 2010, specialises in the healthcare sector. In her new role, she will be responsible for managing the client relationship strategy for the firm, and focus on growing and improving the firm’s overall service to its clients.

The appointment also comes as the firm seeks to remodel its practice. Habib Al Mulla & Co is the first UAE law firm to create and fill the position of chief executive in the country. In September 2011, the firm named former Clifford Chance global head of procurement and Italy chief operating officer, Rob Morris, as its CEO. Morris is currently based in Dubai.

At that time, the firm had said in a statement that it was looking to differentiate itself in the market by moving away from the managerial and operational structure of the traditional law firm model. Instead, it was hoping to create a more commercial, client-centric approach to legal services. ALB

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