Troubled New York-based law firm Dewey & LeBoeuf has shuttered its offices in the United Arab Emirates with the departure of Stephen Jurgenson, the last Abu Dhabi-based partner left amid a mass exodus at the firm.
Jurgenson has left to join the energy and infrastructure projects team at Pillsbury Winthrop, according to a press release issued by Pillsbury on Friday. The firm has also hired James Simpson, Dewey & LeBeouf’s former co-head of project finance and infrastructure, who splits his time between London and Abu Dhabi.
Dewey’s Abu Dhabi office also included associate Louis Abou-Charaf, who was placed on a client secondment, according to the firm’s website. All the phone numbers have been disconnected at the office.
The news comes as Dewey hovers on the brink of an imminent collapse. According to a letter to employees that was obtained by Reuters, the firm warned U.S. attorneys and staff on Friday that it could face possible closure, resulting in mass layoffs. The firm issued the notification under a federal law known as the WARN Act and similar state laws that require employers to notify workers of mass layoffs in advance. The federal WARN Act requires employers with 100-plus employees to give them a 60 day notice, while New York's WARN Act requires employers with 50 or more workers to give at least a 90 day notice.
A company spokesman was not immediately available for comment.
Dewey & LeBoeuf was once one of the largest law firms in the United States. But the firm has struggled amid growing debt, declining revenue and the loss of one-third of its partners since January. Last week, Dubai-based partner Peter Gray joined Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s dispute resolution practice in Dubai.
Prior to his departure, Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Dubai office had lost 21 partners, associates and staff to law firm Dechert, which used the new hires to launch its first office in Dubai. Dechert’s Dubai office is now co-managed by former Dewey partners Chris Sioufi and Gavin Watson.
"Chris, Gavin and their team are talented and dynamic lawyers whose practice enjoys strong ties and synergies with our London, Moscow and Almaty offices in particular. Their knowledge of an increasingly important region and key emerging financial centre add tremendous experience and resources to the firm, especially our corporate and securities and expanding energy practices, and we are delighted to welcome them to Dechert," said Dechert Chief Executive Officer Daniel O’Donnell.
Dewey & LeBoeuf’s other regional offices include Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The Riyadh-based office runs in affiliation with local firm Khalid Al-Thebity Law Firm. Al-Thebity is the Saudi-based partner for the firm, which includes four associates. Last week, a company spokesman told The Brief that the Saudi operations remain intact and “very much in business.”
The firm’s Doha office remains open, manned by associate Claire Bechara, the firm’s website shows.
In addition to financial troubles, Dewey & LeBoeuf is facing a criminal inquiry in to alleged wrongdoing by its former Chairman Steven Davis. The firm also dismissed its executive director, Stephen DiCarmine, last week, a source told Reuters. DiCarmine has retained a prominent criminal defense lawyer, although no allegations of wrongdoing have been brought against him at this time. ALB
Shaheen Pasha is Middle East Regional Editor at ALB. Follow her on Twitter: @ALB_TheBrief.
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