Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman has hired corporate lawyer Ahmad Jawad Anani as co-managing partner of its UAE office from Latham & Watkins, where he held a similar role for all of that firm’s Middle East branches.

Energy expert Anani advises on M&A, capital markets and Islamic finance matters. Prior to joining Latham & Watkins, he had a stint with Al Tamimi & Co.

At Latham & Watkins, Anani served as the co-managing partner of its outposts in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha before the latter two were closed down in March. Latham recently suffered another loss in the Middle East with three of its partners headed to Hogan Lovells in November.

Ahmad will join Pillsbury’s Middle East co-managing partner Osama Abu-Dehays in Abu Dhabi.