Skip to main content

Energy-focused law firm Vinson & Elkins has become the latest law firm to shutter its Abu Dhabi office as falling oil prices take their toll on the emirate’s legal industry.

Following a strategic review, the Texas-headquartered firm’s management committee voted to consolidate the firm’s Middle East practice to its two offices in Dubai and Riyadh, and close the Abu Dhabi office, which had been operational since 2007.

As part of the transition, energy and projects partner Rob Patterson and other personnel will relocate to Dubai. “The Middle East remains a key part of our international practice, and we expect this consolidation will have minimal impact on our ability to serve clients in the region,” said V&E chairman Mark Kelly in a statement.

V&E’s closure in Abu Dhabi comes on the heels of Simmons & Simmons’ exit from the region. In February, Simmons also relocated its partners to its Dubai office as part of the consolidation.

Related Articles

Nishimura becomes first major Japanese firm to launch HK office

by Sarah Wong, Nimitt Dixit |

Japanese Big Four firm Nishimura & Asahi has continued its aggressive international expansion with the opening of an office in Hong Kong. The office will make it the first major Japanese law firm to directly open an outpost in the Asian financial centre.

SUBMISSIONS OPEN: ALB Firms to Watch (Singapore) 2025

Submissions open for ALB Firm to Watch (Singapore) list. The list will highlight the law firms with a more compact partner structure or focused practice in the country. The list will be published in the January/February 2025 issue of ALB Asia. 

SUBMISSIONS OPEN: ALB Asia Rising Stars Indonesia 2025

Submissions open for ALB's Rising Stars Indonesia list. The list will spotlight the most promising lawyers of the next generation in Indonesia. The list will be published in the January/February 2025 issue of ALB Asia.