Legal services review: Competition in the Gulf hots up

• From: Vol 7, Issue 2 (February 2006)
• Category: General
• Region: Unspecified
• Country: United Arab Emirates
• Related Companies: ACWA Power, Al-Mehari Legal Consultants, Allen & Overy, American Water Works, Anglian Water, Aqua Resources, Aqualia, Baker & McKenzie, Beijing Capital Group, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Black & Veatch, Bournemouth & West Hampshire Water, Bryan Cave, Clifford Chance, Denton Wilde Sapte, Desalant, Deutsche Bank, Dexia, Earth Tech, Elias Group, Farrans, Fulbright & Jaworski, Gide Loyrette Nouel, Grandall, Hastings Funds Management, Hawkins Delafield and Wood, Hogan & Hartson, Hunton & Williams, Hyflux, Interchina Holdings, International Power, Jun He Law Offices, Junyi, Kadasa Law Firm, Kelda, Khazanah, Latham & Watkins, Linklaters, Malakoff, Marubeni, Mid Kent Water, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, Morrison & Foerster, Norton Rose, Pinsent Masons, Poseidon Resources, Royal Bank of Scotland, RWE/Thames (Water), Saur, Scottish Water, Siemens, South Staffordshire Group, Suez, Sumitomo, Sutton & East Surrey Water, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Terra Firma, Trowers & Hamlins, Veolia, White & Case and Zhongzi

Our annual survey of law firms operating in the water sector finds that the flood of deals originating in the Middle East has inspired a flurry of office openings and staff poachings. Alastair Strickland reports.

The enigmatic footballer Eric Cantona once said: “When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea.” It is also true of the way law firms follow dealmakers around the world and last year the best place to feast on sardines was the Middle East.

The key players in 2005 were more ...