Sullivan & Cromwell joins the stampede to Abu Dhabi

Law firm Sullivan & Cromwell is set to establish a presence in Abu Dhabi, marking its entry into the Middle East market. The Wall Street-based firm plans to provide guidance to clients across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the broader region on financial, regulatory, and transactional matters. The expansion comes after the firm obtained full regulatory approval from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Registration Authority.

ADGM's chief market development officer, Arvind Ramamurthy, welcomed Sullivan & Cromwell to the international financial center, noting that the move underscores Abu Dhabi's growing importance as a hub for finance, investment, and professional services. One of Sullivan & Cromwell's former associates, Ahmed el-Gaili, will lead the new office as a partner, having previously spent six years with the firm in London and more recently working for Latham & Watkins in Saudi Arabia.

Sullivan & Cromwell's co-chairs, Robert Guiffra and Scott Miller, expressed their pleasure at bringing el-Gaili back to the region, emphasizing his expertise in advising clients on critical matters across the Middle East. The move follows a series of other law firms, including Skadden, Paul Hastings, Simmons & Simmons, and Addleshaw Goddard, expanding their operations in Abu Dhabi in recent months.

The trend of US and British law firms entering the Gulf region intensifies as Saudi Arabia, after transforming its laws three years ago to permit foreign law firms to operate independently, continues to attract international business and legal expertise to support its Vision 2030 plan.