Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP has opened its first office in the Middle East, located in the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM).
The office will be led by corporate transactional attorney Michael Hilton, who most recently was regional managing partner for the Middle East and North Africa at a Magic Circle firm.
“We’re thrilled to launch Skadden’s office in Abu Dhabi, affirming our commitment to clients worldwide and underscoring the momentum behind the firm’s strategic growth,” said Skadden executive partner Jeremy London. “Skadden’s presence in ADGM is a natural outgrowth of our already robust practice in the region and will enhance our ability to provide seamless, integrated service to local and international clients in connection with their most sophisticated legal needs.”
Hilton (pictured) has more than 20 years of experience handling cross-border private and public M&A and joint ventures, with an emphasis on financial sponsor work. He has focused his practice on the Middle East for over a decade and advises clients across a number of industries, including private equity, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, financial services, telecom and technology.
“Michael is a highly regarded corporate lawyer with deep ties throughout the Middle East and beyond, making him an ideal fit to lead our efforts to expand our practice in the region,” added Mr. London. “It is clear that Michael shares our values and our dedication to providing exceptional service to clients in the markets that are important to them.”
“Skadden’s global platform is second to none,” said Mr. Hilton. “The firm offers the highest quality legal services, and establishing a local presence in Abu Dhabi will enable it to deepen and expand its existing client relationships in the Middle East. I am delighted to join Skadden, to work alongside my new colleagues and for the opportunity to lead the firm’s Abu Dhabi office and Middle East practice.”
Hilton, who ranks in Band 1 in Chambers for corporate/M&A work, obtained his Master of Arts from the University of Cambridge in 1999 and his diploma in legal practice from Nottingham Law School in 2000.
Lorenzo Corte, a global head of Skadden’s transactions practices, said: “We have a long and successful track record of working with corporations, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds and other governmental entities in the region on many of their most high-stakes, high-profile matters. Michael’s extensive experience and network across the Middle East will be key to growing those relationships.”
Skadden’s expansion into the Middle East and the dynamic ADGM underscores the firm’s commitment to providing sophisticated regional and international corporations, financial sponsors and other investors top-tier advice across M&A, financing, litigation and arbitration matters and white collar defence and investigations.
Arvind Ramamurthy, chief market development officer at ADGM, said: “We are pleased to welcome Skadden to ADGM’s growing ecosystem of global leaders in finance and law. With Skadden’s strong global platform, we are confident that the firm’s presence will further enhance the legal and advisory resources available to local and international clients within ADGM’s ecosystem. Their decision to establish an office here speaks to the strength of Abu Dhabi as a regional hub for international businesses and reinforces ADGM’s role in connecting companies to strategic growth opportunities across the Middle East and beyond.”
