International law firm Withers will collaborate with Tareq Hawasli to launch Withers Hakawati, an initiative to provide families and family businesses from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region with a broad range of services.
Withers Hakawati is to be led by Hawasli, who will serve as a consultant within Withers and work closely with lawyers across the law firm’s international network, particularly with London-based partners Chris Groves and Stephen Nerland.
Hawasli, who is co-founder of asset manager Darin Partners, said: “Families in the GCC region are hugely outward-looking and are looking to receive best in class advice and, at the very least, fair treatment from commercial or financial partners in other regions of the world.
“This responsibility to support and protect my clients is an Amanah which is dear to my heart. Creating relationships of reciprocity, mutual confidence, and understanding is key to deal-making, and that is what Withers Hakawati aims to establish, building on Withers’ reputation as the leading international law firm for successful people and private capital.”
Justine Markovitz, Withers’ chairperson, added: “Our clients rely on us to address all of their legal needs around the world, and our lawyers frequently act as close and long-term advisors to them, their families and their businesses. Withers Hakawati is a natural extension of this, focusing particularly on clients from the GCC region.
“However, instead of applying the generic approach of many US- and UK-based law firms, we will offer the assistance of advisers who share the cultural background of GCC families and businesses and who put their interests first.”
