Leading global construction and energy law specialist Fenwick Elliott said it had emerged stronger than ever from a challenging 2020 and was expecting a 20 per cent revenue growth this year due to pursuing expansion opportunities across the Mena region into Qatar, pivoting to an online business model, and appointing integral new promotions.

 

Fenwick Elliott has a key presence in the region, having already serviced many Middle Eastern territories include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Oman.

 

It is now planning to enter Qatar this year where it will provide the new market with access to a high level of construction, infrastructure, engineering, and energy law expertise from one of the most renowned firms globally in the sector, said a statement from the company.

 

After the Covid-19 pandemic drove the majority of business operations online in 2020, Fenwick Elliott harnessed the opportunity to update its business model and technical capabilities to become a leading firm for digital operations, and for the facilitation of digital hearings. 

 

Embedding technology and online ways of working into its culture, Fenwick Elliott’s team now encompasses a dedicated partner and personnel that are focused on the implementation of digital technologies and resources such as text analytics and technology providers. 

 

This has allowed the specialist law firm to develop tailored solutions in respect of contract analysis, contract automation, matter analytics, and matter management that enhance its services and minimise costs to clients.

 

Simon Tolson, a senior partner with Fenwick Elliott, said: "The Middle East’s forward-thinking vision and rapid action of getting operations under control and re-open after 2020’s lockdown and tight restrictions, as well as opening the borders with Qatar, has allowed us to harness a huge opportunity and expand our services in the Middle East in this first quarter, which we believe will allow us to grow the company significantly in 2021."

 

Patrick Stone, the newly appointed managing partner at Fenwick Elliott, UAE, said: "We see technology and law as an essential partnership for our business moving forward. 2020 brought an instant need for us to pivot the way the business was operating, which saw the majority of our meetings and hearings migrating to online, which in turn meant that we were able to continue servicing our clients whilst harnessing the growing technology services in the sector."

 

To support the company’s planned expansion into Qatar and its continued growth in the Saudi Arabia with alliance partners Hammad & Al Mehdar, Fenwick Elliott has also already made numerous structural changes and promotions in 2021. 

 

Stone, who joined the Dubai office as partner in 2019, will now be leading the law firm’s operations as Managing Partner for the UAE, operating out of Fenwick Elliott’s international office in Dubai.

 

He replaces Ahmed Ibrahim, who is now moving on to become an independent arbitrator after his success in establishing Fenwick Elliott’s Dubai office in 2015.-TradeArabia News Service