Sullivan & Cromwell has taken a major step by establishing its first regional office in Abu Dhabi, signaling a long-term commitment to the Middle East market. The move represents a shift from decades of remote advisory work to a permanent physical presence, reflecting confidence in the region’s economic growth over the next decade.
Why Abu Dhabi Became the Hub
The selection of Abu Dhabi as the firm’s base was strategic. The emirate’s Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has become a central hub for sovereign wealth funds, private equity investors, and multinational corporations. For Sullivan & Cromwell, this concentration of capital creates opportunities to handle high-stakes legal matters, including major mergers, critical litigation, and board-level transactions.
The firm’s focus is on high-value work rather than routine legal services. Recent assignments highlight this strategy: advising Blue Pool Capital on Tabby’s $233 million equity round, guiding a Middle East sovereign fund in its investment in Sotheby’s, and assisting Morgan Stanley as financial adviser to ADNOC in its €12.9 billion acquisition of Covestro.
Meet the Expansion Leader
Leading the expansion is Ahmed el-Gaili, a partner with extensive experience in the region. Before joining Sullivan & Cromwell, he worked at Vinson & Elkins in Dubai and Latham & Watkins in Riyadh, where he oversaw more than 50 transactions over five years. His return to the firm, where he trained in London in 2003, aligns with its goal of building a regional platform.
The Abu Dhabi office will serve as Sullivan & Cromwell’s 14th globally, but its purpose extends beyond local operations. El-Gaili describes the team as both executors and connectors, linking regional expertise with the firm’s global network of 1,000 lawyers across 14 offices. Clients, especially sovereign investors, demand lawyers who understand not just legal procedures but also the broader strategic objectives behind deals—whether economic or national in scope.
El-Gaili’s background in investment banking, including a stint at Morgan Stanley before law school, reinforces this approach. He positions himself as a lawyer who can provide value beyond standard legal advice, aligning with clients’ financial and commercial priorities. This perspective is essential as the region’s merger and acquisition market adapts to changing geopolitical and economic conditions.
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Private Equity Trends in the Gulf
While deal activity may fluctuate due to shifting priorities, el-Gaili expects sustained private equity activity. The market has increasingly moved towards co-investment and collaboration between sovereign wealth funds and private capital. Global private equity firms have established regional operations in response to the availability of sovereign capital, with that capital subsequently being redeployed into areas such as infrastructure and real estate.
Within weeks of the announcement, el-Gaili will be joined by partners Garth Bray and Umberto Hassan, along with several associates and an office administration director. The firm’s long-term plan includes potential expansion into Saudi Arabia, though no timeline has been set. For now, Abu Dhabi remains the cornerstone of Sullivan & Cromwell’s regional strategy.
The firm’s decision reflects a view that extends well beyond the current cycle. Despite recent geopolitical challenges, the region’s economic momentum has convinced Sullivan & Cromwell to invest in the region. The office’s establishment demonstrates a firm that thinks in decades rather than quarters.
The firm’s historical ties to the Middle East also play a role in this expansion. Founded in New York in 1879, Sullivan & Cromwell has advised clients in the region for decades, even before establishing a physical presence. El-Gaili’s career, training at the firm in London in 2003 before leaving for over a decade, parallels the firm’s earlier remote advisory model. This time, however, the firm is embedding itself locally, leveraging his institutional knowledge to strengthen its regional footprint.
The firm’s decision to establish a presence in the Middle East reflects confidence in the region’s economic trajectory despite geopolitical uncertainties. Sullivan & Cromwell’s outlook remains focused on long-term growth rather than short-term fluctuations. “We think in years and decades,” el-Gaili says, reflecting the firm’s 150-year history. The Abu Dhabi office is the platform from which Sullivan & Cromwell intends to build.