Ashurst Perkins Coie has named four managing partners to oversee its Middle East offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah, and Riyadh after completing its merger. This move reflects the firm’s commitment to strengthening its fastest-growing regional market. The new leadership team includes Stuart James for Abu Dhabi, where he will lead corporate work with a focus on energy transactions. Cameron Cuffe, an arbitration expert, will head the Dubai office and concentrate on energy and infrastructure disputes. Faisal Baassiri in Jeddah will manage both corporate and contentious matters, while Martyn Rogers in Riyadh will specialize in banking and finance. All four bring extensive regional experience to their roles.
David Charlier, now the regional head for the Middle East and Africa, will coordinate operations from Dubai. Before the merger, he served as Ashurst’s Middle East managing partner. He highlighted that the firm’s Middle East practice has more than doubled its partner count in the past two years, driven by increasing client demand. These appointments align with the firm’s broader strategy to expand its presence in key industries across the region.
The Middle East operations now belong entirely to Ashurst, as Perkins Coie had no prior footprint there. The merger created Ashurst Perkins Coie, a global law firm with over 3,500 lawyers across 52 offices in 23 countries. The firm’s Middle East revenue increased by more than a third year-on-year. Additionally, the firm opened its first African office in Casablanca, Morocco, led by managing partner Ouns Lemseffer.
Clients can expect a more cohesive legal service model in the region. The firm’s expansion in the Middle East mirrors rising demand for specialized expertise in energy, banking, and dispute resolution—fields where the new managing partners have long-standing experience.