Maha Osman joins Ashurst as partner in Dubai

Ashurst has appointed Maha Osman (pictured) as a partner in its Corporate practice, based in Dubai. The hire is part of the firm’s efforts to expand its private capital practice in the Middle East and strengthen its presence in international markets. Osman, previously with Freshfields, has significant experience in private capital investments, advising financial sponsors such as private equity firms and sovereign wealth funds on a variety of transactions, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.

According to Simon Rahimzada, Middle East head of corporate: “Private capital is a pivotal investment strategy in the Middle East for both regional and international investors, and Maha (Osman)’s arrival perfectly complements our existing areas of strength. Her extensive experience in supporting private capital investment firms and sovereign entities in the UAE/KSA as they invest into Africa also means we are well positioned to drive accelerated growth in this area.”

Middle East managing partner David Charlier added that this “appointment reflects our strategic focus on growing our private capital capabilities and signifies Ashurst’s commitment to investing in its offering in the Middle East.”

This appointment is part of a broader expansion of Ashurst’s Middle East practice. The firm recently hired Vasi Papadopoulos (here the news) as a partner in Dubai and Leonid Stoliarski as a local partner in Riyadh. Senior associates Andrew Robinson and Maroun El Hachem, along with associate Dasith Vathanage, also joined the Dubai office earlier this year.