Nils de Wolff and Krishen Patel join Greenberg Taurig

Nils de Wolff international arbitration & litigation lawyer (pictured-left) and Krishen Patel (pictured-rightcorporate/M&A lawyer join Greenberg Traurig‘s offices in the Middle East. Coming from Clyde & Co both lawyers will be based in the Unitet Arabb Emirates (UAE) location. In particular, Krishen Patel will split his time between the UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Richard A. Rosenbaum, executive chairman of Greenberg Traurig said of the two new acquisitions: “Nils and Krishen are both highly skilled, client service focused lawyers who are key to our building an unparalleled legal team in the Middle East in a strategic and deliberate manner,”. Further, he added, “Their additions reflect our continuing strong commitment to the region and to supporting the businesses and individuals who are integral to its growth and prosperity.”

Khalid A. Al-Thebity, Greenberg Traurig’s Middle East regional chair and managing shareholder of the KSA location, agreed, noting: “The breadth and depth of Nils’ and Krishen’s client representations throughout the UAE and KSA will undoubtedly add strength to our local and global capabilities. Both have impressive track records of success for clients in such industries as government, financial services, education, real estate, and hospitality – all of which are experiencing exceptional growth in the Middle East.”

The profiles

De Wolff is a senior specialist arbitration lawyer and commercial and corporate litigator with extensive experience in high-stakes, cross-border disputes in London, Dubai, and KSA. His practice focuses on M&A disputes, shareholder and joint venture disputes, internal investigations, civil fraud, and economic tort claims , he has built a reputation for successfully managing some of the most high-profile and challenging cases in the field. De Wolff, who has practiced in the region for more than six years, has handled complex litigation before the English Courts; the courts of major international financial free zones, including the DIFC Courts and ADGM Courts; and the onshore UAE Courts, as well as major domestic and international arbitration proceedings, including under the DIAC, LCIA and ICC rules. 

Patel is a senior transactional lawyer who focuses on M&A, complex corporate transactions, and corporate commercial matters. With 14 years of legal experience, he represents sovereign entities, financial institutions, multinational companies, family businesses, investors, and sponsors operating in the UAE, KSA, and greater Middle East in a wide range of transactions such as joint ventures, M&A acquisitions, restructurings, private equity, and venture capital. He leaves Clyde & Co after three years in the firm.

Greenberg Taurig growth in the region

These two additions follow the hiring by the firm of the top ranked international arbitration lawyer Nassif BouMalhab (see here) as a shareholder in the firm’s UAE location, who also was formerly with Clyde & Co and leader of the Middle East arbitration group and of Chadi Salloum as head of the firm’s UAE Corporate Practice (see here).