Global law firm DLA Piper said it has signed a joint venture with the international division of Kuwait-based Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif. The JV will operate under the name DLA Piper Kuwait.

The venture, which positions Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif more prominently in Kuwait lead to an expansion of legal services offered in Kuwait encompassing: commercial agencies; distributorships and franchises; corporate; commercial banking and finance; Islamic banking and finance; securities; taxation; project development and privatisation; government contracts and military sales and commercial litigation and arbitration.

Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif's areas of specialisation, include corporate, commercial, banking and finance, Islamic finance and projects.

With currently over 120 lawyers in the region, this development represents the latest move in the continued expansion of DLA Piper's presence in the Gulf.

The agreement demonstrates the organisation's continued commitment to providing a significant full-service presence in the region to complement its existing operations in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai and Muscat.

"The Kuwaiti market has grown and we have seen the completion of numerous transactions which are becoming ever more complex in nature and transcend Kuwaiti borders.

"Increasingly clients demand comprehensive legal representation that requires not only local expertise but also expert international resources, which we can now provide under the DLA Piper brand," said Nader Al Awadhi, senior partner at Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif.

"This joint venture will help us deliver global legal counsel to our clients who are looking for turnkey solutions. DLA Piper's deep rooted knowledge of, and resources within the region, provides an ideal fit with our own current practices in Kuwait and will enable us to raise the bar for legal practices in the country," added Al Awadhi.

The joint venture will allow both organisations to benefit from inherent synergies that will see additional added value in combining strong knowledge of local laws and customs with the depth and breadth of services offered by a global organisation.

The partnership will provide unique and creative solutions to meet the growing demand for such expertise in Kuwait.

Nigel Knowles, partner and joint chief executive officer at DLA Piper, said: "We are delighted to engage with the well respected firm of Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif in Kuwait, which is one of the few countries in the Middle East we did not yet have a presence in.

"This agreement has empowered both organizations to provide the best quality and range of service to our clients.  Given that Kuwait is one of the key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies it was a strategic decision to partner with a local organization that mirrors our own principles and objectives.”

With more than 3,700 lawyers located in 25 countries and 65 offices throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US, DLA Piper is strategically positioned to help companies with all their legal needs anywhere in the world.

"Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif's strategic plan is centred on providing seamless expert legal services to clients wherever they may be located.

"The new partnership with DLA Piper allows us to deliver intimate local market knowledge, coupled with international expertise in commercial and trade law, for the increasingly sophisticated legal needs of our clients," said Alex Saleh, managing partner at Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif law firm – International Division.

"Our highly experienced team of legal experts can provide a full range of legal services to a diversified client base, from high net worth individuals and smaller companies to large multi-national corporations." - TradeArabia News Service