Vanessa Abernethy, an expert in capital markets transactions in the region, has joined leading international law firm Baker Botts as a partner in its Dubai office.

Abernethy specializes in transactional and advisory work and has advised clients raising capital through equity securities in the region, both privately and through IPOs, said a statement from Baker Botts.

She has also counseled clients on mergers and acquisitions and listings on Nasdaq Dubai, the Dubai Financial Market and the Abu Dhabi Securities Market, it added.

Abernethy is also a member of Nasdaq Dubai Practioners' Committee, a panel of capital markets experts from legal, financial and banking industries who assist the exchange with various matters and meet as a committee for discussion on strategy and new initiatives.

Prior to joining Baker Botts, she was a corporate partner in the Dubai office of Simmons & Simmons.

Abernethy earned her Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand and a Stock Exchange diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia. She is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales.

"Abernethy's wealth of experience in the corporate and financial sectors of the Middle East further strengthens our capabilities there," remarked Baker Botts managing partner Walt Smith.

"Her addition to our team demonstrates the firm's commitment to providing highly-skilled lawyers who can handle some of the most complex transactions in ME," he noted.

Baker Botts has over 725 lawyers and a network of 13 offices across the globe. In the region, the law firm now has 25 lawyers working out of three offices - Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh.

During the past 12 months, the firm has added seven new lawyers - including Abernethy - to its Middle East operations, , the company said.

These lawyers have a wealth of experience in counseling on Islamic financing, conventional lending and project finance, construction and nuclear energy issues, it added.

Even during recent economic unrest in the Middle East, Baker Botts has experienced increased client demand for its services.

"Since opening in Riyadh more than 10 years ago, in Dubai in 2005 and Abu Dhabi in 2009, our Middle East portfolio has expanded beyond energy industry issues," said Robert W. Jordan, partner in charge of the Middle East practice for Baker Botts.-TradeArabia News Service