Sheila Shadmand
Jones Day names Shadmand Mideast Partner-in-Charge
DUBAI, February 12, 2020
The global law firm Jones Day has appointed Sheila Shadmand as Partner-in-Charge of its Middle East region.She succeeds Javade Chaudhri who will continue as a partner advising clients on matters related to transactions, compliance, and investigations in Saudi Arabia and Africa.
Shadmand has served as Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Dubai Office since 2013 and leads the firm’s Global Disputes and International Investigations practices in the Middle East, said the statement from the company.
She is one of the only US-qualified lawyers resident in Dubai who has defended clients before the DOJ and SEC, and has full rights of audience in the DIFC Courts. Shadmand has also served as counsel or arbitrator in numerous high-value ICC, LCIA, DIFC-LCIA, and DIAC arbitrations and as an advocate in the DIFC Courts.
“Jones Day clients throughout the Middle East, and around the world, have been guided by Shadmand’s terrific legal advice and collaborative approach since she joined the Firm more than 20 years ago,” said Stephen J Brogan, Managing Partner of Jones Day.
“Her successful leadership in Dubai, combined with her experience throughout the region advising several of the firm's largest clients in a wide range of complex commercial litigation, arbitration, and investigative matters, exemplifies our commitment to the Middle East,” he stated.
"As Saudi Arabia in particular embarks on a period of remarkable social and economic change designed to fuel its growing economy for the future, this appointment underlines our decades-long support to our clients in the kingdom as they drive prosperity for the region," remarked Brogan.
"Shadmand’s outstanding insight will serve as an excellent foundation as she grows both the relationships with Jones Day clients in the Middle East and the Firm’s efforts to advance the rule of law throughout the Middle East and into Africa,” he added.
Shadmand counsels multinational companies on compliance with FCPA, anti-money laundering, anti-boycott, and sanctions laws and defends companies facing enforcement by US agencies, including the DOJ, SEC, and OFAC.
She has led and defended investigations into such matters in more than 30 countries throughout the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region. Over the past 10 years alone, she has led more than 50 FCPA and other investigations for Firm clients.
On her new role, Shadmand said: "Expanding our client relationships throughout the region while it continues to evolve into one of the world’s premier locations for financial and commercial activity is very exciting.”
“Technology and connectivity are bringing our clients closer to places that were previously inaccessible. At the same time and for the same reasons, the increased transparency and rule of law expansion is benefiting more corners of the world than ever before, and helping overcome hurdles to progress in more of the region’s economies," explained Shadmand.
"Jones Day’s One Firm approach to client service allows our lawyers to use our skills, knowledge, and cross-border teamwork to assist our clients – some of the largest companies in the world – in bringing their products, services, and technology to the region. Doing so improves the lives of people." she stated.
"When the way of life is better in any given country, our clients’ businesses can thrive. We are honored to serve our clients in this way and at the same time to be supporting the region’s ongoing economic growth,” she added.
Shadmand joined Jones Day in Washington and while there, she had served on the Summer Associate Committee and the Hiring Committee for many years.
In 2009, she relocated to Dubai, serving first as the Administrative Partner of the Firm’s Dubai Office at its inception, before becoming its Partner-in-Charge. She also serves on the Firm's Advisory Committee.
She has been recognised as a leading disputes and investigations lawyer for several years running in Chambers, The Legal 500, The Best Lawyers – UAE, and Who’s Who Legal: Investigations, and has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Bloomberg, and a number of other news-related broadcasts and print media in connection with her work.
Shadmand is a member of the DIFC Courts Users Committee Rules Subcommittee, the DIFC Academy of Law, and has served as a member of an advisory board of the Dubai Judicial Institute, said the statement.
Shadmand’s predecessor as Partner-in-Charge of the Middle East Region, Chaudhri, served as Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Middle East & Africa Region since 2015. He has worldwide experience assisting private and public-sector companies in transactions and projects in many industry sectors and geographies.
Chaudhri advises companies on domestic and international mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances as well as corporate governance, compliance, and internal investigations. He will continue to serve as an important part of Jones Day’s work in the Region, with particular focus on Africa, it stated.
Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers in 43 offices across five continents. The Firm is distinguished by: a singular tradition of client service; the mutual commitment to, and the seamless collaboration of, a true partnership; formidable legal talent across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions; and shared professional values that focus on client needs.-- Tradearabia News Service
