Dewey Restructures in Middle East But Says Recent 12-Lawyer Exit There Won't Hurt Bottom Line
After a 12-lawyer leap from the Dubai office of Dewey & LeBoeuf to Dechert earlier this week, the firm is restructuring its Middle East practice and could close offices in Abu Dhabi and Doha, as well as Dubai, Legal Week reports.
The departures left Dewey with only a partner and an associate in Abu Dhabi, a partner and an associate in Dubai, and a single associate in Doha, the article states. However, managing partner Khalid Al-Thebity of the Riyadh office is still in place and leading the restructuring of the Middle East practice.
The law firm says in a written statement that the reconfiguration “will not have a material impact on the firm’s bottom line or its business in the Middle East. Khalid, who is managing the Riyadh office, will work closely with partners in other offices to serve the clients and to restructure the firm’s operations in the Gulf region.”
Dewey had roughly 1,000 attorneys and 300 partners as of the end of 2011, and has seen about 20 percent of its partners exit in 2012. However, the firm has implied that some of the departures were part of a planned belt-tightening effort.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “As Another Dewey & LeBoeuf Partner Exits, Total 2012 Departure Tally Tops 50”
ABAJournal.com: “12 More Dewey Partners Are Leaving, Including Energy Group Jumping to Hunton”
ABAJournal.com: “Three More Partners Depart Dewey; Firm Hires Crisis Expert and Denies Lender Problems”
