Quinn Emanuel Hires Leading Cross Border Disputes Partner in UAE
London – Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan UK LLP announced today that Ghalib Mahmoud has joined the firm as a partner. Ghalib was previously at the Dubai office of leading UAE firm Hadef & Partners where he was a prominent partner in the firm’s international dispute resolution practice. He led Hadef’s Healthcare & Life Sciences sector and co-led the Restructuring & Insolvency team. While at Hadef he helped to establish one of the most successful restructuring and insolvency practices in the region. Ghalib has been ranked as one of the top disputes lawyers in the UAE and sought by many clients, both in the UAE and internationally.
Ghalib specializes in restructuring and bankruptcy, corporate fraud investigations and asset tracing for multi-national corporations and high net worth individuals and general civil/commercial litigation. He holds full rights of audience before the Courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the few UAE-based and American lawyers to hold this qualification. Ghalib also represents clients before the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) Courts and has excelled in guiding clients before all the UAE local onshore, across the Emirates and at appellate levels. Ghalib has developed and established several groundbreaking case precedents in the UAE using novel technics and strategies. He practices fluently in both Arabic and English and, in addition to his license to practice and advise on law in the UAE, he is also admitted and licensed to practice law in New Jersey, New York, the District of Columbia and England and Wales.
Notable representations for Ghalib include advising the KBBO Group, its subsidiaries and shareholders in relation to a first of its kind restructuring in the Abu Dhabi courts, following the high-profile collapse of healthcare provider NMC Health during the pandemic. He has defended global healthcare companies in government investigations and regulatory proceedings across the Middle East. Ghalib has also represented and advised clients in arbitrations and succeeded in enforcing foreign awards and judgments in the UAE.
Ghalib said, “Quinn Emanuel is a firm that embodies the strength, tenacity and power that I have always respected and admired. It is the law firm that all clients want on their side. After working across the table from Quinn Emanuel for several years, I continuously felt like I was working with like-minded litigators.”
“When Quinn Emanuel opened in the UAE, I knew that the paradigm for how disputes will be tackled in the region has shifted and the firm would be at the forefront of the most sophisticated and complex matters in the region. This is now a chance for me to introduce the US firm I grew up admiring, to a region I have come to call home for the past several years. It is an opportunity I could not refuse, and I am honored to join a team of the most talented litigators and cater to clients across UAE, the entire region and the world.”
Ghalib’s arrival follows the hires of partners Joanne Strain and Parnika Chaturvedi from King & Wood Mallesons in the UAE two years ago. He officially joined Quinn Emanuel on 19th January. Ghalib, Joanne and Parnika will be based out of Quinn Emanuel’s Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices.
Richard East, Quinn Emanuel’s London Senior Partner, commented: “Several of our partners were able to view Ghalib’s impressive negotiating skills first-hand during the NMC bankruptcy case where we advised the joint administrators and Ghalib advised its two significant UAE shareholders. His hire means we can offer and advise clients, for the first time, services in both the onshore and offshore courts.”
“The DIFC and ADGM, being based on English law and procedure, are of significant importance to our London office and we look forward to working closely with Ghalib in assisting clients with the interaction between the onshore and offshore worlds.”
John B. Quinn, Quinn Emanuel’s Founder and Chairman, said: “The UAE is a major focus for our firm and partners of Ghalib’s quality rarely come onto the market. We can now offer clients top level representation in the major courts across the region which marks a significant moment for our practice.”