The former Middle East managing partner of DLA Piper, who resigned from the firm in June, has re-emerged to launch Gulf firm Al Tamimi & Co’s new Kuwait office.

Alex Saleh spearheaded DLA’s opening in Kuwait last October but left in June this year shortly after he was appointed as the head of DLA’s new Bahrain office. Saleh has since been appointed by Al Tamimi to lead its new Kuwait office, which has been established via a joint venture with local lawyer Yacoub Al Munayae. The JV has also allowed Al Tamimi Kuwait to acquire local firm Dawliya.

Saleh has brought on board longstanding colleague Philip Kotsis from DLA Piper. Both had worked together as far back as 2005 at Saleh’s old Michigan-based firm, Saleh & Associates. Saleh later moved to Kuwaiti firm Al Wagayan, Al Awadhi & Al Saif. Last October DLA Piper partnered with Al Wagayan to launch an office in Kuwait and appointed Saleh as its Middle East managing partner.

Al Tamimi said that it was driven to launch in Kuwait as it became an increasingly important investment jurisdiction for its clients, especially those in Jordan but also in the US, Europe, India and Asia. “Kuwait is a natural extension of the firm’s presence in the key markets in the Middle East, in particular Jordan and the GCC region where there are significant cross-border business activities with Kuwait,” said Saleh in a statement.

Kotsis, Saleh,  and Dawliya's Wassim Sassia  – who the firm said will later be joined by additional fee earners – will advise on corporate and commercial matters and on Shariah-compliant banking & finance transactions. Although foreign lawyers are not allowed to practice locally, the JV with Al Munayae – who can appear before Kuwaiti courts – will allow the office to handle litigation matters. The firm said it expects the office’s growth to be driven by work from longstanding clients, most of whom have been brought on by Saleh.
 
The fast-growing firm however is not stopping there. Al Tamimi is considering opening a second office in Saudi Arabia – supplementing its existing Riyadh office with one in Jeddah.  The firm’s founder Essam Al Tamimi said: “Part of our strategy is to expand throughout the Middle East. We currently support operations across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from our office in Riyadh office. However, we are evaluating options to open an office in Jeddah but we have nothing firm to date.”

Al Tamimi & Co

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