Clyde & Co has announced the addition of two new Middle East-based partners: Peter Hodgins in Islamic insurance (takaful) and Scott Aitken in property. 

Takaful expert Hodgins is the latest in a succession of departures from DLA Piper, where he was involved in the establishment of the firm's affiliated office in Riyadh. Before this, Hodgins worked in the insurance practices of Clifford Chance and UK firm Reynold Porter Chamberlain. He will join a Clyde & Co insurance group that has six partners and 12 lawyers.

Aitken will head the firm's four-lawyer real estate practice in Abu Dhabi. Before joining Clyde & Co, Aitken spent five years working for Australian firms Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Clayton Utz. His areas of specialty include acting for owners and operators in the branding of hotels and related residential developments, and advising the owners and operators of shopping malls in relation to all aspects of facilities management including leasing, asset and property.

ALB reported last month that  Clydes had recruited former Oman Oil general counsel John McMahon as an energy and projects consultant in the Doha office, while former Allen & Overy senior associate Katherine Price joined the financial services team and former Baker & McKenzie associate Arjun Chhabra joined the corporate and finance team.