PwC has bolstered the senior leadership team of its Legal business with the hire of Ahmad Anani, Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, Paul Lockyer, and Amir Kordvani. The quarter join the firm’s offices in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.
Ahmad Anani has joined PwC Legal in Qatar as Middle East Leader of its Legal Business Solutions. He previously served as managing partner of leading law firms Addleshaw Goddard and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, having previously served Latham & Watkins, and local player Al Tamimi and Company.
Anani’s expertise will complement PwC’s legal advisory capabilities in areas including equity capital markets and corporate structuring mandates, solidifying PwC Legal’s presence in the Qatar market roughly a year after it launched a permanent base in Doha.
Mohammed Al-Ghamdi brings over 25 years of experience to PwC in Saudi Arabia, joining the firm from Norton Rose Fulbright where he spent over two decades, latterly as a partner. As a member of the Saudi bar, he brings a wealth of experience in resolving complex legal issues, having advised on major corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance deals in Saudi Arabia.
An experienced corporate commercial lawyer, Paul Lockyer has over 25 years of experience. After initially working at the New Zealand Police, he transitioned to the law industry, most recently serving Clyde & Co and latterly Norton Rose Fulbright for a dozen years. Lockyer is based in Riyadh.
Amir Kordvani similarly has a background at leading law firms. He has been based in Dubai since 2012, working for Clyde & Co and most recently serving CMS as a partner. An Australian-origin legal practitioner, Kordvani provides legal advisory services to clients in the energy & resources and infrastructure sectors, with a focus on mega projects and infrastructure investments.
Commenting on the appointments, Mohammed Yaghmour, Tax & Legal Services Leader at PwC, said: “In today’s rapidly changing world, it is vital for governments and businesses to have the right legal expertise at hand. Through a globally integrated team, we are able to help unlock business value for clients every step of the way, combining sectoral expertise with a human-led, tech-powered approach.”
“We are delighted to welcome Ahmad, Mohammed, Paul, and Amir to the team. At PwC, we recruit and develop exceptional talent who are the driving force behind our success.”
Globally, PwC Legal has over 4,000 lawyers and legal professionals in over 100 countries.
In the Middle East, PwC Legal has over 50 staff but is on an expansion drive – as the firm meets growing demand for legal services. “We are seeing high levels of demand on the back of rising economic activity and commercial transactions, and the rising status of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar as jurisdictions of choice for business.”
Sourced from Consultancy-me