DLA Piper and Gateley Middle East each elevated a lawyer to partner in their Dubai offices effective May 1, 2026, as international firms expand capabilities in the UAE’s growing legal sector. DLA Piper elevated Adrianus Schoorl, leader of its financial services regulatory practice for the Middle East and North Africa, as part of a global round that included 62 new partners worldwide. Gateley Middle East advanced Amun Bashir within its corporate practice, citing her role in building the firm’s regional mergers and acquisitions work since joining in 2025.
DLA Piper’s announcement detailed that Schoorl brings more than 25 years of financial regulatory experience across Europe, the Middle East and North America. He joined the firm in 2024 after serving as general counsel and head of compliance at fintech company Wizz Financial. Earlier in his career Schoorl worked at Allen & Overy, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and White & Case, where he contributed to the development of financial regulatory practices, and held positions with regulators in multiple jurisdictions.
Schoorl said, «DLA Piper’s global platform and strong presence in the Middle East create an exceptional opportunity to continue supporting clients on complex regulatory matters. I look forward to continuing to grow our financial services regulatory practice in the MENA region alongside a highly talented team.» Peter Somekh, DLA Piper’s managing director for the Middle East and Africa, stated that financial services regulation continues to be a key area of focus for clients as the region strengthens its position as a global financial hub. Somekh added that Schoorl’s promotion reflects both the growth of this practice area and the firm’s continued investment in supporting clients through an increasingly dynamic regulatory environment.
DLA Piper ranks among the top three largest law firms in the Middle East according to 2025 rankings by Law.com International. The firm is expanding its Abu Dhabi presence with a new office in the ADGM scheduled to open later in 2026. The 62 global promotions, of which 24 were in the US, took effect on May 1, 2026, and target growth in key practices including litigation and regulatory work.
Gateley Middle East promoted Amun Bashir to partner in its corporate practice. She has advised on regional and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and commercial matters while contributing to the expansion of the firm’s transactional capabilities. The move reflects the firm’s strategy to scale its Middle East platform with a sector-led focus that includes retail and consumer areas.
Bashir said, «I am proud to step into the partnership at a time of strong momentum for Gateley Middle East. My promotion reflects the continued investment by the business in growing a market-leading corporate transactions practice in the region with a clear focus on running well-run, efficient transactions combining technical excellence with clear, pragmatic advice that clients can act on quickly. Looking ahead, my focus will be on continuing to scale our corporate transactional practice in the Middle East, deepening relationships with key clients and intermediaries, and further strengthening our sector-led approach, particularly across retail and consumer.» Darren Harris, managing partner and head of corporate at Gateley Middle East, described the appointment as well deserved and a significant investment in the practice’s future. Harris noted that Bashir combines strong technical expertise with deep regional market understanding and exemplifies the firm’s growth ambitions.
Grand View Research projects the UAE legal services market to expand from $5.0 billion in 2024 to $7.6 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate of 7.4 percent, with corporate services as the largest segment. The growth aligns with Dubai’s role as a hub for international finance, cross-border deals and regulatory developments in areas such as fintech and digital assets. Both promotions position the firms to address rising client demand for specialized advice in these evolving areas.
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