King & Spalding, a leading international law firm, has announced the expansion of its Middle East property practice with the deployment of two senior lawyers to its Abu Dhabi office.

The move brings to 27 the number of King & Spalding lawyers and legal assistants in the Middle East, strengthening the firm’s position as one of the largest US law firms in the region, said a company press release.

Partner W. Clay Gibson and senior counsel Timothy N. Tucker have relocated to Abu Dhabi from King & Spalding’s office in Atlanta, Georgia. Gibson will head up King & Spalding’s real estate practice in the region.

“Adding Clay and Tim, two talented senior lawyers, in Abu Dhabi significantly enhances our ability to meet the increasing demand of our Middle Eastern and foreign clients for expertise with property investments and development projects in the region,” said Philip Weems, head of King & Spalding’s Middle East offices.

“The expansion of our property practice in the Middle East complements our strong coverage in Western Europe and the United States.”

Earlier this month construction partner James Bremen and three associates joined King & Spalding’s London office, from where Bremen will continue his Middle East, Africa and Asia construction practice.

Gibson has 28 years’ experience in commercial real estate transactions, representing US and international clients in the acquisition, disposition and development of, and joint venture investment in, the full range of asset classes.

His practice also includes the representation of real estate companies in various consolidation and capital market transactions, including the consolidation and roll-up of real estate operating companies and property portfolios.

Tucker’s 27 years of experience has focused on the development, acquisition, financing, leasing and disposition of office buildings, shopping centers, hotels, industrial parks, residential apartment and condominium projects and mixed use developments.

King & Spalding’s real estate practice provides experienced and sophisticated advice on a complete range of commercial real estate transactions for some of the largest financial institutions, institutional investors, funds, investment advisors, asset managers, real estate investment trusts and developers.

The firm has a leading real estate capital markets practice and has earned a reputation for its creative structuring of mergers and acquisitions and complex equity and debt financing transactions for real estate clients.-TradeArabia News Service