Renowned global law firm Sullivan & Cromwell LLP has officially marked its expansion into the Middle East by opening a new office within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This strategic move is designed to better support the firm’s growing client base across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, offering specialized legal counsel in finance, regulatory affairs, and complex cross-border transactions. To spearhead this regional growth, the firm has appointed veteran lawyer Ahmed T. el-Gaili as a partner to lead their Middle East practice.

El-Gaili brings nearly twenty years of regional expertise to the role, having previously worked at the firm’s London office before building a robust career advising sovereign wealth funds, governments, and major corporate entities. His return to Sullivan & Cromwell is seen as a vital step in capitalizing on the region's surge in high-profile infrastructure, energy, and technology projects. By establishing a physical presence in the heart of Abu Dhabi’s financial district, the firm aims to deepen its long-standing relationships and provide sophisticated, on-the-ground support for the region’s most critical and complex mandates.