Pinsent Masons appoints Hassan as Partner

Osama is a considered a leading figure in the UAE corporate legal market having operated in the region for 25 years, most recently for Canadian firm Bennett Jones. His clients include Government Departments, heads of family owned business and many government owned entities. He also has a client base of significant blue chip energy and infrastructure organisations, some of whom are also current clients of Pinsent Masons. 

Hassan will be bringing Senior Associate, Ziad Haddad, and Aarshi Mahajan.  All three will based in Dubai and will join the current eight-person Corporate team there.  

Hassan will lead the Corporate practice in the Middle East working closely with Dubai Corporate head, Alison Hubbard and Head of Pinsent Masons in the Middle East, Sachin Kerur.  

Hassan is the third lateral partner hire completed by the firm in January. 

Sachin Kerur, Head of Pinsent Masons in the Middle East, says:

 "Osama is recognised by many senior leaders within the UAE for his expertise, and he is considered a trusted adviser to a broad range of significant clients in the region. His appointment represents a serious statement of intent by the firm in the region, and follows a period of significant growth and investment allied to our focus on the energy, infrastructure and technology sectors. I am very pleased to be able to work closely with Osama" 

Andrew Masraf, Partner and Head of Corporate at Pinsent Masons, says: 

"We have taken steps in recent years to further build our Corporate practice across our global network in response to client demand. To have brought in someone of Osama's calibre and regional contacts will be significant for our practice in the Middle East, ahead of significant anticipated IPO and M&A activity as the region returns to sustainable growth." 

David Ryan, Managing Partner at Pinsent Masons, says: 

"We have made a number of significant lateral and team hires since the beginning of the year which says something both about our confidence for the year ahead, and the renewed sense of vigour with which we are pursuing our strategy to become a market-leading firm in the global sectors in which we operate. I am delighted to welcome Osama to the firm." 

The appointment represents the latest investment in the Middle East by Pinsent Masons following the appointment of Tax specialist Ian Anderson in Dubai from the QFC at the start of the year.  It is also a further significant development for the firm's Corporate practice following the appointment of a four-partner team in Singapore last year. 

Legal 500 has noted Osama as "unrivalled in the UAE – he is bright, an extremely hard worker, and gives practical business advice that delivers favourable results time and time again."  Chambers Global stated that he "offers the total package – Shari'a, local and international law advice from one canny and analytical source". 

Osama was educated at the Cairo Faculty of Law and trained at Al Jabri and Partners in Dubai before working with Dentons legacy firm Fox & Gibbons and Taylor Wessing legacy firm Key and Dixon.