International law firm Clyde & Co LLP is strengthening its project finance capabilities in the region to support the burgeoning number of infrastructure projects planned and underway across the Middle East, in particular in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  Projects worth more than $1.8 trillion are planned or underway across the GCC according to MEED.

Adrian Creed joins the firm as a partner with more than twenty years experience as a projects / project finance lawyer in the Middle East region.  

Acknowledged by the leading legal directories as a market leading practitioner in projects & project finance, Creed will be based in Clyde & Co’s Abu Dhabi office.  He will continue his focus on energy, utilities and infrastructure, including oil & gas, petrochemicals, renewables, ports, airports and social infrastructure.  

Commenting on his arrival Niall O’Toole, Managing Partner of the Abu Dhabi office, said: “I have known and admired Adrian for many years so I am naturally very pleased to welcome him to Clyde & Co and to our Abu Dhabi office. Adrian’s decision to join Clyde & Co is evidence of our commitment both to Abu Dhabi and to the broader region.  At a time when many firms are feeling the pinch, the strength and depth of our practice allow us to continue investing to meet the needs of our clients in the region.

The last year has been very challenging for many countries in the region and recent events have highlighted the urgent need for MENA countries to provide essential services as a matter of priority. This includes the provision of housing, electricity, water, schools, hospitals etc.  Adrian has vast experience in each of these areas and will work alongside members of our project and construction teams to further develop these opportunities.”

Creed’s experience and track record only goes to further strengthen what is recognised as a market leading practice in projects & construction. Commenting on his decision to join Clyde & Co, Creed said: “Clyde & Co has always been one of the market leaders in the MENA region and I was attracted to join a firm that continues to grow rapidly and is continuing to strengthen and further develop its regional footprint.  My core focus will be project advisory work in the firm’s established office locations, but a significant amount of my time will also be spent on the development of a projects practice in the emerging MENA markets, the Indian subcontinent and Africa.”

Projects partner George Booth commented that, “The addition of Adrian’s experience and reputation to our projects and construction practice in the region will be significant.  We already posses one of the leading practices in the market and this appointment reinforces our capabilities particularly in the utilities and project finance sectors.  Adrian’s knowledge of the region and markets such as UAE, Saudi and Libya will only serve to increase the international reach of our practice and allow us to offer even greater coverage and service to both our regional and international client base.”