Duane Morris LLP announced today that it has opened its first office in the Middle East through a joint venture with the Al Mashaikhi Law Firm, a multi-practice law firm in Muscat, Oman. The newly established joint venture, to be known as the Dr. Said Al Mashaikhi and Partner Law Firm—A GCC representative office of Duane Morris—significantly expands the capabilities and geographic reach of both firms. The Omani firm was founded by name partner Dr. Said Al Mashaikhi, and Duane Morris partner Jeffrey Rodwell, formerly based in Duane Morris’ London office, who has relocated to Muscat to serve as the managing director.

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Watson, Farley & Williams (“WFW”), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that it has advised Seaspan Corporation on a facility agreement between ICBC (Industrial and Commercial Bank of China) of up to US$350,000,000. The secured loan will be used to refinance Seaspan’s existing debt obligations for seven vessels, and will be split into two loan agreements.

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Herbert Smith Freehills has advised FleetCor Technologies, Inc., a global provider of fuel cards and workforce payment programs to businesses, on its acquisition of Custom Fleet’s Fleet card business from GE Capital Australia’s Custom Fleet leasing business. The transaction completed on Tuesday 26 March.

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Herbert Smith Freehills is advising Cazenove Capital on its £424 million recommended takeover offer from Schroders, which was announced on Monday, 25 March 2013.

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Armstrong Teasdale announces the addition of Tamra Wilson Setser as a partner in its Kansas City office. Wilson Setser, a 30-year veteran of employment law, is a member of the firm’s Litigation practice group.

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Shearman & Sterling advised Nokia Siemens Networks Finance B.V. on its offering of €450 million 6¾% Senior Notes due 2018 and €350 million 7⅛ Senior Notes due 2020. The offering, which was conducted pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the US Securities Act, closed on March 27, 2013.

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Law firm CMS has advised UniCredit, Raiffeisen and Sberbank as lenders of a 5-year USD 250 million loan to GeoProMining (“GPM”), a diversified metals resource company operating gold and copper mines in Russia and Armenia.

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