Press Release
HFW Boosts Global Construction Practice With Middle East Partner Hire
Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has boosted its construction practice with the hire of Slava Kiryushin in Dubai.
Slava advises international oil & gas companies and large contractors on major energy and infrastructure projects and complex technical agreements, with particular expertise on high-value arbitrations across a range of sectors.
He joins HFW on 1 May from DWF, where he was Global Co-Head of Infrastructure, Construction and Energy.
HFW's global construction team now comprises 14 partners and more than 70 lawyers in total, advising on procurement, risk management and disputes for a wide range of clients, including contractors, owners, consultants, and insurers.
Michael Sergeant, Global Head of Construction, HFW:
"Slava's experience perfectly aligns with our global focus on advising large international contractors on major projects and disputes, as well as bringing niche expertise in areas like oil & gas and oilfield services.
"We will actively target further opportunities to strengthen and broaden our offering in the Middle East, which is an important region for our clients and for HFW."
Slava is an English-qualified solicitor-advocate and has been based in the UAE for more than a decade, advising clients on energy, construction, and infrastructure disputes throughout the region.
His clients include national and international oil & gas companies, refining and petrochemical companies, EPC contractors, and oil & gas service companies.
Slava is ranked by legal directory Who's Who as a Global Leader for power and electricity and oil & gas, describing him as having "a wealth of experience" and being a stand-out lawyer for "his dispute resolution practice in the oil and gas processing, refining and petrochemical infrastructure in the Middle East".
He is also ranked as one of the UAE's leading lawyers for both construction and oil & gas in The Legal 500, where anonymous client testimonials praised Slava for having "excellent industry knowledge" and being "very experienced in the Middle East", with another saying: "Slava is probably the best person that we have worked with in the recent past – he understands what we need as a business. Commercially savvy and technically great, his strategic advice is always welcome by our board of directors."
Slava is MENA Regional Director of the Association of International Energy Negotiators.
Slava Kiryushin, Partner, HFW:
"HFW is a longstanding member of the Middle East legal community and has a first-rate global construction team. The combination of the firm's deep sector expertise in construction and energy, and its network of offices both across the Middle East and around the world, represents an excellent platform for me to provide even more value to clients. I am very excited to work with the global team to continue to build the firm's offering to clients across the construction and energy sectors."
HFW has operated in the Middle East for more than 15 years, and now has more than 50 lawyers based in offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Kuwait City, and Riyadh.
The firm recently boosted its leading Middle East shipping and offshore team with the hire of top-ranked partners Robert Lawrence and Ian Chung, and strengthened its global fraud and insolvency practice with the hire of Nick Braganza in Dubai.
About HFW
HFW is a leading global law firm in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy, insurance, and shipping sectors. The firm has more than 600 lawyers, including 180 partners, based in offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. HFW prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative, and collaborative culture.
Chris Johnson
Head of Communications
D +44 (0)20 7264 8159
M +44 (0)7976 939864
E chris.johnson@hfw.com
