Patton Boggs Adds Partners

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 13, 2012- Patton Boggs LLP is strengthening its M&A, Capital Markets, Litigation, Energy and Islamic Finance practices with the addition of eight professionals formerly affiliated with Dewey & LeBoeuf. Five of these professionals will form a Patton Boggs affiliate office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, while two will be based in the firm's Washington, D.C. office and one in New York. 

The group is led by Khalid Al-Thebity, who will manage the Patton Boggs affiliated office in Riyadh. Mr. Al-Thebity's firm previously served as the Riyadh office affiliated with Dewey & LeBoeuf. Practicing in the areas of corporate, commercial and financial law, as well as real estate and Saudi-specific litigation and arbitration, Mr. Al-Thebity's diverse work primarily focuses on assisting clients in the energy and real estate industries with a broad range of transactions, particularly project finance and development. His expertise extends to regulatory-related insurance affairs and construction matters.  

Mr. Al-Thebity has represented the Government of Saudi Arabia for more than 15 years, advising it during several major initiatives and transactions, and in matters of international trade compliance. His deep knowledge of the Saudi market has also benefited numerous foreign companies completing transactions and joint ventures in Saudi Arabia. 

"We are excited to have Khalid and his highly talented team on board," said Edward J. Newberry managing partner of Patton Boggs. "Their focus on energy, financial services, M&A, Islamic finance, dispute resolution and regulatory and government affairs aligns with the firm's strategic practices, and a well-established Riyadh office builds on our strong presence in the MENA region. Our Middle East practice has long been a competitive differentiator for the firm, and with offices in Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi we are well positioned to offer our clients direct assistance in three of the most vibrant markets in the region." 

"We are pleased to join Patton Boggs and feel that it is a natural fit," added Mr. Al-Thebity. "There is no better firm for navigating the intersection of government, policy and business, and our practice areas are complementary."

Joining Patton Boggs with Mr. Al-Thebity's practice will be Riyadh-based Associates Jihad A. Turkistani, Stefan L. Guttensohn, Siraj Al Islam and Judeh K. Bahnan; Washington, D.C.-based Counsel David A. Colson, a former U.S. State Department deputy assistant secretary for Oceans, and Counsel Brian J. Vohrer; and New York-based international energy advisor Tess Serranti. The team brings in-depth experience and regional expertise in the areas of capital markets, Islamic finance, M&A, international arbitration, dispute resolution, and project finance and infrastructure that bolster Patton Boggs' transactional capabilities and extend the firm's existing presence in the commercial space. 

The addition of Mr. Al-Thebity and his team continues a string of recent strategic investments by Patton Boggs. In April, four of the country's leading insurance dispute lawyers joined the firm -- John M. Nonna, Larry P. Schiffer, Eridania Perez and Suman Chakraborty, creating a leading insurance and reinsurance dispute resolution practice and strengthening its international arbitration, cross-border dispute resolution and commercial litigation practices.  Patton Boggs also added three insurance litigation partners, led by Mark Sheridan, to the firm?s Newark office last fall.

In the energy sector, Mr. Al-Thebity will work closely with Suedeen Kelly, partner and a former commissioner with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in both the Bush and Obama administrations. Ms. Kelly, a member of Patton Boggs' Executive Committee, is an internationally recognized energy leader who helps clients navigate the changing energy landscape and prepare for new legislation and regulations.