Top UK firm set to expand to India

British legal firm Ince & Co which launched an office in Dubai, saw Dubai as the gateway to the Indian market.

With an eye on India, British legal firm Ince & Co has become the latest UK firm to launch an office in Dubai after linking up with local firm Al Jallaf Advocates & Legal Consultants.

HT Image

The new entity, Ince Al Jallaf & Co, will be headed up by name partner Amna Al Jallaf and London-based Ince shipping partner Bob Deering. The practice will focus on Ince's core shipping business, as well as aviation, business and finance, commercial disputes and litigation, energy and insurance and reinsurance.

Speaking on the signing of the deal Deering said, "We have a keen eye on India, particularly as the barriers to foreign lawyers come down. I see Dubai as the gateway to the Indian market, where we already have significant interests."

Ince becomes the latest in a string of city firms to open in the jurisdiction, which is a major market for energy and projects work, following on from the likes of Linklaters and Ashurst. The new base, the shipping and insurance firm's first base in the Middle East, will be the eighth international branch, alongside its offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Piraeus, Paris, Le Havre and Hamburg.