Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has appointed Sami Tannous as its regional managing partner for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).  
 
Tannous is a Middle East disputes specialist focusing on investor-State and international commercial arbitration. He has been a partner in Freshfields’ International Arbitration Group since 2017 and has been based in Dubai for more than 12 years. Before relocating to Dubai, Sami worked in the firm’s Paris office.  
 
His experience includes advising clients under all major arbitration rules on a broad range of commercial disputes such as joint venture and shareholder agreements, SPAs, production sharing agreements and distribution/agency agreements, in various sectors including oil and gas, banking, real-estate, telecoms, defence, travel, media, and construction.  
 
Freshfields Senior Partner Georgia Dawson said: “We are pleased to name Sami as our new regional managing partner for MENA. Our firm is well-established in the region, with more than 40 years’ experience as a significant global legal practice. He brings the right experience to build on the success of the firm in the region and continue to meet our growth ambitions.”