Payne Hicks Beach construction and energy head Julian Critchlow will leave the firm on 1 June to set up his own practice focusing on Middle Eastern and East African legal work.
The new firm will be called Al Bawardi Critchlow and is established in association with UAE firm Al Bawardi Advocates. It will be based on Fleet Street.
The tie-up will allow Critchlow to practise across the Middle East and increase Al Bawardi’s international presence, with Critchlow’s firm becoming its first associated office in the UK.
Critchlow is taking five consultants from his team at Payne Hicks Beach and his personal assistant with him to the new firm.
He will also be taking a number of clients to his new firm, including ex-Gibson Dunn & Crutcher partner Peter Gray.
Critchlow is representing Gray on his high-profile claim against Gibson Dunn over negligence and breach of contract.
Gray, who is based in Dubai, is seeking approximately $500,000 ($350,000) in costs related to a previous legal battle in the UK that saw him lose his job at the firm.
Since his departure from Gibson Dunn, Gray has started working for Dubai-based law firm Kingsgrove Partners, which also has an association with Al Bawardi.
Critchlow said it was through Gray that he had “become more involved in Middle Eastern work”, leading him to launch the firm.
“After long and friendly discussions with Payne Hicks Beach we’ve agreed it’s not the right place to do this type of work from,” he said.
Critchlow joined Payne Hicks Beach in January 2013 to launch the construction team. He joined from Fenwick Elliott.
In a statement Payne Hicks Beach said: “We have enjoyed working with Julian and wish him well in his new endeavours.
“Payne Hicks Beach will continue to advise on construction related matters, as we did before Julian joined us, however this will not be a key area of focus for the firm moving forward.”