DAC Beachcroft has announced plans to expand into the Middle East by opening a new office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) this summer, marking the firm’s first in the region.
The new branch will be located in the landmark new DIFC Square development within the DIFC, strengthening the firm’s ability to support clients across the insurance and healthcare sectors.
According to DAC Beachcroft (DACB), the new office will open with three high-profile lateral partner hires, Michael Morris, Michael Ducker and Mark Beswetherick, all joining from Clyde & Co.
The trio are said to bring more than 40 years of combined regional experience, along with long-standing client relationships across the market.
Morris most recently served as litigation partner and Head of Insurance for the Middle East at Clyde & Co. He returns to DACB, where he began his legal career.
DACB said Morris relocated from the UK to the UAE in 2015 and has since developed a market-leading practice focused on commercial and professional liability claims.
Ducker joins with a strong profile in both the insurance and healthcare sectors. Formerly co-head of Clyde & Co’s Middle East & Africa Healthcare Group, he advises insurers, reinsurers, healthcare providers, hospitals and major brokers across the region.
Beswetherick also returns to DACB from earlier in his career. He was previously Head of Clyde & Co’s Insurance and Dispute Resolution Group in Dubai.
He specialises in arbitration, international litigation and corporate investigations, with particular expertise in D&O liability, professional negligence, and complex, multi-jurisdictional insurance disputes.
Gustavo Blanco, Head of International Business at DACB, commented, “We are looking forward to welcoming Mike Morris and Mark back to DACB later this year and to have Mike Ducker join us at what will be such a pivotal moment in our growth.
“They are an established, cohesive team with an exceptional reputation in the Middle East market. Their arrival will give us immediate scale and credibility in the region and create a powerful platform for further expansion.
“With their deep sector knowledge and regional insight, we will be very well placed to support our clients’ most complex and high-value matters. This forthcoming launch is another important step in our ambition to be the legal services provider of choice to the global insurance market.”
Helen Faulkner, Managing Partner of DACB, added, “Opening in the Middle East has long been a strategic priority for the firm. Dubai is a gateway to the region and a global centre not only for insurance, but also for healthcare and our other advisory practices.
“From this new base, our clients can expect the same market-leading expertise, seamless cross-border capability and collaborative culture they experience across our international network – spanning the UK, the US, Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific.”
Morris said, “Having started my career at DACB, I have seen first-hand the firm’s commitment to excellence and client service.
“Together, we will build a Middle East practice that is ambitious, collaborative and fully aligned with the needs of global insurers, reinsurers and healthcare clients operating in the region. This is an exciting time in DACB’s growth story, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
