07 Sep 2026
Charles Russell Speechlys appoints Philip O’Riordan to lead Middle East Corporate practice
"Charles Russell Speechlys hires Philip O’Riordan as Partner and Head of its Middle East Corporate practice in Dubai and appoints Afraz Hussain as Legal Director to its Corporate/M&A team."
Philip O’Riordan joins from Clyde & Co, where he was a Partner for 20 years and previously headed its Middle East Corporate practice. He brings more than two decades of experience advising clients across the region, having developed long-standing relationships with leading corporates, sovereign and sovereign-related entities, investors, family businesses and multinational companies. Philip played a leading role in the establishment and development of Clyde & Co’s Saudi Arabian practice from its inception in 2011. His practice focuses on complex cross-border M&A, joint ventures, strategic investments and corporate structuring across the Middle East, with particular sector experience in real estate and hospitality, food and beverage, industrials and manufacturing, infrastructure and healthcare. He also has significant experience in corporate real estate, advising developers, sovereign-related entities and investors on development joint ventures, strategic investments and real estate M&A. Philip is consistently recognised by Chambers Global and The Legal 500 as a leading Corporate/M&A lawyer in the region.
Afraz Hussain joins Charles Russell Speechlys from Clyde & Co in Dubai and will serve as Legal Director. Dual-qualified in England and Wales and India, Afraz has more than 14 years’ experience, including over a decade in the UAE, advising on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, private equity and other strategic corporate transactions. He is regularly instructed on matters along the India–GCC corridor, acting for Indian corporates and investors entering the Gulf and for regional clients investing into India. Afraz has also spent time in-house as Head of Legal and Compliance at a portfolio company of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, with responsibility for operations across more than 40 jurisdictions.