07 Sep 2026
Charles Russell Speechlys appoints Philip O’Riordan as head of Middle East corporate practice in Dubai
"Charles Russell Speechlys hires Philip O’Riordan as partner and head of its Middle East corporate practice in Dubai; Afraz Hussain joins as legal director to work on cross-border M&A, joint ventures and corporate transactions."
Philip O’Riordan joins Charles Russell Speechlys from Clyde & Co, where he spent 20 years as a partner and previously headed Clyde & Co’s Middle East corporate practice. He enters the firm as partner and will lead the corporate practice across the Middle East. His practice covers cross-border M&A, joint ventures, strategic investments and corporate structuring across the region. His sector focus includes real estate and hospitality, food and beverage, industrials and manufacturing, infrastructure and healthcare, and he has acted on corporate real estate matters advising developers, sovereign-related entities and investors on development joint ventures, strategic investments and real estate M&A.
Afraz Hussain moves to Charles Russell Speechlys from Clyde & Co in Dubai and joins the firm as legal director. Dual-qualified in England and Wales and India, Hussain advises on cross-border M&A, joint ventures, private equity and other corporate transactions. He is regularly instructed on deals along the India–GCC corridor, acting for Indian corporates and investors entering the Gulf and for regional clients investing into India.