Akin has announced that Andrej Kormuth has joined the firm as a project development partner in Dubai. The move is designed to bolster the law firm’s presence in the Middle East, specifically within the project development sector. By bringing Kormuth on board, Akin aims to tighten the integration between its regional operations and its broader global platform, ensuring that local expertise is supported by international resources.
Kormuth’s practice covers a wide range of infrastructure matters. He advises developers, sponsors, and government entities on complex projects involving conventional and renewable power, water management, and industrial manufacturing. His work also extends to waste-to-energy facilities and the regulatory structuring of public-private partnerships. This breadth of experience allows him to handle some of the region’s most significant development issues.
Before joining Akin, Kormuth served as the Middle East regional head of projects at Bracewell. He brings a substantial track record of managing large-scale initiatives across the region. His departure from Bracewell and arrival at Akin marks a notable shift in how high-stakes infrastructure legal advice is contested in the Gulf. The firm appears to be prioritizing depth in this specific area of law over general corporate work.
Project development in the Middle East often requires a level of coordination that single-office firms struggle to achieve. Clients are increasingly looking for advisers who can manage the entire lifecycle of a project, from initial conception to final execution. Large law firms are competing not just on legal acumen, but on their ability to mobilize resources across different time zones and practice areas simultaneously.
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Akin co-chair Abid Qureshi stated that Kormuth’s arrival reinforces the firm’s commitment to the Middle East. He noted that the region holds strategic importance for the firm’s global platform. “His deep experience and market-leading reputation complement our existing strengths and further enhance our ability to support clients on the region’s most significant and complex development projects,” Qureshi said.
David Sewell, co-head of the firm’s corporate practice, highlighted Kormuth’s reputation for building a leading project development offering. “His deep regional experience, coupled with Akin’s integrated global corporate platform, positions us to deliver seamless support on complex projects across the Middle East and beyond,” Sewell added. The firm is positioning this hire as a key part of its broader corporate strategy.
Wael Jabsheh, the Middle East corporate practice lead, pointed to the surge in investment in infrastructure and strategic development projects. He described the current environment as active, with clients seeking sophisticated advice. “Clients increasingly seeking advisers who can provide end-to-end support from project inception through execution,” Jabsheh observed. The need for such all-encompassing services is driving the demand for specialized talent.
Kormuth cited the strength of Akin’s global platform as a primary reason for his move. He emphasized the firm’s ability to collaborate seamlessly across practices and offices. “The firm’s ability to bring together market-leading capabilities from across its international network is truly distinctive,” he said. He expressed excitement about using this network to help clients advance their most strategic and complex infrastructure initiatives.
