Biography Kenneth Ellis moved to the US-based White & Case’s Doha office in 2010. From 2008-2009 he worked in the firm’s Miami and New York offices. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and other capital markets transactions, involving industries ranging from agriculture to energy. Ellis has also advised sovereign governments and state-owned entities on financial and transactional matters, including the privatisation of state-owned entities through negotiated divestitures and global equity offerings, on global sovereign debt offerings and on cross-border acquisition transactions. Between 1991 and 2007, he was based in White & Case’s Singapore and Hong Kong offices, where he headed the firm’s Asian securities practice, advising on securities, and mergers and acquisitions. Ellis is a graduate of the University of Florida in the US and was admitted to the Florida State Bar in 1974.

Contact Tel: (+974) 4 406 4310

Biography Robert Porter is the managing partner of UK-based Allen & Overy’s Doha office. He specialises in international funds and asset management, cross-border joint ventures and acquisitions, and real-estate schemes. Porter has advised on many major projects, funds, joint ventures and real estate investment trust structures across the region, including in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He has advised on transactions relating to investment issues affecting real-estate assets and specialises in domestic and international real-estate transactions. These include the establishment of real-estate funds, direct and indirect investments, equity financing, as well as joint ventures and co-ownership structures. Porter joined Allen & Overy in 2004 as a partner. He moved from the firm’s London office to its new Doha office in 2010. It is Allen & Overy’s fourth office in the region.

Contact Tel: (+974) 4 419 4300

Biography Martin Brown has been a partner at SNR Denton since May 2008. The firm was formed following the merger of UK-based Denton Wilde Sapte and US-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal. Brown joined Denton Wilde in 2007 before the firm merged with Sonnenschein in 2010. He has advised on cross-border syndicated financings, real-estate finance, Islamic finance, general corporate acquisition transactions and workouts, and restructuring. Brown advises Qatari and international financial institutions and borrowers on conventional and Sharia-compliant financing transactions in Qatar, the Gulf region and Europe. He recently advised a group of banks on a rigs and accommodation barge deal worth $430m with the local Gulf Drilling International. Before joining Denton Wilde, Brown worked for the US’ White & Case and the UK’s Ashurst in London. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of London.

Contact Tel: (+974) 4 459 8964

Biography Karl Hopkins is a partner at the US-based Dewey & LeBoeuf’s oil and gas industry corporate group. He specialises in the development, construction, start-up and operation of international energy projects. Hopkins has worked on transactions in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, as well as in countries outside the GCC. He has represented international oil firms, national oil and gas companies, petroleum refiners, pipeline companies, oilfield service companies and energy investment companies. Hopkins’ recent work has included working on the Kuwait Airways’ privatisation, and acting for a liquefied natural gas producer in relation to its investment in several terminals and long-term supply agreements. He graduated from Southwestern University School of Law in 1992 after completing a history degree at Texas A&M University, also in the US. He is a member of the Texas State Bar.

Contact Tel: (+974) 4 410 1718

Biography Michael Earley is a corporate and commercial lawyer at the UK-based Clyde & Co’s Doha office. He has more than five years’ experience advising clients across the Middle East. Earley’s specialisations include insurance, employment law, company formation and structuring, corporate finance, project finance, IT service agreements and initial public offerings. He has also advised on technology, media and telecom and has instructed government ministries, national energy companies and IT firms, as well as local and international banks. Earley has advised several multinational companies on regulations at Qatar Financial Centre. He has also advised a European embassy in relation to its standard employment contract and other issues relating to the Qatari labour law. Before joining Clyde & Co in 2008, Earley was based in the Muscat office of another international law firm.

Contact Tel: (+974) 4 496 7434

Biography Richard Birks is a partner in the UK-based Eversheds’ projects and infrastructure team, splitting his time between its Doha and London offices. He specialises in infrastructure and regeneration projects with particular emphasis on the transport and health sectors. Birks advises on all aspects of real-estate development and investment and has experience in major infrastructure projects, acting for sponsors, authorities and funders. He also has expertise in acquisitions and disposals, acting for funds and institutional investors as well as international transactions. Birks recently advised on a QR4.5bn ($1.3bn) development project in Doha and has also worked on a subsea pan-Gulf telecoms deal. He joined Eversheds in November 2006 from the UK’s Allen & Overy. Birks graduated from the University of Nottingham in 1994 and was admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1997.

Contact Tel: (+974) 4 496 7385