Linklaters Middle East Re-Appoints Scott Campbell as Regional Head

Linklaters Middle East Re-Appoints Scott Campbell as Regional Head

Following a brief interim period, veteran Linklaters Middle East corporate partner Scott Campbell has resumed his role as regional head.

Linklaters announced that Jonathan Fried, who became Middle East managing partner in December 2022, will be stepping down to focus entirely on his role as head of the Middle East capital markets practice, which he has held since 2014.

Campbell, who previously held the position of regional managing partner for eight years, has been associated with the firm's Dubai office since its opening in the year 2006.

Specialising in mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, and other complex corporate finance transactions, he has established himself as a leading figure in the financial services, telecommunications, and real estate sectors.

Having received his legal training and qualification at Russell McVeigh in New Zealand, he subsequently joined Linklaters, where he has spent the entirety of his professional career.

“I am honoured to be taking on this role again. I am extremely proud of our fantastic cross-practice work in this dynamic and growing region and eager to support our clients on their strategic growth opportunities,” Campbell said.

Firmwide managing partner Paul Lewis emphasised the strategic importance of the Middle East for Linklaters, stating, "It's a critical growth area for our firm.” He acknowledged Campbell's expertise, saying, "Under his leadership, I have no doubt we're well-positioned for success," while alluding to plans for further development, adding, "We're committed to constantly enhancing our capabilities to meet evolving client needs in the region."

Asia Managing Partner William Liu added: “While we are sorry that Jonathan has decided to return to full-time practice, we thank him for leading the expansion of our firm’s regional capabilities and deepening key relationships, and are excited about our strong and growing capital markets practice with Jonathan’s additional energy.”