Simmons & Simmons has hired corporate lawyer Tom Butcher as a partner in Abu Dhabi from Allen & Overy.

With more than five years of experience in the region, Butcher has advised clients on telecom and media M&A transactions, telecom infrastructure projects, and outsourcings and technology procurements. He also advises on intellectual property and data protection-related matters.

“The firm is ranked as a top tier firm for TMT in the key legal directories, and we welcome the arrival of Tom as he is one of the notable lawyers in this sector,” said Andrew Wingfield, head of the Middle East at Simmons & Simmons, in a statement. “He has joined the firm in Abu Dhabi where the firm is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.”

Butcher is the third corporate/commercial partner to join Simmons & Simmons n the Middle East in the past four months of 2013, following the appointment of partners Arnaud Depierrefeu in Doha and Haitham Hawashin in Abu Dhabi. In November 2013, the firm also added disputes partner David Risbridger in Dubai.

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