The Qatar office was officially launched by former US defence secretary William Cohen, who is now a senior advisor at DLA Piper, and was attended by more than 150 guests.

Speaking at a press briefing, Cohen said: “This new office will serve as a bridge between Doha and the world, facilitating foreign investment in Qatar and supporting Qatari businesses in their global expansion.”

With the rest of the global economy crumbling, DLA Piper appears to be accelerating the pace of its Middle Eastern expansion. Only a month ago the firm announced its plans to establish a joint venture with one of the biggest law firms in Kuwait. DLA Piper already has more than 120 lawyers working in the Middle East, and has acted for a number of Qatari entities.

Lee I Miller, Joint Chief Executive Officer at DLA Piper, said: “Establishing a presence in Doha is a natural next step for DLA Piper as we continue to expand our operations across the Middle East. There are many exciting opportunities in Qatar and it is important for us to have an office here in order to support the needs of Qatari businesses and others investing in the country.”