Akin Welcomes Skye Smith as Investment Management Partner in Abu Dhabi.
Akin announced today that Skye Smith has joined the firm as a partner in its investment management practice. Ms. Smith will initially be based in the Dallas office and is set to relocate to Abu Dhabi in the coming months.
This move reinforces Akin’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle East and strengthens the firm’s position as a leading advisor in the Abu Dhabi Global Market, where sovereign wealth funds manage an estimated $1.7 trillion.
Skye Smith is an experienced advisor to institutional investors, with a strong emphasis on sovereign wealth funds.
With deep expertise across private equity, venture capital, infrastructure, real estate, and hedge funds, Ms. Smith advises on primary commitments, co-investments, continuation vehicles, GP stakes, and other customized arrangements, while also counseling pension plans, endowments, funds of funds, and multifamily offices.
“We are continuing to expand our investment management offerings in Abu Dhabi. The Middle East is a growing asset management market and an area of intense focus for Akin, serving our clients in their most sophisticated transactions,” said Abid Qureshi, co-chair of Akin.
“Skye brings significant experience working with sovereign wealth funds in Abu Dhabi, and we’re pleased to welcome her to our team.”
“Skye is a highly regarded investment management lawyer with a longstanding client network in Abu Dhabi.” added Barbara Niederkofler, co-leader of Akin’s investment management practice.
Robert Griffin, an investment management partner based in Abu Dhabi, commented, “Skye brings deep knowledge of the fundraising opportunities and challenges in the UAE and she is a phenomenal addition to our investment management practice in the Abu Dhabi global market.”
Ms. Smith said: “I am thrilled to join Akin and its premier investment management team. The firm has a growing platform in the UAE and Abu Dhabi in particular, advising some of the most prominent sovereign wealth funds, making this the ideal setting for my practice.”
Skye Smith joins Akin from DLA Piper.
Earlier this year, Akin announced that corporate partner Alexander Malahias and project finance partner Jennifer Riddle joined the firm and will be based in Abu Dhabi until the firm opens its new Riyadh office later this year. The firm also recently welcomed investment management partner Wendy Dodson Gallegos in Chicago.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading global law firm with over 900 lawyers across offices in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Founded in 1945, the firm is recognized for excellence in complex transactions, litigation, financial restructuring, and public policy. Akin is known for its innovative, diverse, and collaborative culture, serving corporations, governments, and individuals with tailored legal solutions.
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