Emile Boulos

Title: Associate
Division: Corporate
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

I went to University College London and the London School of Economics to take a combined degree in Mechanical Engineering with Business. This was followed by the GDL and LPC at BPP College London. My first job was as in-house counsel at Harrods Ltd (as a trainee) before joining Herbert Smith in November 2007.

As an English qualified lawyer with an Arabic background, I was impressed by the seriousness with which the firm entered the Middle East market. It was clear that I would be working in a young, vibrant office backed up by the heritage and international network of a top-tier law firm.

Success in the Middle East is entirely dependent on reputation, client confidence and word-of-mouth. Herbert Smith opened its doors with a core team of specialists with top credentials in the market. We are now a market-leading private equity practice with an equally strong presence in Islamic finance and M&A.

I work in a supportive and entrepreneurial office where opportunities are given and initiative is rewarded. The partners take an over-seeing role, while making it clear that they are directly available to both the clients and us at any time.

Every day I am exposed to people at the peak of their profession - business owners, investors, senior executives, bankers and professional advisors. Every day these people rely on me to provide fast and accurate legal advice. This trust, responsibility and appreciation are more rewarding than I could have imagined.