International law firm DAC Beachcroft has expanded into the Middle East with the opening of a new office in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), strengthening the firm's ability to support clients across the insurance and health sectors. The launch represents DACB's first office in the region and a significant milestone in its international growth strategy.
The new branch is located in the landmark DIFC Square development within the DIFC and will be led by Khurram Shamsee, partner and Head of Business Advisory at DACB, as Managing Partner. The DIFC branch opens with three high-profile partners – Michael Morris, Michael Ducker and Mark Beswetherick – who joined DACB from Clyde & Co., bringing over 40 years' combined experience in the region and long-standing client relationships.
Michael Morris began his legal career at DACB, having most recently served as a litigation partner and Head of Insurance for the Middle East at Clyde & Co. He relocated from the UK to the UAE in 2015, and since then has built a market-leading practice focused on commercial and professional liability claims. He is widely recognised for his expertise in trade credit and political risk insurance (both contentious and non-contentious), reinsurance disputes, professional liability claims, and subrogated recoveries.
Partner Michael Ducker has a strong reputation in the insurance and healthcare markets. Based in Dubai since 2016, he advises re/insurers and policyholders across the Middle East on complex coverage disputes, liability defence and subrogated recoveries. His practice spans high-value property damage, business interruption, energy and casualty claims, including commercial, employers’, public, products and environmental liability. He also has a market-leading healthcare practice advising re/insurers and healthcare providers defending medical malpractice claims, and was formerly co-head of Clyde & Co.’s Middle East & Africa Healthcare Group.
Mark Beswetherick has also returned to DACB from earlier in his career, having previously served as Head of Clyde & Co.'s Insurance and Dispute Resolution Group in Dubai. He focuses on arbitration, international litigation and corporate investigations, with a particular strengths in D&O liability, professional negligence, and complex, multi-jurisdictional insurance disputes.
Gustavo Blanco, Head of International Business at DACB, said, "Mike, Mark and Mike are an established, cohesive team with an exceptional reputation in the Middle East market. With their deep sector knowledge and regional insight, we are very well placed to support our clients' most complex and high-value matters. This launch is another important step in our ambition to be the legal services provider of choice to the global insurance market."
Helen Faulkner, Managing Partner of DACB, said, "Opening in the Middle East has long been a strategic priority for the firm. Dubai is a gateway to the region and a global centre not only for insurance, but also for healthcare and our other advisory practices.
"From this new base, our clients can expect the same market-leading expertise, seamless cross-border capability and collaborative culture they experience across our international network – spanning the UK, the US, Latin America, Europe and Asia-Pacific."
Mike Morris added, "Together, we will build a Middle East practice that is ambitious, collaborative and fully aligned with the needs of global insurers, reinsurers and healthcare clients operating in the region. This is an exciting time in DACB's growth story and we're thrilled to be a part of it."
DACB's launch in the DIFC follows its recent expansion in the US. In February, one year on from opening offices in New York and Los Angeles, the firm opened in Miami with a team hire and added a team in LA. The firm also opened offices in Hong Kong and Lima during 2024 and established strategic associations with leading firms in Ecuador and Australia in 2025.
