Clyde & Co expands technology offering in the Middle East with partner hire Ruby Khnom

Global law firm Clyde & Co has today announced the hire of Ruby Khnom as Partner and Head of the Technology practice in the Middle East. Ruby will be based in the firm’s Dubai office.

Ruby is a highly regarded technology lawyer and advises multinationals and local clients on emerging technologies, digital transformation projects and complex technology contracts. Her expertise includes technology-related outsourcing and procurements agreements, the integration of technology within businesses, such as digitisation, Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services as well as advising on data privacy and management. She has advised on a number of technology transactions, working with clients operating in the healthcare, infrastructure, retail and consumer, financial services and technology sectors.

Joycia Young, Partner and Head of the Intellectual Property and Commercial practice in the Middle East, said: “With increasing investment in technology and rapid digital transformation, businesses are facing greater data and regulatory risks than ever before. Clients continue to rely on us to help them navigate these challenges. Ruby’s arrival further strengthens our technology, data, and outsourcing offering, ensuring we remain a trusted partner in delivering the strategic guidance clients need in this fast-evolving sector.”

Ruby Khnom comments: “I am excited to be joining Clyde & Co, a firm with such a long-standing presence and strong reputation in the market. The Middle East represents an exciting opportunity to expand my practice as one of the most rapidly evolving regions in the world, and I look forward to advising clients on their technology and digital transformation needs.”

Clyde & Co’s leading technology offering combines deep knowledge of local laws with extensive experience advising on complex, large-scale technology transactions. The team has supported clients across a wide range of matters, including digital transformation projects, navigating legal and regulatory challenges, IT procurement and outsourcing arrangements, corporate acquisitions in the e-commerce and FinTech sectors, and compliance with emerging technology regulation.

In addition to Ruby’s appointment, Clyde & Co’s technology offering has expanded recently with the hire of data and digital partner Isabel Simpson in London and the recent partner promotion of IPTC specialist Lamisse Bajunaid in Jeddah, reflecting the firm’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its capabilities to meet the rapid growth in the digital and data landscape.

With over 35 years of experience in the Middle East, Clyde & Co’s on-the-ground team consists of 55 partners and over 140 lawyers. The firm’s continued commitment to supporting both multinational and public sector clients has been evident with the addition of 13 new partners in the last year, including the hire of energy heavyweights Josh McFadzen and Bryan Wilson in Abu Dhabi, the promotion of real estate lawyer Janeen Pickering in Dubai, and the return of Tom Bicknell to expand the firm's Middle East financial services regulatory practice. In Saudi Arabia, the partnership has doubled in size through the promotion of Shahd Makhafah, Andrew Archer, Will Cadwaladr, Brendan Molck, and Nathaniel Horrocks-Burns. The region’s market-leading dispute resolution practice also expanded with the appointments of dispute resolution lawyers Talal Al-Othman, Sara Aalamri, and Ahmed Alhudaithi in Saudi Arabia.