DWS to woo Iran, Libya as it oils wheels of expansion in Middle East energy field ;FOREIGN OFFICES: Dentons and Trowers investigate opportunities in uncharted legal territories ;City firm Denton Wilde Sapte (DWS) is set to expand into former pariah states Iran and Libya, along with Tunisia and Morocco, with a view to providing one-stop Middle Eastern coverage for blue-chip clients. ;An internal survey of all members of the firms Middle East group (MEG) will determine targets for potential new offices, and a network of best-friend local firms will be formed to enable DWS to exploit its pre-eminent position in the region. ;DWS has offices in Istanbul, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Muscat, Oman and Dubai following its 1998 acquisition of specialist Arab-focused firm Fox & Gibbons. ;Following a recent joint meeting in London of partners from the MEG, the groups co-ordinator, John Riddick a London-based partner formerly with the firms Dubai office revealed that DWS delegates have been sent on high-level missions to Iran and Libya with the UKs Committee for Middle Eastern Trade. ;He said: Iran is well on the road to liberalisation, and we are carefully watching developments in Libya, where there are rich oil and gas reserves. ;The firms Tokyo office recently advised the Japan Bank for International Cooperation on a deal that gives Japan preferential rights on the worlds largest undeveloped oilfield, in Iran. ;Colonel Gadaffis Libya came closer to international integration last year when UN sanctions were lifted. ;Mr Riddick said the move to ;create blanket coverage came in response to enquiries from multinationals, which indicated a market for a one-stop shop in the region to serve energy and telecommunications projects. ;Mr Riddick said a blanket energy capacity in the Middle East where the firms coverage is rivalled only ;by fellow City practice Trowers & Hamlins would complement the firms acquisition last month of CMS Cameron McKennas Almaty and Tashkent offices in oil-rich Kazakhstan. ;Martin Amison, Trowers & Hamlins international policy partner, said his firm is also very interested in Iran, where it has a close association with Dr Behrooz Akhalghi & Associates; and it too is investigating opportunities in Morocco and Libya. ;In July, the Law Societys international directorate started management of a four-year EU-funded training project for lawyers in Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, Egypt, Palestine Authority, Lebanon and Jordan. ;Jeremy Fleming ; ; ;