Ince & Co has promoted three of its lawyers to partnership with effect from May 1: Khalid Hamed (in Dubai) James Hickland (pictured, London) and David Richards (London).

Hamed has over 25 years’ experience providing legal counsel in the Middle East for commercial organisations with national and international operations including banks, insurance, manufacturing, shipping and trading companies. He is actively involved in the handling of a wide variety of cases before courts of varying levels within the UAE. Hamed also advises corporate clients on a range of non-contentious matters subject to UAE law and practice in the region.

Hickland is focused on international commercial litigation and arbitration, and related advisory work. His practice covers contract and tort issues in all of the firm’s main contentious practice areas, with particular focus on the shipping and aviation industries. Many of his cases feature proceedings in multiple jurisdictions, often in relation to arrest or freezing of assets to secure or enforce claims brought in England.

Richards deals with all forms of shipping cases including charterparty/bill of lading disputes and casualty work. He has a particular focus on the Asian markets. The majority of his work is in London arbitration and the Commercial Court.