Sophie Richards is of counsel in our Corporate and International practices. Sophie has advised many international companies, particularly in the oil and gas industry, on structuring options available to them that allow them to carry on business in Abu Dhabi and in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Consequently, Sophie has advised on many mergers and acquisitions transactions and joint venture arrangements between foreign and Emirati individuals and entities as well as advising on agency and franchising arrangements entered into between foreign entities and Emirati agents and franchisees. In particular Sophie has advised both principals and agents on the impact of the UAE Commercial Agencies Law including the impact of changes made to that law in 2006.

Before joining our firm in 2007, Sophie spent 3 years as in-house counsel at Qatargas (Qatar), a global supplier of liquefied natural gas. Sophie also spent 7 years as a corporate and energy associate in the Houston and Abu Dhabi offices of Vinson & Elkins LLP.

Representative Transactions

Admissions

• Texas
• New York

Education

• Duke University School of Law
  J.D., 1996, summa cum lunde
• University of Texas
  B.S. Geography, 1993, summa cum laude
  

Languages

Conversational French.