SPB will open its 48th global office in Baku with partner Richard Gibbon at the helm
Squire Patton Boggs has announced plans to open an office in Baku, marking the firm’s first base in Azerbaijan and its forty eighth office worldwide. The firm said it has completed the professional requirements to establish a presence in the Eurasian state, which is known for its natural resources and developing economy. The new office will be led by partner Richard Gibbon, who is currently based in the United Arab Emirates and advises on internal investigations together with global financial crimes compliance and defence.
Mark Ruehlmann, chair and chief executive officer of SPB, described the launch as an important milestone in the firm’s ongoing international expansion. He said Azerbaijan is a growing and strategically significant market and added that the new office would place the firm closer to clients and to the opportunities shaping investment and development across the region.
Gibbon will serve as managing partner of the Baku office. He said the firm has longstanding relationships with clients operating across Azerbaijan’s increasingly diverse economy and added that the new office will allow the firm to continue supporting their growth from within the capital. The firm stated that Gibbon already spends a material amount of time in Azerbaijan and will increase his presence once the office begins operating. SPB expects the office to open in early 2026 and anticipates making local hires as its presence develops. The firm also expects the office to act as a hub for lawyers working on matters for Azerbaijani clients.
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Steve Mahon, SPB’s global managing partner for clients and strategy, said the firm’s first mover status in establishing the office demonstrates its commitment to the market. He added that this provides a significant advantage as the firm continues its growth trajectory. Mahon explained that the growing relationships and workflows in Azerbaijan reflect a collective effort from partners across the firm’s transactional, disputes and policy practices. He said SPB is well positioned to support clients as they navigate opportunities arising from the country’s economy, energy transition and expanding role in both regional and global trade.
Few international law firms have set up in Baku. Dentons is a notable example, with James Hogan leading its office as senior partner alongside co managing partners Kamil Valiyev and Ulvia Zeynalova Bockin. Major professional services firms, including KPMG, BDO, PwC and Deloitte, also maintain local operations. Local law firms active in the jurisdiction include Grata International, MGB Law Offices and BM Morrison Partners.
The opening in Azerbaijan follows SPB’s recent investments in both emerging and established markets. The firm opened an office in Riyadh in 2023, followed by an office in Astana, Kazakhstan in 2024. It also launched offices in Amsterdam and Geneva during 2024. The Baku expansion continues that pattern of strategic growth.
Interest in Azerbaijan as an investment destination has grown in the context of recent regional developments. The firm noted that peace following the country’s conflict with Armenia has encouraged greater engagement from a number of international partners. Delegations from Gulf States, the United Kingdom and the European Union have travelled to Azerbaijan to explore opportunities linked to both conventional and clean energy, as well as tourism, infrastructure and digital innovation.
SPB said the new office will deepen the firm’s commitment to clients in the region while creating a platform for future growth in a market it considers increasingly important.