Herbert Smith has boosted its profile in the Middle East after advising Hydrogen Energy – a joint venture between BP and Rio Tinto – on a deal that paves the way for the construction of a ‘clean’ power complex in Abu Dhabi, worth at least $2bn (£1bn).

The agreement between Hydrogen Energy and the Abu Dhabi-based Mubadala Development Company was reached earlier this week, with Herbert Smith fielding a team under City-based partners Andrew Newbery (project finance) and John Geraghty (corporate).