Saudi Arabia

Al Saleh & Al Sahli is a boutique Saudi law firm. The firm was formed in 2014 and is based in Riyadh.Within the financial and corporate domain, the firm is primarily active in equity capital markets, investment funds and restructuring and insolvency.

Key clients

Key clients include Albaha investment & development company, Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology Company, Naseej International Trading Company, Batic Investments and Logistics Company, Alkhaleej Training and Education Company, Burgerizzr, Raydan Food Company, Banan Real Estate Company, Gulf General Insurance Company, L'Azurde Jewelry Company and Chemanol.

Khalid Nassar & Partners is a boutique Saudi Arabian law firm offering specialized legal services for individuals, businesses, and governmental institutions. The firm specialises in advising clients globally with specific focus on Saudi market. The firm has a team of qualified lawyers and consultants fully equipped to provide high-quality legal advice. The team is led by managing partner Khalid Nassar and supported by well-seasoned practitioners such as Mohamed Alnafea.

Highlights 
A recent example of the firm’s deal work includes advising Clinicy in securing $1.9 billion investment during its Series A funding round. The firm also notably advised Cigalah Trading Establishment on its sale of shares in Buruj Cooperative Insurance Group via a private sale transaction. 

An example of the firm’s work in equity capital markets is advising Anaam International Holding on its SAR 236.25 million capital increase through a rights issue. 

Key clients     
“Jeddah Airports Company (JEDCO), Nestle Saudi Arabia, Saudi Airlines Company for Aviation Engineering and Industry (SAEI), Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS), Saudi Royal Fleet”  
 

Khoshaim & Associates is a full-service law firm with international expertise established in 2012. Khoshaim & Associates has been recognised as one of the leading law firms in Saudi Arabia with offices in both Riyadh and Jeddah.  The deal team includes both Saudi Arabian and internationally qualified lawyers led by managing partner Zeyad Khoshaim and supported by seasoned practitioners such as Karim Wali and Leen Zaza. The firm prides as being the only independent Saudi Arabian firm with Tier one rankings across all core practice areas.

Highlights

Recent examples of the firm’s deal work include advising advised JP Morgan Securities and managers on the $1.5 billion first-of-a-kind project sukuk issuance by TMS Issuer as part of a total $4.5 billion issuance together with GreenSaif Pipelines BidCo for the refinancing of bridge facility.

The firm successfully advised Taiba Investments Company, its capacity as offeror, on its share exchange transaction with Dur Hospitality Company, which is the first public M&A transaction in Saudi Arabia involving a full acquisition of a real estate and hospitality company.

Testimonials   

“The firm has a full service KSA practice offering very high standards.” (Banking client)

“Khoshaim has a clear understanding of the M&A Laws, precise planning, efficient conflict resolution and general work execution.” (M&A client)

“Khoshaim provides excellent technical service, combined with a commercial approach to their work. They are always fully available and are one of the few full-service Saudi practices able to field quality lawyers.” (Project finance client)

“The team was very well organized, very knowledgeable, and very courteous.” (Project development client)

Key clients

Al Rajhi Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Emaar Economic City, HSBC Saudi Arabia, JP Morgan, National Development Fund, NEOM Company, Riyad Capital and Tourism Development Fund Ministry of Finance.

Meysan traces its presence in the Middle East back to 2015. The firm was awarded the Rising Star Law firm of the Middle East the same year it was established. The firm prides itself on having a team with a multifaceted blend of specializations, areas of recent growth, industry sector strengths, and technological innovation. The firm has a thriving M&A practice spearheaded by partner Michel Ghanem and supported by partner Faisal Alhoshan along with a dynamic group of seasoned lawyers.

Alem & Associates (the regional partner of Al Farraj Law Firm) is a regional law firm with offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut and Riyadh. The deal team consists of Saudi lawyers led by managing partner Omar El Assir. The firm specialises in equity capital markets, private equity and project development work. The firm has track record of advising Saudi’s leading capital markets institutions on structuring of diverse types of investment funds.

Formed in 1989 Al Tamimi & Co is a Dubai headquartered law firm with a strong position in several MENA countries. In Saudi Arabia the firm operates offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar. The firm has a strong team of Saudi, Middle Eastern and Western lawyers led by partner Philip Kotsis. Al Tamimi & Co offers a wide range of corporate legal services in Saudi Arabia including banking, capital markets, M&A, projects and real estate practice areas.

Pinsent Masons has been working closely with Alsabhan & Alajaji in the region since forming a strategic alliance in 2018. With the grant of the foreign law licence, Pinsent Masons will now operate through Alsabhan & Alajaji Pinsent Masons formed in 2023 by Pinsent Masons and Riyadh-based Alsabhan & Alajaji Law Firm. The firm has a thriving corporate team led by partner Mohammad Tbaishat with specialties in M&A, joint ventures and corporate reorganisations. The firm also has an active project practice led by partner Tim Armsby. 

AS&H Clifford Chance was formed in May 2023 prior to which AS&H operates in association with Clifford Chance. Its presence in Saudi Arabia could be traced back to 1998. The firm has a large, dedicated team led by managing partner Fahad Abuhimed and supported by well-seasoned practitioners such as Guy Norman. The firm has a strong record of advising on innovative and ground-breaking transactions in Saudi Arabia, having consistently achieved a top-tier status across all practice areas.

Legal Advisors Abdulaziz I Al-Ajlan & Partners is a Saudi Law firm established in 1998 and based in Riyadh and Jeddah. The firm advises clients through an association with multinational law firm Baker McKenzie. The deal team is led by Saudi lawyers, most notably partners Abdulaziz Alajlan, Abdulrahman Alajlan and Ajlan Ali Alajlan. The firm has market leading abilities across all practice areas advising on all types of cross-border transactions such as multinational mergers and acquisitions, and international finance deals.

Established in 2015, Bin Afif Law Firm is a leading Saudi law firm based in Jeddah. Banking and finance is the core focus area for the firm, where it is among the most rapidly growing law firms in the country. The firm is seen on both the buy and sell side with a client list spanning well-known names in the Kingdom and beyond.

Key clients

The firm’s key clients features such names as Riyadh Bank, Public Pension Agency, SGS Saudi Geological Survey, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tatweer Company for Educational Services, Kuwait Airways Comp, Bupa Arabia Insurance Company and Sunbulah Group.

Derayah is a Saudi law firm based in Jeddah. It was established in 2000. The deal team consists of prominent Saudi lawyers such as partners Ali Abedi, Asad Abedi and Andreas Haberbeck. The firm has a wide coverage of financial and corporate work, maintaining an active position in most areas in Saudi Arabia. The firm is active in banking, M&A, projects and real estate practice.

Founded in 1890 Gibson Dunn & Crutcher is a leading international law firm headquartered in California. The firm opened its offices in Riyadh in November 2023 and has significantly attracted Saudi’s prominent lawyers into its new Riyadh offices. The deal team in Saudi Arabia is led by managing partner Megren Al-Shaalan, who was the founder and managing partner of The Law Office of Megren M. Al-Shaalan, formerly a top-tier law firm in Saudi Arabia.

GLA & Company is a regional MENA-based law firm founded in 2022. The firm has extensive local expertise in the Middle East specifically in Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. GLA & Company’s deal team is headed by senior partner Nader Al Awadhi and managing partner Alex Saleh. The firm is well known for its M&A practice where it advises on joint ventures, acquisitions and financial investments.

Formed in 2023 Greenberg Traurig Khalid Al-Thebity Law Firm is the resulting entity of the joint venture between the New York headquartered law firm Green Traurig and a longstanding Saudi law firm Khalid Al-Thebity Law Firm. Khalid Al-Thebity joins the firm as managing shareholder with a team of additional shareholders and associates. Khalid Al-Thebity Law Firm has been operating in Saudi Arabia for more than 25 years and has an exceptional reputation advising clients on prominent corporate, finance and project work.

Saudi law firm Hammad & Al-Mehdar was founded in 1983 in Jeddah. The firm has grown significantly over the last four decades with four offices across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The firm boasts of having both regionally and internationally qualified lawyers with expertise in working on complex and high-value deals. The deal team is led by managing partner Adil Hammad and senior partner Mohammed Al-Mehdar. The firm has a commendable M&A practice.

Highlights

A recent example of the firm’s deal work includes advising, alongside a leading firm, Frontline on its asset acquisition. The firm guided the client through a suite of agreements by which it acquired 24 very large crude carrier tankers (vessels) and certain associated assets from Euronav.

The firm also advised BioNTech in the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of InstaDeep specifically assisting the clients to facilitate the clearance process and coordinating and negotiating with the relevant authority.

Key clients 

ADES Group, Bin Shihon, Branch DAA and Saudi Brothers Commercial Company.

London headquartered international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills recently opened its Riyadh office in 2023 but has been operating in the region for about 45 years. The firm boasts of being the first law firm in Saudi Arabia to complete its transition to a physical presence. The Saudi team is being led by managing partner Joza AlRasheed. The firm has extensive experience in advising multinationals on both day-to-day matters, such as company setup and general commercial agreements.

Hourani & Associates is a Middle Eastern law firm with a history of over 40 years. In Saudi Arabia the firm operates out of Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar through its relationship firm ZH Partners. The firm has established its presence in Saudi market for over four decades. The deal team is led by managing partner Chadi Hourani and supported by well-seasoned practitioners. The team boasts of exceptional banking, capital markets and M&A practice.

Latham & Watkins is a global law firm founded in 1934. The firm boasts of over 3,500 lawyers in its offices in Asia, Europe the Middle East and the United States. Latham has been operating in the Middle East since 2008 and recently opened its offices in Riyadh. The Riyadh team comprises Saudi and internationally qualified lawyers led by managing partner Salman Al-Sudairi, the founding partner of the former Law Office of Salman M Al-Sudairi.

Osool is a Saudi law firm established in 2010. The firm prides itself in having lawyers with local and international experience in various practice areas. Since its establishment the firm has retained high-profile clients including government entities and multinational corporations. The firm has a thriving corporate practice led by managing partner Wejdan Alhaid. The firm advises clients on capital markets and M&A deals.

Established in 2001 BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates has expanded organically to nine offices in five countries across the Middle East. The firm operates in the Saudi Arabia through its affiliation with Owaid Abdulaziz Owaid AlHathal Law Firm. The firm has an active corporate practice advising both regional and international clients on a full range of corporate and commercial matters including mergers and acquisitions.

Squire Patton Boggs is an international law firm with over 50 years of experience in the Middle East. The firm operates in Saudi Arabia through Squire Patton Boggs Al-Akkas formed in 2023 as result of the alliance between Squire Patton Boggs and The Law Office of Looaye M. Al-Akkas, a full-service law firm in Saudi. The Riyadh team consists of both Saudi and internationally qualified lawyers led by partner Looaye Al-Akkas. The team is particularly seen in the M&A space where it advises on local and cross-border transactions.

Suhail Partners is an independent Saudi law firm established in 2021. The Riyadh-based firm consists of team members who have collective experience of more than 35 years in Saudi market led by managing partner Fahad AlDehais AlMalki and supported by well-seasoned practitioners such as general partner Islam Tawfik. The SuhailPartners team has considerable expertise and experience in advising buyers, sellers, investors, and financial institutions on a wide range of M&A transactions.

Dentons is one of the world’s largest law firms with offices in more than 200 locations across 80 countries. The firm operates from its Jeddah and Riyadh offices in Saudi Arabia, where it advises on both international and Saudi Arabian law in association with The Law Firm of Wael A Alissa. The Saudi team comprises western and Saudi Arabian lawyers with more than 50 years of combined practice led by managing partner Ziad Saad. The firm has a strong capacity for advising across diverse practice areas spanning from banking, M&A, capital markets to projects and real estate.