The Legal 500

Abdullah Al-Hashim heads the practice at Al-Jadaan & Partners Law Firm in co-operation with Clifford Chance LLP, where Mohammed Al-Jadaan is another corporate lawyer who is prominent in the market. The firm’s clients include investment banks, state-owned enterprises and multinationals, reflecting a breadth of expertise and sector coverage that few firms can match. The team advised Almarai Company, the world’s largest integrated dairy company, on its bid to acquire Hail Agricultural Development Company.

Legal Advisors in association with Baker & McKenzie’s ‘highly resourceful’ three-partner team in Riyadh has a loyal following among local corporates, who are quick to praise partners George Sayen, Karim Nassar and Nasser Alfaraj. The group advised Al-Ittefaq Steel Products Company, the largest non-governmental steel producer, on corporate restructuring as well as Schindler Management on acquiring Saudi Elevator Company.

Abdulaziz AlGasim Law Firm in association with Allen & Overy LLP continued to build its Riyadh team in 2010, bringing on board Saudi partner Zeyad Khoshaim from its associate Saudi firm, as well as making hires at associate level. Highlights for Johannes Bruski’s team included acting as external counsel to Saudi Aramco Total Refinery and Petrochemicals Company, a new joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Total, and advising News Corporation on acquiring a $70m stake in Rotana Group.

Hatem Abbas Ghazzawi & Co.’s corporate practice is prominent in the Saudi market, with Andreas Haberbeck and Asad Abedi both highly regarded for their transactional expertise. Abedi advised Red Sea Gateway Terminal and Red Sea Ports Development Company on the first private share swap agreement between a limited liability and joint stock company, while Haberbeck advised Sadafco on selling its majority shareholding in Saudi New Zealand Dairy Company to Fonterra for $36m.

Newly formed Law Office Mohammed A Al Sheikh in association with Latham & Watkins LLP was involved in a number of key deals in 2010, including advising Hail Agricultural Development Company on its acquisition by Almarai. Mohammed Al Sheikh and Christopher Langdon are recommended.

Law Office of Mohanned bin Saud Al-Rasheed in association with Baker Botts L.L.P. has been expanding across the broader GCC region, with the Riyadh office benefiting from the relocation of Robert Jordan, former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, to head the firm’s Middle East operations. The practice has a strong local following, including clients such as Bridgewater Systems and Saudi Electricity Company, and its expertise in telecoms, energy and infrastructure have been in high demand in 2010. Babul Parikh led a team advising Asahi India Glass Limited on a joint venture with Al-Muwakaba for Industrial Development and Overseas Commerce.

Law Offices of Dr Mujahid M. Al-Sawwaf has a long track record of corporate transactions in Saudi Arabia. David Wells and John Whitbeck advise local entities and foreign companies on M&A and capital markets matters.

Since launching its Saudi Arabia office in 2008, Al Tamimi & Company has developed a reputation for ‘first-class response times and a professional demeanour that outstrips many firms in the region’. Jointly led by Abdul Karim Al Fawaz and the ‘client-friendly’ Muhammed Arif Saeed, the practice has established strong relationships with the Capital Markets Authority and Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority, giving it an advantage on transactional and regulatory advice, particularly where sharia law comes into play. In 2010, it advised an international client on asset transfers in Saudi Arabia as part of a €210bn global portfolio transfer.

Feras Al Shawaf Law Firm in Association with Trowers & Hamlins opened a new office in Jeddah and remained active on transctions in 2010, despite losing former practice head Leroy Levy to King & Spalding in affiliation with the Law Office of Mohammad Al-Ammar. Adrian Creed now heads the practice, which advised a local family-owned trading group on restructuring its regional corporate interests.

Law Office of Hassan Mahassni provides ‘very good, timely advice’, and in 2010 acted for Aviation Sciences Company Limited on establishing the Saudi Aviation Flight Academy, and for State Bank of India on corporate and other aspects of establishing a branch in Jeddah. Zid Mahayni, Basel Barakat and Rahul Goswani are valued for their ‘professionalism and concise responses’.

Khalid A Al-Thebity Law Firm in affiliation with Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP’s clients highlight the ‘capital markets and commercial law expertise’ of Tariq Abbadi and Khalid Al-Thebity. Together they draw instructions from local clients and multinational entities. Recent mandates include advising Dabbagh Group on a joint venture with an Indian construction company and setting up operations in Saudi Arabia for Venture Capital Bank.

King & Spalding in affiliation with the Law Office of Mohammad Al-Ammar’s Riyadh office has a core specialism in regulated investment funds, complementing the firm-wide M&A and private equity capability. Nabil Issa, with assistance from Dubai-based Benjamin Newland, advised Arcapita Bank and Al Rajhi Capital on acquiring a grocery distribution warehouse from Savola Group. Corporate restructuring expert Leroy Levy recently joined from Feras Al Shawaf Law Firm in Association with Trowers & Hamlins.

Mohammed Al-Ghamdi Law Firm In Association with Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. is particularly noted for its expertise in the energy and defence sectors, where it handles strategic investments and acquisitions for local and multinational entities. John Lonsberg and Mohammed Al-Ghamdi are the key figures, with John Boehm providing capital markets expertise.

The Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan in association with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s Saudi practice recruited several lawyers in 2010. The group also brought in Tobias Müller-Deku from Moscow to be the new managing partner of the Riyadh office and formalised its association with the practice of Salah Al-Hejailan. The group advised Saudi Telecom Company on Maxis Berhad’s listing on Bursa Malaysia. Patrick Ko is also recommended.

The Law Firm of Wael A. Alissa in association with SNR Denton & Co focuses on advising American, European and Asian institutions and corporations on their investments in Saudi Arabia. It advised Hertel Middle East Holding on its acquisition of a local entity that has operations outside Saudi Arabia. Amgad Hussein heads the practice.

Abdulaziz A. Al-Bosaily Law Office in association with Clyde & Co LLP’s corporate practice has been busy advising on establishing a number of joint ventures. Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily heads the team.

Abdulaziz Al-Assaf in association with Norton Rose (Middle East) LLP’s corporate finance expert Darran McGlinchey advises its local corporate clients on capital markets transactions and regulatory matters, with 2010 seeing it appointed as primary legal adviser to the Saudi Capital Markets Authority. Highlights included advising a major Saudi company on its $350m IPO.

Al Sulaim Al Awaji & Partners Law Firm advises foreign and local investors on M&A and day-to-day commercial matters. Osama Mohammed Al Sulaim and Ghassan Ibrahim Al Awaji have extensive corporate expertise.

Al-Yaqoub Attorneys & Legal Advisors in Association with Hogan Lovells attracts clients such as public utility authority Marafiq and Saudi Telecommunication company. Islamic finance and capital markets expert Imran Mufti advised Ewaan Global Residential Company on establishing a sharia-compliant fund.

The Law Office of Attayyar in Association with Alem & Associates’ team has ‘a professional attitude and good knowledge of the local corporate market’. Led by Omar El Assir, the practice advised Virgin Megastores on establishing and structuring its business in Saudi Arabia.

DLA Piper in association with Naji Law Firm’s local, regional and global expertise ensures it is a regular fixture on major transactions. Led by Eyad Reda, the practice advised Lafarge on a murabaha facility agreement and personal and corporate guarantees. The practice also advises Knowledge Economic City, a private-public partnership launched by King Abdullah to attract local and overseas investment.

EK Partners & Al-Enezee Legal Counsel in association with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey provides corporate advice to local businesses and multinationals. It acted for Bahrain-based Gulf Union Insurance on transferring its business portfolio to a newly licensed company in Saudi Arabia. Ziad El-Khoury heads the practice.

The Law Firm of Mohammed Al-Sharif in association with Johnson & Pump handles investments for US-based clients, with a particular focus on the financial, telecoms and construction sectors.