The Legal 500

Al-Jadaan & Partners Law Firm in co-operation with Clifford Chance LLP’s name partner Yousef Al-Jadaan is a highly respected commercial litigator, who is considered to have ‘the ear of the Saudi judiciary’. The practice’s workload in 2010 included advising a real estate developer on several high-value land ownership disputes and advising a major international client on a local labour dispute.

One of the oldest litigation practices in the Kingdom, Law Office of Hassan Mahassni has become renowned for the breadth and depth of its partner base. Hassan Mahassni, Zaid Mahayni, and Rahul Goswani are highlighted by clients for their ‘cross-border capability’, as demonstrated by the practice’s advice on a $2bn banking dispute instigated in the US courts by Saudi Arabian parties.

At Hatem Abbas Ghazzawi & Co., Andreas Haberbeck leads a team of three lawyers who advise multinationals and local entities on a broad array of contentious matters. The team’s expertise encompasses contractual disputes, competition law and fraud claims.

Law Offices of Dr Mujahid M. Al-Sawwaf is a seasoned litigation practice, with Mujahid Al-Sawwaf an experienced litigator who offers a ‘combination of commercial skill and contentious ability’. Clients include international banks and tobacco companies.

Mohammed Al-Ghamdi Law Firm In Association with Fulbright & Jaworski LLP. provides commercial litigation and ICC arbitration representation for multinationals in the oil, aerospace, defence and tobacco industries. Mohammed Al-Ghamdi provides sharia law advice.

Salah al-Hejailan at The Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan in association with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP provides local law expertise to complement the cross-border capability of the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP network. The practice advises regional clients on ad hoc arbitration proceedings in Saudi Arabia as part of a growing body of arbitration work. Joseph Huse and Reza Mohtashami are recommended.

Abdulaziz AlGasim Law Firm in association with Allen & Overy LLP has earned instructions on investment and securities-related litigation stemming from the global financial crisis through the work of finance experts Abdulaziz AlGasim and Rashed Al-Ghonaim. The group also recently advised a real estate developer on non-payment relating to a SAR150m tower.

In addition to commercial litigation, Al Sulaim Al Awaji & Partners Law Firm is also building a strong arbitration practice, having advised clients before Saudi arbitral bodies as well as in ICC, LCIA and US arbitrations. Osama Mohammad Al Sulaim is recommended.

Clients appreciate Al Tamimi & Company’s ‘methodology and professional approach’, and the practice’s broad scope across most commercial litigation and arbitration. Recent highlights include advising on recovery proceedings before the local banking disputes resolution committee, as well as handling trade mark and employment law cases. Abdullah Al Tamimi leads the practice.

Al-Yaqoub Attorneys & Legal Advisors in Association with Hogan Lovells advised one of Saudi Arabia’s largest trading groups on a SAR25bn inheritance mediation, and represented a wealthy individual on a SAR1.5bn real estate dispute in Makkah province. Managing partner Montasir Al-Mohammed is the key individual.

EK Partners & Al-Enezee Legal Counsel in association with Squire, Sanders & Dempsey represents international and local clients in disputes across a diverse range of sectors including banking, real estate and telecoms. It acted for a Saudi data services provider in litigation against a telecoms consortium relating to the rollout of Saudi Arabia’s national fibre optic network.

Feras Al Shawaf Law Firm in Association with Trowers & Hamlins’ Paul Fitzgerald led a team advising SABB on one of the largest debt recovery proceedings in Saudi Arabia’s history.

The Law Firm of Dr Ibrahim Modaimeegh’s Ibrahim Modaimeegh advises on contentious matters.

In line with the firm’s broader capability in the construction, infrastructure and oil and gas sectors, The Law Firm of Wael A. Alissa in association with SNR Denton & Co’s Riyadh office advises clients from those industries on shareholder, construction and debt recovery disputes. Wael Alissa heads the team in Saudi Arabia and is ably assisted by Bahrain-based Chris Aylward.