BLK Partners > Riyadh, Saudi Arabia > Firm Profile

BLK Partners
8418 King AbdulAziz Rd.
4272 Al Yasmeen Dist. 13325
P.O. Box: 66144,
Riyadh 11576
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia > Projects and energy Tier 2

BLK Partners, the recent combination of the two firms, EKP and MBLLF, brings practice area strength to Saudi Arabia. The firm is experienced in advising government procuring entities and project sponsors in project financing projects. Additionally, the firm provides dispute resolution services for construction matters. Hadi Melki leads the practice. Melki is a specialist in advising in public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects for various industries, particularly industrial development and mining.

Practice head(s):

Hadi Melki

Testimonials

‘Hadi Melki has key PPP expertise, which remains unparalleled in Saudi Arabia for a regional firm. ’

‘Hadi Melki is available, professional and has a great quality of work.’

 

Key clients

Saudi Fal Company

Saudi Arabia > Commercial, corporate and M&A Tier 3

BLK Partners acts for local and foreign entities and advises on M&A, corporate structuring, and other related matters. The practice is headed by Mohamed Ben Laden, who has considerable experience of advising on transactions with a cross-border element, and Ziad Elkhoury, who specialises in corporate and financial matters with an emphasis on the telecoms, banking, and financial sectors.

Practice head(s):

Mohamed Ben Laden; Ziad El-Khoury

Key clients

Health Wealth Sports Company (WELL)

Avolon Aerospace Leasing Limited

Industrial Development Company (Indevco)

International Air Finance Corporation (IAFC)

Work highlights

  • Advised Indevco in relation to the legal structuring and documentation for the design, finance, and build of an aluminium foiling plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Advised International Air Finance Corporation (IAFC) on the refinancing of the lease of four aircraft for a Saudi based airline.

Saudi Arabia > Dispute resolution Tier 4

BLK Partners, which is noted for its 'pragmatic approach to resolving issues', handles disputes spanning a range of industries, including insurance, retail and construction. The practice is run by experienced litigators Wissam Hachem and Khulaif Al-Enezee.

Practice head(s):

Wissam Hachem; Khulaif Al-Enezee

Testimonials

‘People are easy to work with, extremely professional and illustrate excellent industry knowledge. They have a pragmatic approach to resolving issues, swift response, and availability makes the practice unique.’

‘Very responsive and accommodating.’

‘Wissam Hachem was a sound legal advisor and a pleasure to work with.’

‘International experience with local reach’

‘Wissam Hachem is exceptional ’

Key clients

Al-Etihad Co-operative Insurance Co.

Work highlights

  • Representing Al-Etihad Co-operative Insurance Co. (paid-up capital of SAR 450 million) in relation to a case against the Saudi Venture Capital Company and the Venture Capital Bahraini Company.

BLK Partners offers its clients a comprehensive legal service in the GCC and the Middle East through a team of specialist experts who combine international experience with a deep understanding of local legal regimes, customs, and markets. BLK Partners serves as a unique legal platform composed of client-centric professionals, united by our “Glocal” concept, and dedicated to creating the best legal platform. BLK Partners is headquartered in Riyadh and operates in other jurisdictions including Dubai and Beirut.

Our team of multilingual lawyers understands cultural sensitivities and the complexities of doing business in the Middle East region, and delivers tailored and sophisticated legal services, enabling clients to navigate the regulatory, legal, economic, and business landscapes.

BLK Partners is at the forefront of trends in more than forty business sectors and encompasses six main legal practice groups: Corporate, Commercial & M&A, Dispute Resolution, Projects, Construction, Insurance, and Healthcare. Our diverse client base includes state-owned entities, large multinational corporations, public entities, governmental bodies, financial intermediaries, institutional investors, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, high-growth ventures, Fortune 500 companies, and SMEs.

Chairman: Dr. Mohamed Ben Laden

Chief Executive Officer: Ziad El-Khoury

Number of partners: 20

Number of lawyers: 50

Languages: Arabic, English, French, Russian, German

Main Areas of Practice:
1- Corporate, Commercial & M&A
2- Dispute Resolution
3- Projects
4- Construction
5- Insurance
6- Healthcare
——————————–

1- Corporate, Commercial & M&A:

Head of Practice: Jeffrey J. Greene

Email: jeff.greene@blkpartners.com

https://blkpartners.com/partners.php?id=48&name=Jeff%20Greene

BLK Partners’ experienced team of corporate lawyers understands the intricacies of doing business under local regimes and can easily identify potential risks, recommend ways to address them and close transactions accordingly. BLK’s experience includes advising local and foreign investors on M&A, joint ventures and corporate structuring and set-up from negotiations to completion. We also provide advice on all forms of commercial contracts and arrangements to support our clients’ day-to-day and strategic business activities.

Key Clients: Agility Group, Sinopec, Systra, HUMA, EI Technologies, WPP, First Solar International Middle East FZ LLC, MAN Enterprise

2- Dispute Resolution:

Head of Practice: Wissam Hachem

https://blkpartners.com/partners.php?id=10&name=Wissam%20Hachem

Email: wissam.hachem@blkpartners.com

BLK Partners offers an all-encompassing approach to litigation (local and cross-border) and arbitration (domestic and international) in the Middle East.

Our qualified lawyers have rights of audience before the the local courts in all jurisdictions in which they operate.

BLK Partners has the technical expertise and capability to advise clients and conduct all types of litigation in the region including commercial, construction, real estate, insurance, employment, aviation, IP, and criminal cases. Being a regional law firm while having the international expertise is one of the great pillars of our success. Clients rely on our global perspective and on our in-depth knowledge and understanding of local and regional laws.

BLK Partners has been traditionally involved in dispute resolution covering several sectors and is well-recognized for representing clients in cross-border disputes.

Key Clients: Saudi Arabian Airlines, Al Balagha Holding Group, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, and many other leading clients encompassing various industry sectors including aviation, real estate, construction, maritime, F&B, healthcare, banking, etc.

3- Projects:

Head of Practice: Hadi Melki

https://blkpartners.com/partners.php?id=7&name=Hadi%20Melki

Email: hadi.melki@blkpartners.com

BLK Partners stands out as a rare firm deeply immersed in projects and PPPs, particularly excelling in advising government entities and project sponsors on limited or non-recourse financing ventures. Our comprehensive support spans the project’s entire lifecycle, from initial bid through operation and handover. Our expertise spans diverse sectors including city development, healthcare, transportation, and telecoms. Our competitive edge lies in offering a full spectrum of regulatory services, leveraging extensive local regulatory knowledge and robust relationships with regulatory bodies. Our approach combines a profound understanding of legal landscapes with a practical, commercially focused outlook. We are adept at bolstering compliance within existing frameworks and swiftly adapting to new regulations, contributing significantly to shaping laws, regulations, and policies across the Middle East. Our involvement includes gap analysis, benchmarking, advising on local legislation, and engaging stakeholders to grasp practical implications, emphasizing the pivotal role of regulatory compliance in successful business strategies.

Key Clients: Tatweer Educational Technologies (TETCO), The Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (MOMRA), Aggreko Middle East Limited, Ministry of Investment KSA (MISA), Ministry of Environment Water and Agriculture KSA (MEWA), STC, Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE), Municipality of Beirut, Beirut Port Authority, etc.

4- Construction:

Head of Practice: Scott Hutton

https://blkpartners.com/partners.php?id=34&name=Scott%20Hutton

Email: scott.hutton@blkpartners.com

BLK’s team of experienced lawyers can provide the support you need at all levels of the contracting chain and can assist you with all of your construction needs on both the front-end and back-end. We regularly represent developers, funders, owners, operators, contractors, subcontractors, facility managers, consultants, and suppliers.

Our experience covers all major sectors including transport infrastructure (airports, ports, roads, rail, and water), power, petrochemicals, and commercial property.

We offer a single point of contact for project development, contract administration and dispute resolution advice. Our lawyers are equipped to deal with both project development and dispute resolution, giving them a unique understanding of the full life cycle of a construction project. Our disputes team are specialist in both arbitration (local and international) and local court litigation. Our team also works regularly with litigation funders and we understand the dynamics of the funding model.

Key Clients: Damac, Cayan Group, ZP Drilling, Sinopec, The First Group

5- Insurance:

Head of Practice: Simon Isgar

http://www.blkpartners.com/partners.php?id=89&name=Simon%20Isgar

Email: simon.isgar@blkpartners.com

BLK Partners’ insurance practice group provides expert legal services in insurance and reinsurance, addressing complex issues across various sectors. Our experienced team assists with policy drafting, underwriting, claims management, and dispute resolution for insurers, reinsurers, brokers, and policyholders. We excel in navigating regulatory frameworks, cross-border transactions, and litigation, offering specialized solutions in both traditional and emerging insurance markets. Our expertise ensures comprehensive support and strategic guidance for all your insurance and reinsurance needs.

Key Clients: Arabian Shield Insurance, Walaa Cooperative Insurance Co., Deraya, Al Rajhi Takaful, GlobeMed, Medgulf, Tokio Marine Insurance Group, Munich Re, Swiss Re, Qatar Insurance Group (QIC)

6- Healthcare:

BLK’s healthcare practice group delivers specialized legal services across the healthcare sector. Our experienced team advises hospitals, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers on regulatory compliance, transactional matters, and dispute resolution. We navigate complex healthcare regulations, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property issues, and malpractice defense.  With deep industry knowledge and a client-focused approach, we provide expert legal support to address the unique challenges of the healthcare industry.

Department Name Email Telephone
Chairman Dr. Mohamed Ben Laden mohamed.benladen@blkpartners.com +966 11 279 1172
CEO Ziad El-Khoury ziad.elkhoury@blkpartners.com +966 11 279 1172
Projects Hadi Melki hadi.melki@blkpartners.com +966 11 279 1172
Dispute Resolution Wissam Hachem wissam.hachem@blkpartners.com +966 11 279 1172
Dispute Resolution Khulaif Al Enezee khulaif.alenezee@blkpartners.com +966 11 279 1172
Dispute Resolution Georges Okais georges.okais@blkpartners.com +961 1 387778
Dispute Resolution Celine Kanakri celine.kanakri@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Corporate, Commercial & M&A Patrick Khoury patrick.khoury@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Construction Scott Hutton scott.hutton@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Construction Dean O'Leary dean.oleary@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Corporate, Commercial & M&A Jeffrey Greene jeff.greene@blkpartners.com +966 11 279 1172
Dispute Resolution Haytham Alieh haytham.alieh@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Dispute Resolution Tarek Saad tarek.saad@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Dispute Resolution Abdalla Eisa abdalla.eisa@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Corporate, Commercial & M&A Philippe Fadlalla philippe.fadlalla@blkpartners.com +966 11 279 1172
Insurance Simon Isgar simon.isgar@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Dispute Resolution Khalid El Tamimi khalid.eltamimi@blkpartners.com +971 4 344 4029
Dispute Resolution Fadi Oneissy fadi.oneissy@blkpartners.com +961 1 387778
Corporate, Commercial & M&A Nadim Gemayel nadim.gemayel@blkpartners.com +961 1 387778
Chairman : 1
Chief Operating Officer : 1
Partners : 20
Lawyers : 50
Arabic
English
French
German
Russian
Beirut Bar Association
IBA (International Bar Association)
Saudi Bar Association
Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts
England & Wales Law Society
Egyptian Bar Association
French Bar Association
STEP
Other offices : Dubai
Other offices : Beirut