Robin Balmer > Norton Rose Fulbright > Riyadh, Saudi Arabia > Lawyer Profile

Norton Rose Fulbright has a stellar reputation for its adept handling of intricate cross-border financings. Team leader Robin Balmer, based in Riyadh and Dubai, specializes in asset, project, and property finance, as well as shariah-compliant transactions. In April 2023, Abdulkhaliq Elshayyal joined the Riyadh office as a partner in the banking and finance team. David Johnston, recently promoted to partner in 2022, focuses on major project finance transactions. Associate Hesa Al Saad is a notable junior lawyer within the firm.

Capable of handling the financing, development, construction and, sale and purchase of a range of projects – spanning renewables, utilities, social infrastructure, and transport – Norton Rose Fulbright is a go-to for a range of clients, especially for ‘first-of-its-kind’ mandates. Saudi Arabia is a hotspot of activity for the group, where it acts on critical infrastructure developments such as car parks, airports and water treatment facilities, as well as advising industry players on their interactions with the National Renewable Energy Program. Practice head Angela Croker has a vast knowledge of the region and acts as project finance counsel to a long list of financial institutions, corporations and governments. Fellow co-chair Nicholas Kramer is noted for his regulatory and contractual negotiating capabilities, which he deploys in high-value, complex developments. Robin Balmer is chiefly noted for his work in Saudi Arabia, specifically with regards to water, solar, and transport sector projects. Hesa Alsaad, who was promoted to senior associate in April 2023, is also recommended.

Advising on the full range of conventional and Shariah-compliant financing deals, Norton Rose Fulbright regularly acts for some of the largest regional banks and financial providers, and show notable proficiency in real estate, logistics and energy. Practice head Mohammed Paracha is a competent cross border adviser whose recent work highlights include financings for major property, hospitality, residential and office space developments, while Nicholas Robinson is a key figure for both regional and international banks and possesses a wide portfolio of work. Robin Balmer advises on a variety of project financing mandates, while counsel Seya Rahnema has a considerable Islamic financing offering. A spate of hires and partner relocations have strengthened the Dubai offering, with Hamed Afzal – previously of Akin – and Marc Hamilton joining in November 2022 and March 2023, respectively. Between them, they bring strong expertise in debt capital markets and regional asset financing.