White & Case > Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia > Firm Profile

White & Case > The Legal 500 Rankings

Saudi Arabia > Banking and finance Tier 1

White & Case’s banking and finance team stand out for their innovative project financing work in the energy, construction and real estate sectors. The team is also recognised for its intricate restructuring expertise. The practice is led by a large group of highly seasoned banking and finance specialists. In Abu Dhabi, Adam Pierson and Antoine Cousin lead on high-stakes energy and project financing deals and are key advisers to Saudi Aramco. Key contacts based in Riyadh are Alec Johnson and Waad Alkurini, who advise on multi-jurisdictional project development and financing across various sectors. Also based in Riyadh, Nezar Al Abbas specialises in Islamic and conventional financing for lenders and borrowers, focusing on project finance, corporate finance, and trade. Alexander Malahias left the firm in 2025.

Saudi Arabia > Capital markets Tier 1

The White & Case team comprises three divisions: equity capital markets, corporate agency and trusts, and debt capital markets. The full-service team boasts specialities in IPOs, rights issues, Islamic Finance, project bonds, securitisations and green bonds. The team recently served as issuer counsel for Saudi Aramco’s secondary public offering, marking the largest such offering in EMEA since 2000. Leading the team is Debashis Dey, a specialist in complex issuance programmes and Islamic finance, and Sami Al-Louzi, a leading figure in ECM and IPOs.

Saudi Arabia > Projects and energy Tier 1

With a longstanding presence in Saudi Arabia, White & Case’s projects and energy team advise on large-scale and high-value projects, many of which are pioneering deals in the Kingdom. Demonstrating their depth of expertise, the team has maintained longstanding relationships with key government entities, including Saudi Aramco and NEOM. A large team of partners lead the practice from Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Based in Riyadh, Alec Johnson heads complex, multi-jurisdictional projects across a variety of sectors, with a particular focus on the renewable energy sector. Other key contacts in Riyadh include Waad Alkurini, who is well-versed in advising lenders, contractors and governments on infrastructure and energy project implementation, and Nezar Al Abbas, another specialist in complex project financing. Anwaar Alshammari joined the Riyadh team from the Ministry of Investment in August 2023, while Alexander Malahias left the firm in 2025.

Saudi Arabia > Real estate and construction Tier 2

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

White & Case has an impressive track record acting for key players in the Kingdom, advising on high-end complex M&A, joint ventures and commercial agreements. The firm works closely with Saudi Aramco on mandates across the Gulf, as well as state-backed entities and their subsidiaries. Waad Alkurini leads the team and is well-placed to advise on matters in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Co-head Anwaar Alshammari has a broad corporate and commercial practice and leverages previous in-house government ministry experience to comprehensively advise on domestic and inbound transactions. Sami Al-Louzi, Sonia Abdul-Rahman and Marcus Booth provide further support from the UAE.  

United Arab Emirates > Commercial, corporate and M&A

White & Case LLP’s broad, multi-specialist practice advises an impressive roster of market-leading clients, including state-owned entities, domestic industry leaders, and multinational corporates. Renowned for its ‘excellence in industry knowledge, client focus, and innovation’, the team is particularly well-positioned to handle cross-border M&A and private equity transactions across the Gulf, underpinned by its deep transactional expertise. Regional head of the Middle East practice Abdulwahid Alulama co-leads the team and is highly regarded for his proficiency in M&A, corporate governance, and commercial matters. Co-head Steven Worthington is active for sovereign wealth funds and private equity houses on M&A, joint ventures, and leveraged buyouts. Co-head Marcus Booth is another key name for private equity transactions, while co-head Sami Al-Louzi handles M&A, PE and capital markets deals across the Middle East, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Co-head Sonia Abdul-Rahman has recently been active on complex, multi-jurisdictional transactions in the energy, maritime, infrastructure and pharma sectors.

United Arab Emirates > Capital markets

Handling multiple IPOs across the Middle East, including pre-IPO restructurings and complex debt transactions, White & Case LLP continues to be sought out by a host of prominent clients on account of to its comprehensive capital markets offering. The team is noted for its capabilities in innovative, first-of-its-kind securitisation transactions, while the firm’s dedicated trusts and agency team provides further support to clients engaging with conventional and Shari’ah-compliant finance and capital markets mandates. Practice head and debt specialist Debashis Dey is valued for both his transactional prowess and regulatory counsel, as well his Islamic financing expertise. Co-head Sami Al-Louzi is a key adviser to multinational banks serving as underwriters and coordinators in equity capital markets transactions, and Roger Gaspard is a ‘highly appreciated solutions orientated lawyer who banks and issuers turn to for advice in complex situations’. Xuan Jin, Marcin Zawadzki and Eren Ayanlar also come recommended. Cassy Raby is a key supporting presence on IPOs. Greg Pospodinis left the firm in 2025.