Saudi Arabia 2025
Supported by the Association of Corporate Counsel
Chief Legal, Governance, ESG Officer, Corporate Secretary | Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF)
Chief Legal Officer | King Salman Park Foundation (KSPF)
Executive Legal Advisor of HE, the President of RCRC | Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC)
Head of Legal | Emaar, The Economic City – King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC)
Legal manager - Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine | KPMG Professional Services – KPMG
General Counsel and Board Secretary | Future Investment Initiative Institute
Chief Legal Officer | King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD)
Chief Legal & Assurance Officer | Abdul Latif Jameel Enterprises
General Counsel & Company Secretary | Saudi Chevron Phillips Co, Jubail Chevron Phillips Co & Saudi Polymers Company
Group Chief Legal Officer (General Counsel) | Sipchem (Sahara International Petrochemical Company)
Chief Legal & GRC Officer | Osool Integrated Real Estate
Chief Corporate Governance and Legal Affairs officer, and Group Board Secretary | Savola Group
General Counsel, Board and Governance Affairs Advisor |
Chief Legal, Board & Government Affairs Officer | Red Sea Cruise Company (Cruise Saudi)
Manager of Legal Affairs | The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit
Vice President, Legal Affairs Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific | SABIC
General Counsel | Industrialization and Energy Services Company (TAQA)
Head of Legal, Governance and General Secretary | Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC)
Assistant Manager of Legal Affairs | New Murabba Development Company
Group Chief Legal and Risk Officer and General Counsel | stc
Legal Affairs and Contracts Director | Arabian Drilling Company
General Counsel | Sehati for Information Technology Services
EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | Saudi Aramco
Sr. Compliance Specialist, (Investigation and Anti-Fraud Unit) GRC Division | New Murabba Development Company
General Legal Counsel | Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)
Senior Legal Advisor Mergers and Acquisitions | Saudi Telecom Company (stc)
General Counsel and Board Secretary | Yanbu Aramco Sinopec Refining Company (YASREF)
Team Leader - Corporate Legal Affairs | Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (KUFPEC)
Chief Legal, GRC Officer and Board Secretary | Saudia Dairy & Foodstuff Co. (SADAFCO)
General Counsel | Executive Leader | Strategic Architect of Governance | Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)
Chief Legal & GRC Officer - Board Secretary | Integrated Dawiyat
Legal Specialist - Legal Studies & Services | General Authority for Competition, Saudi Arabia
Chief Legal Officer, GRC Head and Board Secretary | The National Energy Services Company (Tarshid)
General Counsel, Head of Legal Affairs Division & Corporate Secretary | Bank Albilad
I am honoured to present the inaugural edition of Legal 500’s GC Powerlist: Saudi Arabia, recognising the top senior in-house counsel in the country. Congratulations to all those who have made it onto this exclusive list.
With Saudi Vision 2030 now in its second phase, in-house legal teams remain committed to supporting business strategies and projects aligned with the Vision’s objectives.
Since legal teams are key to such implementation, the role of in-house counsel is becoming increasingly complex. GCs are required to work closely with both their own team and senior management, collaborating with business partners and fully integrating into the organisation. As Saad AL Juhani, General Counsel and Board Secretary at YASREF, points out: ‘Legal is no longer just a gatekeeper. It must be a partner to the business, enabling growth while protecting value.’
And in-house counsel often find themselves acting as a translator between these different functions, in order to facilitate efficient and effective results. Ladislav Zahumensky, General Counsel at Industrialization and Energy Services Company (TAQA) explains: ‘Talking with all our clients in their jargon helps us get to the bottom of things as well as explain our work to them. It is our job to do the “translation”.
He adds: ‘Having a prior techno-commercial insight into the matter and speaking the client’s language eliminates the room for misunderstandings and puts us in the role of a trusted advisor and business partner (and not “just a lawyer”), which in turn leads to appropriate legal solutions that have the clients’ buy-in.’
Taking on such a multifaceted role necessitates a multitude of skills, including sound legal, commercial and technical knowledge. In-house counsel must consistently strike a balance between business-oriented solutions and legal prudence.
As Abdallah Alshaikh, Chief Legal, Governance and ESG Officer and Corporate Secretary at Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF) puts it: ‘Legal’s role is not to say “no,” but to find the best way to say, “yes, responsibly.”
As it so often does, the conversation often turned to AI and how technological advancements are impacting the legal profession. While AI has already begun to make its mark, many believe we are still at the early stages of its integration into the sector. Mahmoud Youssef, Group General Counsel at Foodics, reminds us: ‘AI is just getting started. We are still learning… alongside the machine learning.’
For many in-house counsel, AI’s potential is clear – but so are its limitations. Dr. Abdelkareem Alkadomi, Chief Legal & Assurance Officer at Abdul Latif Jameel Enterprises notes: ‘While AI can enhance efficiency, it lacks the nuanced judgment, ethical reasoning, and strategic thinking that legal professionals provide. The key lies in integrating AI as a powerful tool to support, rather than replace, human expertise in the legal field’.
Mohammed Jamil, Group Chief Legal Officer at Petromin Corporation, agrees: ‘Ultimately, AI will not replace lawyers — but those who embrace it will have a significant advantage in a changing legal landscape’.
‘For forward-looking legal departments, AI presents a tremendous opportunity to enhance efficiency, reduce human error, and reallocate valuable legal resources to more strategic and advisory roles’, concurs Maha AlKhraijy, Corporate and CD Counsel at Binzagr Unilever Limited.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all those who participated in the research process and took the time to share their insights with us. Alongside Clyde & Co, Legal 500 is proud to provide a platform that fosters collaboration and the exchange of ideas among general counsel, while also celebrating their outstanding achievements.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s (KSA) growing economy, shaped by its visionary initiative Vision 2030, has positioned the country as an international hub of technology and business at the forefront of global trade.
As Saudi Arabia continues its transformation journey, numerous programmes have been established to assist with achieving its ambitious goals through the development of the Public Investment Fund’s giga-projects, the creation of the Regional Headquarters Programme, further investment in the private sector and FDI, increasing the ease of doing business, and liberalisation of parts of the economy.
The road to Vision 2030 has resulted in fast-paced changes to KSA’s regulatory and legal landscape. Regulatory and legislative reforms implemented over the last few years have included landmark legislation such as the Civil Transactions Law and a number of new laws, such as the Companies Law, the Data Protection Law, the Investment Law, and the Bankruptcy Law.
The potential for growth in Saudi is undeniable, and for businesses to realise the opportunities presented in the market, they need to understand the evolving legal environment, a valuable role in which the in-house legal community plays. Having been on the ground in Saudi Arabia for 16 years, we have witnessed first-hand the increasingly strategic position General Counsels have, not only in ensuring legal compliance, but also in shaping business strategy, managing risk, and facilitating corporate governance in an increasingly dynamic environment.
The GC Powerlist is a unique opportunity to acknowledge this exceptional community – professionals who, like us, are committed to helping businesses successfully navigate the legal landscape and unlock opportunities.
We congratulate all the General Counsels who are driving change, shaping the business landscape, and setting new benchmarks for excellence in the in-house legal community.
Clyde & Co in Saudi Arabia
Clyde & Co Riyadh helps clients to grow and operate in Saudi Arabia
Clyde & Co is one of the largest international law firms operating in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Our lawyers have been assisting clients in Saudi Arabia for over 35 years and offer clients an unrivalled understanding of the country’s dynamic market.
Our full-service team of internationally trained, local experts are based full-time in our Riyadh and Jeddah offices. We advise local and multinational corporations and family businesses on the full spectrum of their legal needs, including aviation, corporate and commercial, data protection, dispute resolution, employment, energy, marine and trade, insurance, intellectual property, projects and construction, real estate and hospitality, and regulatory and investigations.
At the core of our business in Saudi Arabia is Managing Partner Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily, who is considered one of the leading corporate lawyers in Saudi Arabia and has been integral in growing its 35+ team of legal professionals.
The Legal 500 was proud to host the third edition of the GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 at the Capitol Hotel Tokyu, honouring the top General Counsel, Chief Legal Officers, Legal Directors, and senior in-house legal professionals operating at the highest level of Japan’s corporate legal landscape. Held in Tokyo, this year’s reception welcomed around 100 of the most respected and senior corporate counsel from across Japan. It was an unrivalled success, and cements Legal 500’s status as the leading force in legal media supporting the achievements of in-house counsel in Japan. The GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 marks the continuation of our commitment to recognising excellence in-house, and this year’s edition represents the most competitive and selective list to date.
Joe Boswell, lead editor of the GC powerlist publication at The Legal 500, opened the evening with an introduction that reflected on the growing prestige of the Japan list. He emphasised how the Powerlist has grown stronger each year, both in scope and quality, making the task of selection more difficult. This year’s honourees emerged from a deeply competitive field, making their recognition even more meaningful.
Boswell extended heartfelt congratulations to all honourees and acknowledged the critical support of key partners and sponsors who made the evening possible. Special thanks were given to Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Morrison Foerster, iManage, JustLegal, and SS&C Intralinks for their generous sponsorship and ongoing collaboration.
In a moment of reflection, Joe paid tribute to Tim Mackey, chief legal officer at SoftBank, who sadly passed away unexpectedly earlier this year. Tim had contributed to the Powerlist in each of its three editions and was known not only for his exceptional legal acumen but also for his warmth and generosity.
The evening featured insightful remarks from distinguished speakers representing our partners and the broader legal community: Mischa Mulligan, Japan Director at SS&C Intralinks; Hiroki Kodate, Partner and Management Committee Member at Anderson Mori & Tomotsune; Jeremy White, Global Co-Chair of M&A for Morrison Foerster; and, representing those awarded in the Powerlist, Naoki Hamada, General Counsel for Japan at HSBC.
Each speaker provided reflections on legal innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of in-house counsel in Japan’s corporate landscape. Their remarks added valuable context to the achievements celebrated throughout the evening.
The formal awards segment celebrated this year’s GC Powerlist honourees. With assistance from long-time collaborator Isaac Uchiyama who read out awardees’ names, recipients were invited to collect their certificates, pose for photographs, and be formally recognised by their peers.
Certificates were presented on stage by Hiroki Kodate or Anderson Mori & Tomotsune and Jeremy White of Morrison Foerster, whose participation further underlined the deep support of the Japanese and international legal communities.
The GC Powerlist: Japan 2025 reception reaffirmed Legal 500’s commitment to spotlighting the very best of in-house legal talent. With record levels of interest and unmatched quality among candidates, the Japan edition continues to solidify its place as one of the most respected publications in the global GC Powerlist series.
We extend our sincere congratulations to all honourees and thank our partners, sponsors, and speakers for making the evening a success.
We look forward to returning to Tokyo again next year. As a parting gift, you can view Naoki Hamada’s excellent keynote address below, where he touches on a lot of issues and themes that many other GC, whatever country they operate in, will recognise:
‘Good evening, everyone. I am Naoki Hamada of HSBC. I am very pleased to be here speaking to you today. It is a great pleasure and honor, and at the same time, I feel a bit overwhelmed being surrounded by the busiest and most expensive lawyers in the industry—even if I know that nobody will be charging us for their time. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Legal 500 for organizing such a great event, and Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, Morrison Foerster, iManage, SS&C Intralinks, and Just Legal for sponsoring and supporting it. And, huge congratulations on the recognition each of you is receiving, which is truly a great accomplishment and the result of your hard work and the accumulated trust the entire industry has placed in you.
It must be emphasized that this award is given only to general counsels. Being a general counsel means a lot more than just being a subject matter expert. You are a most reliable strategic partner for the business, and I am sure that you have distinguished yourself from the crowd by your ability to identify underlying risks, devise legal solutions, ensure the right processes and governance for corporate decisions, influence others, and educate the next generation of lawyers. This is what you are being recognized for.
Looking back on my career, I have been hugely helped by lawyers in other companies through various industry communities. When I joined the in-house world 12 years ago from a Japanese law firm, large international banks were all struggling with a huge wave of regulatory reform. Back then, I was relatively new to that particular area of finance, and my hiring was somewhat potential-based. Nonetheless, I was assigned to lead the regulatory reform efforts locally. My predecessor had left the bank before I joined, there was no sufficient handover, and I was completely lost as to what to do. What helped me most were the industry peer group discussions, where in-house counsels from major banks would get together to discuss common issues. I learned so much from what was discussed there and absorbed as much as I could. Without that network, I am sure that I wouldn’t have survived that time.
However, our situation today is far more difficult. The changes in the landscape we face today are unprecedented. Technological developments and the corresponding shifts in geopolitical and industrial landscapes are completely unpredictable, and the speed at which they happen is far faster than before. We might face a time that requires us to pivot, forcing us to redefine how we add value and rebuild the way we work. That is somewhat intimidating. But, I am confident that a way forward will be found through the collective wisdom and effort of the people in this room. I would like to be a part of that, and this network of people is enormously valuable and truly priceless.
Finally, let’s have a drink and celebrate our achievements for now – before your CEO calls asking you to join a call! Thank you so much.’
