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.