Interview with: Anas El Jisr, Managing Partner

What do you see as the main points that differentiate JP Legal from your competitors?

JP Legal is recognized for its diversity of qualified lawyers from multiple jurisdictions. Our team includes lawyers qualified to practice in England and Wales, France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Lebanon, India, and Pakistan.

This wealth of qualifications enables us to navigate complex, multinational legal landscapes and to advise clients from around the world. This capability underscores the firm’s commitment to client success and to operating within a global context with a broad legal perspective. JP Legal is also dedicated to a client-centric service approach, ensuring that each client is treated with meticulous care and in a personalized manner.

We believe that every client has unique needs and goals. That’s why we ensure our advice is tailored to each specific client, addressing their concerns, and assisting them in achieving their desired goals. Together, these attributes create a distinctive identity for JP Legal and underscore its competitive edge in the legal marketplace.

Our team is naturally intelligent, youthful, driven by energy, and aware of the latest developments in artificial intelligence that could be leveraged in the legal sector for our clients’ benefit. We can deliver services in multinational jurisdictions with our team, all of whom are tri-lingual and speak English, French, Hindu, Spanish, Arabic and Italian.

Which practices do you see growing in the next 12 months? What are the drivers behind that?

We anticipate growth in the artificial intelligence sector which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has just invested almost USD Billion 40 in and related sectors, in corporate and commercial sectors, foreign investments, and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) over the next 12 months. This expectation is fueled by digital transformation, the need for cybersecurity, data protection regulations, and strategic acquisitions across various sectors. Legal expertise in these areas is becoming increasingly important.

Clients looking to enter the market and do business, buy, or sell shares in existing companies, or enter into any type of commercial agreement will require a law firm that understands local laws and regulations and can provide advice on multiple fronts. Recently, we have observed a surge in demand for M&A transactions, affording us the opportunity to represent high-profile companies, whether as sellers or buyers.  We are actively existing major Saudi groups on multibillion takeovers and acquisitions most of which are cross-border and complex.

What’s the main change you’ve made in the firm that will benefit clients?

In response to the growing demand for AI and technology, our firm has adopted a more client-centric approach, integrating advanced technology and artificial intelligence to enhance our legal services. This strategic implementation significantly reduces response times and improves the efficiency of our work. In today’s fast-paced world, clients expect a high level of responsiveness, a need that has become imperative with the advent of technology and AI. By leveraging these advancements, we ensure that our clients receive quicker, more accurate legal advice and representation, thereby enhancing their overall experience and satisfaction. Moreover, maintaining transparent communication is vital, ensuring clients are always well-informed about the status of their cases.

Is technology changing the way you interact with your clients, and the services you can provide them?

Yes, technology has significantly changed how law firms interact with their clients and the services they offer. Post-COVID, firms have become more agile and less tied to traditional practices. For example, video conferencing has made it easier and more efficient for lawyers to communicate with clients, regardless of physical location, especially in a firm where lawyers are spread across many countries and work remotely. Automation and artificial intelligence tools are also used to streamline repetitive tasks, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of legal services. However, we do not rely on AI to provide our clients with the legal advice they need. This responsibility remains personally managed and overseen by our lawyers. We believe that a lawyer’s thorough review of a legal document or their efficient communication with a client, for example, is still needed and makes a significant difference. Overall, technology is transforming the legal landscape, making it more client-centric and service-oriented.

Can you give us a practical example of how you have helped a client to add value to their business?

We regularly advise prominent groups on restructuring their global and regional operations to leverage robust corporate structuring, minimize taxation, and ensure proper succession planning and governance. We help these businesses to restructure their group companies or family businesses in multiple jurisdictions to become owned by holdings and well-structured under a robust trust structure. These businesses often prepare for future acquisitions or Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in the region and seek our guidance for planning their journey ahead.

Additionally, we have successfully restructured major groups and businesses in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with particular focus on the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. We’ve transformed their ownership structures from being owned under GCC nationals, which posed major legal and financial risks, to being legally recognized under the names of the actual beneficial foreign shareholders. By correcting these structures, we have ensured that our clients have direct foreign ownership and equity in these businesses, enabling them to grow in a secure legal environment.

Are clients looking for stability and strategic direction from their law firms – where do you see the firm in three years’ time?

In three years, we envision our firm expanding beyond the GCC area to new jurisdictions. We anticipate an increase in the number of qualified lawyers and the adoption of more developed AI software tailored for law firms and perhaps specialised to specific legal sectors. This technology will revolutionize our clients’ legal experience, making it more innovative and effective than ever before.

Clients expect law firms to have a profound understanding of their industries and the ability to adapt to change. One of the most critical criteria for businesses is not only stability but also the discovery of innovative solutions. These solutions should not only solve current issues but also reshape their businesses both commercially and legally.

We think alongside our clients, planning strategically for decades ahead, with the assumption that their businesses will undoubtedly succeed and deliver.