Pillsbury strengthens Middle East regulatory practice with Riyadh partner hire

Further expanding Pillsbury’s broad international regulatory capabilities and enhancing the firm’s strong connections across the Middle East region, former Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) legal advisor Amal Alotaibi has joined the firm as a partner in its Riyadh office.

During her time at the Ministry, Alotaibi served as legal advisor to the Minister of Investment and played an active role in shaping legal, regulatory, and foreign investment frameworks under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. She practiced with White & Case and STAT Law Firms in Riyadh prior to her public service at MISA advising government entities, sovereign-related institutions, and multinational corporations on complex regulatory, transactional, and governance matters.

Ten years on from the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s transformation continues at rapid pace. Economic data shows non-oil activities now account for approximately 56 percent of the Kingdom’s GDP, with private sector contributions rising from 40 percent to around 51 percent.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has made impressive progress towards its ambitious Vision 2030 goals, prompting even more private sector investment in the country from entities around the globe,” said firm chair and CEO David Dekker. “Those entering this market require experienced legal counsel that can navigate the rapidly evolving legal and regulatory environment that comes with the transformation and Amal is uniquely suited to that, offering both local credibility and international perspective.”

At MISA, Alotaibi advised on major national initiatives, including Saudi Arabia’s new investment law, foreign investment screening mechanisms, special economic zone strategies, and international and bilateral investment engagements. Her public sector background also includes secondments to the Saudi Ministry of Finance and serving as interim General Counsel to a confidential Saudi governmental entity, where she established and managed the legal function during its formation phase. She also has extensive experience advising on IPOs, privatisation initiatives, cross-border deals and regulatory changes from her time in private practice.

Her practice at Pillsbury will focus on advising private sector companies, sovereign entities, and financial institutions across foreign investment and regulatory screening, international trade, sanctions, public policy, sovereign and governmental advisory, policy-sensitive cross-border transactions, privatisation, and special economic zones. Her arrival strengthens the firm’s ability to guide clients through complex, policy-sensitive transactions and regulatory compliance involving both inbound and outbound Saudi investment.

“Amal’s arrival reflects Pillsbury’s strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and to providing market-leading advisory services to companies operating and investing in the Kingdom and the region,” said Khalid A. AlArfaj, managing partner of Pillsbury AlArfaj, Pillsbury’s Riyadh office. “Her exceptional ability to navigate the distinctive legal, regulatory, and commercial landscape of the Kingdom will be a real differentiator for clients looking to enter the Kingdom and capitalise on its robust and flourishing economy.”

Pillsbury AlArfaj, which was announced in December 2024, has extensive experience in both Saudi and cross-border matters. The firm’s Riyadh operation supports M&A, joint ventures, IPOs in Saudi Arabia’s capital markets, corporate structuring and restructuring, and private equity and venture capital transactions and regularly collaborates with the firm’s offices around the globe on regulatory and litigation matters. It also has a leading reputation in the energy sector, representing international energy companies on project development and regulatory compliance matters.

“Pillsbury’s ability to help clients navigate the impacts of technology, capital and government globally perfectly complement the needs of sovereign and corporate clients in Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East,” Alotaibi said. “I am excited to join the firm and look forward to helping clients in the region and elsewhere capitalise on the exciting opportunities before them.”