Law firm highlights – December 2023

• Greenberg Traurig, LLP has received itslicense to practice law as a foreign law firm from the Ministry of Justice in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with an initial location in Riyadh. This comes on the heels of launching its newly licensed office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), based in Dubai. The two locations are closely coordinated under the leadership of regional chair Khalid Al-Thebity, based in the Kingdom. Expansion in the region continues with the addition of locally seasoned corporate lawyer Sean Huber in Riyadh who joins from NEOM, where he was the director of law and regulations in the office of general counsel. Huber’s practice focuses on M&A and corporate governance. He has advised both foreign and domestic clients on a broad spectrum of private and public M&A transactions, including competitive auction processes, complex joint ventures, and strategic alliances. He also has deep experience advising clients on securities law, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance matters. In addition, Huber has considerable regulatory experience, particularly in the fields of policy development and legislative drafting. In addition to Al-Thebity’s role as regional chair, Shareholders Steven Bainbridge and Sarah Mahood will be serving as co-managing partners in the UAE. Bainbridge has a leading sports & entertainment practice in the Middle East, and Mahood is an internationally recognized player in the region’s real estate, development, and hospitality sectors, a leader of what has recently been named the number one real estate practice in the UAE. Along with her long-term colleague, Stephen Kelly, they will act as co-heads of the firm’s regional real estate and hospitality practice.
• Ashurst announced that it has been granted a licence by the Ministry of Justice to practice law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Building on a 10-year strategic alliance the firm previously had with Faisal Adnan Baassiri Law Firm, the newly approved entity, Ashurst Law Firm (LLPC), sees the firm continue to support both domestic and international clients navigate the unique legal landscape in Saudi Arabia. The firm’s Saudi team, consisting of lawyers in both Jeddah and Riyadh, advise clients across a full spectrum of practice areas, including banking & finance, corporate, projects and disputes.  Led by Faisal Baassiri, the team have extensive industry expertise in key sectors such as energy & resources, transport & infrastructure and real estate, and a thorough understanding of Saudi culture, laws and business methods. “We have a well-established and successful Middle East offering, with dedicated teams spread across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah and Riyadh”, commented Paul Jenkins, global CEO at Ashurst. “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Faisal Adnan Baassiri Law Firm, through the newly approved entity, Ashurst Law Firm (LLPC).  This is an exciting development and demonstrates our full commitment to maintaining our presence and supporting our global and local clients in the Kingdom.” Faisal Baassiri, managing partner of the firm’s Saudi offices, added, “We would like to thank the Saudi Ministry of Justice for approving our licence application.  Saudi Arabia is undergoing a period of rapid and far-reaching change, both as a society and as an economy.  There are significant opportunities in the region, and we look forward to continuing to support our clients to capitalise on all of these.”
• Kennedys in Dubai has moved into new offices at Office Building 5, One Central, which is part of the Dubai World Trade Centre complex. The global law firm, headquartered in London, first opened its office in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2006, when one of its co-founders, Mark Wilson, relocated from Kennedys’ Hong Kong office. He remains a partner with the firm. “We’re excited to move into our new office space, which will help accommodate recent joiners and the future growth we’re forecasting,” comments Middle East managing partner, Peter Ellingham. Kennedys’ Dubai office represents many key local and international clients who have a reach into other major global commercial centres. The Dubai teams’ key practice areas include arbitration, aviation, corporate and commercial, construction, cyber, insurance, projects and infrastructure, and transport. The team is multi-national and multi-cultural, with colleagues from 12 different countries.
• Norton Rose Fulbright has been granted a foreign law firm licence by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice, a requirement under the country’s new operating regulations. The licence enables the international law firm to continue to provide a full business law service to its clients across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new office will be called Norton Rose Fulbright PLLC. It consists of a joint venture formed with The Company of Mohammed A. Altammami for Legal Services (LOMAT), with which the firm announced a new association in April 2023. The inaugural Riyadh-based partners are Mohammed Altammami (the head of the office), Anwar Ouazzani, Abdulkhaliq Elshayyal and David Johnston. The four partners are supported by 16 lawyers and support staff, meaning the firm now has 110+ people based in the Middle East. The foreign law firm licence permits the practising of Saudi law, in addition to wider international law capabilities. The Riyadh office comprises bilingual English and Arabic lawyers who are both Saudi and internationally qualified.A