With a strong international presence, AS&H Clifford Chance‘s expanding Riyadh-based banking and finance team provides ‘exceptional’ end-to-end services for complex financing transactions. The team advises their local and international clients on the full range of banking and financing transactions, offering specialist advice in areas such as bank lending, project financing and Islamic finance.  Yasser Al-Hussain heads the practice and brings extensive experience in Islamic finance, project finance, bilateral and syndicated lending and financial litigation. Ali Moiz Ansari acts for the team’s largest clients, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and the National Centre for Privatization. Other key contacts include Ahmed Choudhry and Mohamed Hamra-Krouha, who excel in complex project financings, among other specialties.

Baker McKenzie Law Firm’s banking and finance team is noted for its capabilities in Islamic finance, project financing, securitizations and receivables finance, with a particular specialism in restructuring and insolvency. The well-rounded practice attracts major private and public financial institutions. Co-leading the department is Ian Siddell, who is lauded for his expertise in project financing and ECA-supported financing. Siddell is complemented by his co-head Adil Hussain, who joined the team in September 2023 from Clyde & Co. and leads on Shariah-compliant and multi-source financing matters. Other names to highlight are Fatima Alhasan and Delwar Hossain, who show strength in both conventional and Islamic banking and finance matters. Basel Barakat departed in November 2023.

Derayah LLPC – Saudilegal acts on complex and high-profile banking and finance transactions, bringing broad sector expertise to its clients. The team is most notably proficient in Islamic and project financing, PPPs, and governmental and export credit agency finance transactions. Led by Ali Abedi , a specialist in cross-border asset and project finance transactions, the practice has been further strengthened by the addition of Basel Barakat, who joined from Baker McKenzie Law Firm in early 2024.

Khoshaim & Associates' banking and finance team offer cutting-edge advice for a wide range of banking transactions, with strengths in project finance, corporate finance, Islamic finance and regulatory matters. Known for their ability to navigate foreign investments in both public and private matters, the team is also a trusted advisor on PPP legal frameworks. The team is co-led by the reputable Karim Wali, the go-to advisor for high profile financing transactions in the project and construction sectors, and Hamdan Van Den Brule, who is perennially dominant in PPP projects. Managing Partner Zeyad Khoshaim enhances the team’s capabilities with his panoramic view of corporate and project financing. Another key contact is Paul Matrosov who focuses on the financing and development of novel energy and infrastructure projects.

King & Spalding’s banking and financing team has been praised for its ‘innovative capabilities’ in financing restructuring and cross-border transactions, particularly in the manufacturing, construction and energy sectors. The team showcases extensive expertise in both conventional and Shari’ah-compliant financing transactions, earning major Saudi and international banks as clients, as well as key players in the private credit market.. The practice is headed by Zaid Al-Farisi, whose extensive experience and ‘cultural fluency’ make him a go-to adviser for lenders, borrowers, sponsors, debtors and creditors. Dubai-based Michael Rainy is another key asset, bringing nearly 20 years of experience covering conventional and Shari’ah-complaint equity, loan and bond financings to deliver transactions successfully.

Linklaters provide borrowers and lenders in the Kingdom with financing solutions across both conventional and Islamic finance. The team is well-equipped to handle the full spectrum of banking and finance transactions, with strengths in syndicated finance, debt restructuring, project and real estate finance, and acquisition finance. Leading the team is Riyadh-based Omar El Sayed, who is the go-to adviser for complex syndicated loans and Islamic financings. Christian Saunders has expanded the team’s capabilities given his extensive experience in debt reprofiling and asset restructurings.

Latham & Watkins LLC ’s ‘solution-driven’ Banking and Financing Team is esteemed for its ability to advise on bank and borrower side mandates for all types of financing. The team’s deep market knowledge and prowess have made it the counsel of choice for central government funds, and national and international banks, including the Ministry of Finance and Saudi National Bank. The team is led by Peter Norris , a key financial adviser to the government. Norris is supported by the Riyadh managing partner Salman Al-Sudairi, who has extensive experience in advising international clients on complex banking and restructuring mandates.

White & Case’s banking and finance team stand out for their innovative project financing work in the energy, construction and real estate sectors. The team is also recognised for its intricate restructuring expertise. The practice is led by a large group of highly seasoned banking and finance specialists. In Abu Dhabi, Adam Pierson and Antoine Cousin lead on high-stakes energy and project financing deals and are key advisers to Saudi Aramco. Key contacts based in Riyadh are Alec Johnson and Waad Alkurini, who advise on multi-jurisdictional project development and financing across various sectors. Also based in Riyadh, Nezar Al Abbas specialises in Islamic and conventional financing for lenders and borrowers, focusing on project finance, corporate finance, and trade. Alexander Malahias left the firm in 2025.

Combining their local knowledge and international experience, DLA Piper Legal Consultants’s team is renowned for its extensive knowledge of ‘complex financing transactions’. The team advises on a broad range of domestic and international financing transactions, with a focus on real estate financing, asset and project financing, Islamic financing, and leveraged and acquisition financing. The team is led by Riyadh-based Paul Latto , who is specialised in leveraged, acquisition and project financing, as well as restructurings. James Iremonger oversees the regional finance team across the Middle East.

STAT Law Firm’s team delivers comprehensive end-to-end support across a broad array of conventional and Islamic finance transactions. Clients commend the team’s ability to manage the interplay between 'Shari’ah considerations' and 'commercial rationale'. Practice head Faris Alamoudi advises high-profile corporate and government entities, particularly on lending, restructuring and real estate finance. Other key contacts include Zeyad Alsalloum, who leverages extensive corporate experience, and Richard Blackburn, a specialist in derivatives and Islamic finance transactions.

The Law Firm of Wael A. Alissa in association with Dentons’s banking and finance team advise on high-profile and multi-jurisdictional financing transactions. Its wide-ranging practice encompasses restructurings, securities, syndication financing, project financing and handling PPPs. The team is under the leadership of Umera Ali, a specialist in Islamic finance, project finance and multi-sourced financings. Another key contact is Hasan Alkoofi, who is noted for his capabilities in real estate and corporate finance, as well as regulatory financing services.

 

Praised for their ‘unmatched’ commercial approach, Al Tamimi & Company ’s banking and finance team specialises in project financing and regulatory advisory services for sponsors, government agencies, and domestic and international financial institutions. Practice head Rafiq Jaffer advises high-profile clients on conventional and Shariah-compliant lending transactions, with a recent focus on energy project financing. Another key contact is Aurangzeb Maqsood, based in Riyadh, who brings expertise in securities and infrastructure projects.

Gibson Dunn has built a strong track record in advising on a broad array of project finance, Islamic finance, leveraged finance and structured finance. The team further expanded its presence with the opening of a Riyadh office in November 2023, bolstered by the addition of new team lead Mahmoud Abdel-Baky from White & Case who brings extensive experience in debt finance with a balanced focus on both borrowers and lenders.

The Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni ‘s established banking and finance team stands out for their experience advising on PPPs, project finance and export finance for domestic and international clients. The team is led by Emad Zahrani, Faisal Linjawy and Foram Majmudar. Zahrani and Linjawy offer extensive expertise in Shari’ah-compliant multi-option facility arrangements extended by foreign institutions, and Majmudar often advises on financial restructuring.

Hourani & Partners utilise their deep local presence and knowledge to advise on the full lifecycle of banking transactions, with a strong focus on syndicated loans, project finance and fintech. The firm is also well-equipped to act as local Saudi counsel for international firms. The team is led by Mustafa Kemal, who specialises in complex Islamic financing, structured financing and Islamic fintech, alongside managing partner Chadi Hourani.