AS&H Clifford Chance ‘possesses an exceptionally deep bench with quality across the board’, overseeing a range of corporate and commercial instructions for marquee players in the Kingdom. The firm is well-placed to handle public and private M&A, complex cross-border transactions, and strategic joint venture agreements across a variety of sectors – particularly financial services, hospitality, and energy and infrastructure. Practice head Majid Al-Sheikh‘s deep expertise in M&A is routinely sought out by multinationals and investment management firms. Mansoor Alhagbani heads up the capital markets offering and handles a variety of transactions, while Omar Rashid is a trusted advisor to the Public Investment Fund. Daniel Royle has a varied practice that includes both commercial and corporate work. Aysh Chaudhry has extensive experience advising on complex cross-border M&A.

Al Tamimi & Company is well-positioned to advise on complex domestic and international mandates, leveraging its extensive corporate and commercial expertise to advise an extensive roster of clients across a multitude of sectors. Alongside its strong transactional capabilities, the firm is routinely sought out for its impressive understanding of the local regulatory framework, and has recently been active on market entry and business establishment instructions. Team head Philip Kotsis advises on the full gamut of corporate and commercial work and has a strong portfolio of cross-border acquisitions. Co-lead Hesham Al Homoud heads up the firm’s corporate structuring offering, while Grahame Nelson, who is highly active in the energy sector, advises clients from Khobar. Christopher Webb is chiefly noted for his competition law expertise, while Omar Al Humaid, who was promoted to partner in January 2024, is highly active on market entry, operation expansions, and joint ventures. Adlai Shalabi joined from an in-house position in May 2024.

Baker McKenzie Law Firm delivers a comprehensive corporate and commercial offering in Saudi Arabia, covering M&A, joint ventures, and restructurings, underpinned by strong regulatory expertise. The team’s capabilities in anti-trust and competition work is highly sought out by both Saudi Arabian and regional corporates active across a variety of sectors, and the firm has established contacts with leading government-backed entities. Karim Nassar and Zahi Younes co-lead the practice and advise on domestic and cross-border transactions. Mohammad Al Rasheed divides his time between Dubai and Riyadh, while David Monnier spearheads the competition practice. Partners, Stephanie Samuell and Marcos Spanos lead on cross border, UAE and KSA M&A transactions. Tamim AlKhudhayri is a key adviser on market entry and commercial agreements, and Haya Masoud is another name of note. Basel Barakat departed the firm in January 2024.

 

Clyde & Co LLP invested heavily in its Saudi Arabian offering in 2024, including acquiring its regional headquarters license and opening a new office in Jeddah, further cementing its market reputation as a go-to for corporate and commercial work. The firm is engaged by high-profile industry players for assistance with market entry, business setup, and regulatory compliance, whilst also acting as a key choice for both domestic and international clients seeking comprehensive support on a wide range of commercial contracts. Abdulaziz Al-Bosaily helms the practice and leverages previous in-house experience to expertly advise clients on multi-jurisdictional transactions. Alain Sfeir is highly active on M&A, joint ventures, and market entry instructions, often working closely with Alan Wood, who provides further commercial and corporate expertise. Shahd Makhafah was promoted to legal director in May 2024 and comes recommended for her astute understanding of the regulatory landscape, particularly the regional eadquarters program. Rizwan Osman left the firm.

Khoshaim & Associates has bolstered its commercial and corporate offering, hiring Christian Both from Addleshaw Goddard and Omar Iqbal from Law Office of Mohanned bin Saud Al-Rasheed in association with Baker Botts L.L.P.  in June 2024, with the duo sitting at the helm of the group and adding strong capabilities in M&A, private equity and foreign investments. The firm has a longstanding track record in the Kingdom and retains close connections with major corporates across a variety of sectors, as well as key government-backed entities. Team head Zeyad Khoshaim, who ‘stands out as a managing partner that focuses on the client relationship and providing high quality client advice‘, is consistently sought out for his expertise in public and private M&A, restructurings and joint ventures. Co-head Basma Khashoggi has recently been engaged in joint ventures for PIF-backed entities, including the Saudi Arabian Investment Company and NEOM. Leen Zaza left the firm.

King & Spalding has invested heavily in its Middle East practice in recent years, including relocating experienced M&A specialist Martin Hunt from the firm’s London office to Riyadh in 2024. This addition has strengthened the firm’s ability to support marquee players in the Kingdom across key sectors including healthcare, construction, logistics and energy and infrastructure. The firm also boasts a robust funds practice, providing comprehensive counsel to regional and multinational investors on inbound and outbound transactions, fund establishment, and management. Nabil Issa leads the team and splits his time between Riyadh and Dubai and is regularly active on M&A and private equity deals. Saud Aldawsari relocated from Brussels and supports across the full range of practice matters.

Providing ‘international quality whilst maintaining very strong local knowledge‘, Latham & Watkins LLC acts for a strong roster of corporates across multiple sectors on M&A, private equity, and joint venture deals. The firm also works closely with ministries and government-backed entities on transformative initiatives and projects in the Kingdom, including advising on the ever-evolving regulatory landscape. Team head Ahmed el-Gaili handles a steady stream of sophisticated domestic and international M&A, with notable experience in the energy and projects space. Salman Al-Sudairi‘s far reaching expertise spans M&A, carve outs, joint ventures, and market entry instructions. Ahmed El Banna also comes recommended. Leen Zaza joined from Khoshaim & Associates in August 2024.

A&O Shearman advises a diverse range of industry players from Saudi Arabia and the broader Middle East on domestic and inbound M&A and private equity transactions. The firm has recently been particularly active in the energy sector, handling oil and gas acquisitions and investments, as well as joint ventures in the renewables space. Hosam Ibn Ghaith, who joined from Hassana Investment Company in November 2023, co-heads the practice alongside Sultan Almasoud, with the duo well-regarded for their transactional prowess and experience in the Kingdom. Mohsin Suleman advises on public and private M&A.

Derayah LLPC – Saudilegal‘s corporate and commercial practice, primarily based in the firm's Jeddah office, handles a diverse range of matters, including legal due diligence, competition law, joint ventures, market entry, business expansion, and commercial contracts. Asad Abedi leads the team and is well-positioned to act on complex M&A and cross-border joint ventures. Co-head Ali Abedi, who is also accomplished at cross-border joint ventures, has deep experience in the energy, utilities and infrastructure sectors, while co-head Dana Halwani is praised for her ability to provide ‘accurate and practical solutions‘. Andreas Haberback, Abdulaziz Alsulmy and Jamal Farsi provide further corporate support.

Gibson Dunn's Riyadh-based team has strengthened its position in the market through the hire of Megren Al-Shaalan, Mohamed A. Hasan and Jonathan Langley, who joined from The Law Office of Megren M. Al-Shaalan in cooperation with White & Case in November 2023. The trio, who act as co-heads, brings deep expertise in M&A, joint ventures, and general corporate matters, complemented by strong, longstanding relationships with key industry players and government-backed entities in the Kingdom.

Law Office of Mohanned bin Saud Al-Rasheed in association with Baker Botts L.L.P.   advises a diverse client base including state-backed entities, multinationals, industrial conglomerates, and family groups, on an array of domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings. Shadi Haroon spearheads the practice and is instructed on inbound and outbound transactions, commercial agreements, and regulatory advice. Haitham Hawashin is reputed for his public company work and works for a number of large regional entities. Rakan Alyusuf supports across the full range of practice matters.

Praised for its ‘understanding of Saudi Arabian regulations and addressing the unique challenges of the local market‘ BLK Partners has a broad corporate and commercial remit, overseeing M&A, equity investment – including the financing aspects – joint ventures, and capital markets transactions, demonstrating excellence across a multitude of sectors. Jeffrey Greene heads the practice and acts for a strong roster of clients on M&A, corporate governance, and banking and finance matters. Mohamed Ben Laden is active on both corporate and commercial instructions, while Ziad El-Khoury has recently been active on cross-border M&A involving the UAE. Wissam Hachem has a broad offering that particularly focuses on insurance transactions.

Greenberg Traurig Khalid Al-Thebity Law Firm‘s ‘commercial, corporate, and M&A practice stands out for its comprehensive understanding of both local and international business landscapes’, advising a number of corporates and public bodies on complex matters, particularly in the media, sports and entertainment spaces. Khalid Al-Thebity helms the practice and works closely with government ministries on major events, projects and partnerships in the Kingdom. Steven Bainbridge focuses on sport and media-related mandates and splits his time between Dubai and Riyadh, while Marwa Al-Siyabi is a key contact for government agencies across the Gulf. Sean Huber joined the firm from NEOM in November 2023 and brings further M&A and regulatory capabilities to the fore. Chadi Salloum, who joined from Clyde & Co LLP in July 2024, and David Bintliff, who joined from Bird & Bird in December 2023, provide support from the UAE. Ex-Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner duo Stephen Kelly and Sarah Mahood, who joined the firm’s UAE team in September 2023, are also regularly involved on deals in the Kingdom.

A firm praised for its ‘combination of professionalism and genuine dedication to client success’, The Law Firm of Hassan Mahassni is experienced in handling a variety of commercial and corporate instructions, including M&A, joint ventures, and corporate restructurings. Faisal Linjawy‘s deep understanding of the regulatory landscape ensures he is a go-to for foreign clients investing in the Kingdom, handling an array of inbound transactions. Co-head AbdulMoeen Arnous is active across multiple sectors, particularly the construction, energy and utilities spaces. Faisal Alhashmi and Laith Alhashmi come recommended for their corporate restructuring capabilities, while Mahfouz Tumbukan has recently been active on multi-jurisdictional M&A.

 

Hourani & Partners acts for a strong roster of clients, advising both Saudi corporates on domestic and outbound transactions, as well as multinationals entering the Saudi market. The firm is particularly active in the energy, infrastructure, manufacturing and engineering sectors and is adept at advising on corporate, commercial and regulatory instructions. Chadi Hourani is well-reputed for his cross-border expertise and works with premium clients across the Gulf. Chadi Hourani combines his M&A focus with significant finance and regulatory expertise, and Salim Sader is a key contact for regional private equity firms. Rudolf Goldschmidt‘s practice covers M&A, PE and joint ventures deals, with a notable focus on venture capital transactions. Anas Akel and Amgad Husein advise across multiple sectors and provide corporate, commercial, regulatory and compliance counsel. Edoardo Betto, who is based in Khobar, works with industry players in the oil and gas, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors.

Linklaters has witnessed an uptick of corporate instructions relating to in-bound foreign investment in the Kingdom, particularly in the energy, infrastructure and real estate sectors. Additionally, the firm is regularly active for state-backed entities, advising on M&A, joint ventures, and venture capital transactions. Waleed Rasromani and Amro Bakhaidar co-lead the team, with the former reputed for his corporate and M&A work in the energy and infrastructure sectors and the latter for his skill in public M&A. Amro Bakhaidar and Mohammad Almania support across an array of practice mandates.

White & Case has an impressive track record acting for key players in the Kingdom, advising on high-end complex M&A, joint ventures and commercial agreements. The firm works closely with Saudi Aramco on mandates across the Gulf, as well as state-backed entities and their subsidiaries. Waad Alkurini leads the team and is well-placed to advise on matters in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Co-head Anwaar Alshammari has a broad corporate and commercial practice and leverages previous in-house government ministry experience to comprehensively advise on domestic and inbound transactions. Sami Al-Louzi, Sonia Abdul-Rahman and Marcus Booth provide further support from the UAE.

 

The Law Firm of Wael A. Alissa in association with Dentons has an extensive corporate and commercial offering, acting on a wide array of sectors for domestic and multinational corporates, public bodies, and state-backed entities on M&A, joint ventures, and commercial agreements. The firm has a robust funds offering, advising on fund establishment, capital raising and transactions, and also has growing activity in the tech, entertainment, and hospitality spaces. Team head Ziad Saad advises on domestic and cross-border M&A and private equity deals and is also a key name for capital markets expertise. Nick Simpson handles M&A, joint ventures, and market entry and business expansion mandates, with a particular focus on the real estate and hospitality sectors. Mohamad Al Rifai and Shahzaib Khan are active on both buy-side and sell-side transactions for regional and multinational clients. Intesar Alkhayyal is also noted.

Addleshaw Goddard‘s ‘truly exceptional’ commercial, corporate and M&A practice is highly praised for its ‘near-unparalleled expertise, client-centric approach, and seamless delivery of results.’ The firm is instructed by domestic companies, family offices, and wider regional corporates on a range of transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, and asset transfers. Ibrahim Siddiki is a highly proficient cross-border advisor who acts on M&A, commercial agreements, and regulatory compliance. Homam Khoshaim‘s practice covers M&A, joint ventures, capital markets and competition matters, and Oliver Stevens supports from Oman. Jasem Alanizy is widely praised for his ‘cultural understanding of transactional nuances’ and ‘remarkable combination of technical skill and commercial insight’. Christian Both left the firm in 2024.

AlDhabaan & Partners in association with Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP  fields a team ‘comprised of individuals with diverse backgrounds and expertise across various fields’. The group advises Saudi Arabian and wider regional corporates on transactions, commercial agreements, and market entry instructions. In 2023, the firm strengthened its offering in the Kingdom through the hire of Walid Salib from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP in association with the Law Firm of Salah Al-Hejailan; he has over fifteen years of experience in the market and has a broad practice including M&A, capital markets, and IP. Salib leads the team alongside Abdulatif AlHerish, who is well-reputed for his regulatory acumen; Abdulatif AlHerish, who is highly active in the team space; and Ibrahim AlSultan, who has a strong track record establishing companies in the Kingdom. Muhammad Anum Saleem  and Faris Al-Louzi are other names to note.

DLA Piper Legal Consultants ‘has deep local industry expertise and a practical, results-oriented approach‘. The firm is chiefly recognised for its disputes, construction, and real estate-related mandates, but also helps a solid roster of corporates on transactions and market entry instructions. Mohammed Al Shahrani leads the team and works with a wide body of domestic and multinational clients.

HFW has a robust corporate and commercial offering, advising on M&A and joint ventures involving prominent domestic clients, commercial agreements between engineering and construction companies, and market entry and regulatory work for multinationals. Managing partner Rula Dajani Abuljebain leads the practice, actively working on Gulf-wide mandates covering transactions, compliance, and commercial contracts. New addition Abdulrahman Al-Ohaly, who joined from Al-Ohaly Law Firm in November 2023, is recognised for his broad practice encompassing both contentious and non-contentious matters. Euan Pinkerton is a go-to for corporate and regulatory issues, with a focus on energy and infrastructure, while Abbas Ahdal Sharif is also highly recommended.