Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has secured a licence to practice law in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), following its association in 2022 with local firm Alrubayyi & Attorneys.
It will operate in the Kingdom through a Saudi professional company, the law firm announced in a statement on Thursday.
Several international law firms have sought to establish a foothold in Saudi Arabia since it became mandatory to obtain a licence by the Ministry of Justice to continue to advise clients on the ground.
The new legal framework is aimed at encouraging investment in Saudi legal talent and ensuring that work can be created from within the region, with local legal expertise growing accordingly.
Quinn Emanuel’s Riyadh office is headed by Saudi litigator Nasser Alrubayyi, who also co-chairs the firm’s Middle East and North Africa practice.
Alrubayyi said: “The formal award of the licence to practice local law is another milestone in our commitment to be the number one litigation law firm in the KSA and the wider Middle East region. Quinn Emanuel’s reputation for being the premier global disputes firm is built upon having the best local lawyers on the ground and the combined proposition is very exciting for us here in Riyadh and beyond.”
The two-partner, eight-lawyer team is currently working on numerous large cases including complex arbitrations and high-stakes construction disputes, according to the statement.
Quinn Emanuel founder John Quinn said: “Saudi Arabia has invested billions into diversifying its economy and encouraging international investment and has been a key regional focus for us for some time. Our commitment to the KSA alongside the launch last year of offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai is a direct response to local and international client demand. We intend to keep our foot on the accelerator and build out a powerful litigation presence across the region.”
Riyadh is Quinn Emanuel’s fourth office in the Middle East with the firm also present in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha.
Other law firms to obtain Saudi licences in recent months include Allen & Overy (ahead of its merger with Shearman & Sterling), Addleshaw Goddard, King & Spalding, and Squire Patton Boggs. Meanwhile, some law firms such as Clyde & Co and Latham & Watkins have established Saudi Arabia as their regional headquarters (RHQ) under the Kingdom’s new RHQ programme.
