Ashurst and Pinsent Masons have made partner hires in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Pinsent Masons has announced the appointment of Sairah Narmah-Alqasim as a partner based in Riyadh.
She will lead the firm’s employment practice for its newly launched office in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Having previously trained with the firm, Narmah-Alqasim has spent more than a decade blending in-house roles in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia with private practice experience. She was most recently at Dentons spearheading the firm’s employment practice in Saudi Arabia as a senior legal consultant.
Her practice will focus on advising global and regional corporate clients on human resources and employment law issues, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters. Her practice also extends to corporate structuring, corporate compliance and regulatory matters, as well as cross-sector transactions, with a specialism in education. Her client base ranges from private and listed companies to ultra-high net worth individuals, family offices, as well as sovereign wealth funds.
Commenting on her arrival, Pinsent Masons Middle East employment head Luke Tapp said: “Welcoming Sairah back to the firm as the inaugural employment practice head of our new Riyadh office is another milestone moment in the expansion of our presence in the region.”
“Her arrival underscores our commitment to growing our global employment and reward team,” he said.
Pinsent Masons Saudi Arabia managing partner Ibrahim Alajaji added: “Sairah’s expertise in employment law will be crucial as we enhance our capabilities in KSA. Given Saudi Arabia’s evolving regulatory landscape, employment law remains a key aspect of business strategy and Sairah’s leadership will further improve our ability to assist clients in navigating these complexities.”
Her appointment follows a number of recent hires the firm has made in the Middle East, most notably that of Rena L. Scott to head up the construction advisory and disputes practice in Saudi Arabia.
Ashurst, meanwhile, has appointed Raheel Butt as a partner to lead the financial regulatory practice in Riyadh. Butt was formerly a local partner at White & Case.
He brings over 17 years of experience, including over a decade on the ground in Saudi Arabia, in the financial services sector. He advises banks, asset managers, fund managers, brokers, custodians, and investors on Saudi regulatory compliance, regulatory applications, and product launches. His experience includes structuring investment funds with a focus on real estate funds, guiding venture capital investments, developing Shari’ah-compliant investment structures and private debt investments, managing capital raisings and regulatory change projects.
Ashurst’s global head of financial regulatory, Jake Green, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Raheel to Ashurst. His deep understanding of the Saudi market and his expertise in financial regulatory matters will be instrumental as we continue to expand our footprint in the Middle East. Raheel’s extensive knowledge of Saudi financial services laws, regulations, and practices, combined with his innovative approach to Shari’ah-compliant investment structures, makes him a vital asset to our team.”
Faisal Baassiri, managing partner of the firm’s Saudi Arabia offices, added: “The Saudi legal market is undergoing substantial growth, driven by a dynamic regulatory environment and the rising demand for compliance and advisory services. Raheel’s experience and deep understanding of the Saudi market, combined with his proven track record in advising financial institutions, will be crucial in meeting our clients’ needs in this dynamic market.”
His hire follows the recent partner additions of Martyn Rogers, Tammam Kaissi, and Leonid Stoliarski in Riyadh.
