Baker McKenzie and CMS have added further bench strength to their partnerships in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Baker McKenzie has brought on Khalid Alyafi as a partner in the transactional practice group, effective October 1.
He joins from Khoshaim & Associates (K&A), where he worked as counsel for one year, according to his LinkedIn profile. He previously spent nearly a decade working at Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) in London.
Alyafi specialises in international capital markets transactions, with a focus on both debt and equity capital markets. He advises issuers, sponsors, and underwriters on sovereign, corporate conventional, Islamic debt and high-yield issuances (both public and private), as well as IPOs, rights offerings, and public M&A matters across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Commenting on the hire, Baker McKenzie’s Saudi Arabia managing partner, Karim Nassar, said: “Khalid’s arrival adds significant depth to our Saudi capital markets practice and further bolsters our position as a transactional powerhouse. His cross-border experience will be extremely valuable to our clients, especially as we see growing demand from investors and corporations for sophisticated legal expertise in international transactions.”
On his appointment, Alyafi said: “It is an exciting time for capital markets practitioners in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, with both DCM and ECM transactions expected to increase significantly in the coming years in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 Financial Sector Development Program. The strength and global reach of the Baker McKenzie platform positions the firm exceptionally well to be at the forefront of this growth.”
Alyafi’s hire brings the number of partners based in Saudi Arabia to 11, who in addition to capital markets, advise on matters relating to banking & finance, M&A, corporate and commercial, competition, Islamic finance, technology, real estate, and projects.
Baker McKenzie made two hires at partner-level in the last quarter in the UAE. Sally Kotb rejoined Baker McKenzie as a dispute resolution partner in Dubai from Habib Al Mulla & Partners, where she was head of arbitration, while Dino Wilkinson joined as a partner and head of the firm’s Middle East data, cyber, and technology practice from Clyde & Co in Abu Dhabi.
CMS today announced the appointment of Austin Judson as a partner in the real estate practice. He joins from Walker Morris.
Initially based in the firm’s Manchester office, Judson will relocate to Riyadh in early 2025 to strengthen the firm’s real estate capabilities in the Middle East, according to a statement. He will also work with the firm’s real estate team in the UAE, led by partner Geoff Smith.
He brings nearly three decades of experience advising on commercial and mixed-use developments, as well as real estate finance and insolvency. He has acted for a number of the major property investors and developers, as well as retailers and high street banks.
He also has experience in the sports sector having acted for the administrators on the real estate aspects of a number of Premier League and Championship clubs as well as the purchase of a Premier League club. This has led to acquisitions, disposals, leases, and sale and leasebacks of a number of sports stadia.
“Austin brings a wealth of expertise, and his arrival will further elevate our reputation as the leading law firm for real estate,” commented CMS partner and co-head of real estate Marie Scott. “His appointment is a pivotal step in our strategy to enhance our Middle East real estate offering with on-the-ground support in Saudi Arabia—a dynamic market that presents significant growth opportunities for the practice and our clients.”
Mohammed Aldowish, managing partner of CMS in Saudi Arabia, added: “The real estate sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a key pillar under the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Having seen a growth in demand for specialist real estate advice from our clients, bringing in a partner of Austin’s calibre to join our Riyadh office is a terrific addition to our existing capabilities and demonstrates our long-standing commitment to support our clients in the Kingdom.”
This marks the sixth partner appointment by CMS in the Middle East this year across sectors including banking & finance, TMT, corporate, energy & infrastructure, and dispute resolution.
