Saudi Venture Capital’s (SVC) former chief legal officer has joined King & Spalding as a partner.
Haifa Bahaian has joined the firm’s real estate and funds practice, based in Riyadh.
Bahaian worked at SVC for nearly three and a half years, according to her LinkedIn profile, most recently as chief legal officer. She was previously senior legal counsel at Olayan Saudi Holding Company and practised at Baker McKenzie and Latham & Watkins.
Her practice covers funds, private equity, corporate, and regulatory work, across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
“Haifa brings a strong blend of experience in private practice, in-house and within a major Saudi financial institution, as well as an excellent reputation with her extensive governmental and business contacts in the region,” said Nabil Issa, managing partner of King & Spalding’s Middle East offices. “The opportunities for both inbound and outbound interest in Saudi Arabia as it continues its Vision 2030 reforms are vast, and Haifa’s experience in investment funds, M&A and transactional regulatory matters will help our clients take advantage of those opportunities and the firm to continue to expand its footprint here.”
“King & Spalding has a long and impressive history in the Middle East, and being able to join the firm as part of its continued expansion in the region is an exciting opportunity,” said Bahaian. “I’ve been fortunate to know and work with several of my new partners before and look forward to collaborating with all the other exceptional lawyers and clients the firm has across the region and around the world, as well.”Â
Bahaian’s hire follows the announcement in September 2023 that King & Spalding had been granted a foreign law license by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Justice, allowing the firm to officially operate in the country.
She is also the latest in a string of Middle East partner hires in the last 18 months for the firm, which has included Dan Feldman, Brendan Hundt, Simon Fraser, Matt Hartsuyker, and Malek Al Rifai.
