Kirkland & Ellis has expanded its investment funds practice to the Middle East with the hire of a partner in Riyadh.
Nabil Abou-Charaf has joined from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, where he was an associate based in the firm’s Dubai office. He will be relocating to Riyadh, according to a spokesperson for Kirkland & Ellis.
His practice includes advising on a variety of domestic and international business transactions and arrangements including fund formation and investments, mergers and acquisitions, co-investments, joint ventures and corporate governance matters.
“Nabil is a rising star in the funds world, with solid experience advising private and institutional investors with their investments in private equity funds and other investment vehicles,” said Kamran Bajwa, founding partner and general manager of Kirkland’s Riyadh office and regional headquarters. “He will be a great addition to our growing team and platform in Riyadh and key to our goal of establishing Kirkland’s leading investment funds practice in the Middle East.”
“We’re excited to expand our investment funds practice to the Middle East with the addition of an exceptionally talented lawyer like Nabil,” said Erica Berthou, Kirkland executive committee member and a partner in the firm’s investment funds practice. “As the largest, most active investment funds practice in the world, we proactively advise our clients on key considerations and, like the private equity community, we are investing in the continued opportunity in the Middle East.”
Kirkland & Ellis, the world’s biggest law firm by revenue, has more than 600 investment funds lawyers globally. They provide advice on private fund formation, liquidity solutions, investment management, regulatory matters, and more.
Since January 2019, the firm has advised more than 1,900 funds with a combined capital commitment exceeding $2.17 trillion.
Kirkland & Ellis opened its Riyadh office and regional headquarters in October 2023. Since then the office has grown to over 20 legal professionals, with core specialisms including corporate, capital markets, projects, and restructuring.
In April 2024 it was announced the firm had launched a construction practice in Riyadh, led by partner James Clark. Some months later in June 2024, the firm strengthened its capital solutions and financial restructuring practice in Riyadh with the addition of Husni Almousli, who was promoted to the firm’s partnership in October last year.
Speaking to Law Middle East last summer, Bajwa said his focus is to “build the best law firm culture and brand in the Kingdom”.
