Latham & Watkins has been granted a Regional Headquarters (RHQ) licence to operate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The firm is one of the first global law firms to receive a RHQ licence by the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, it was announced in a statement this week.
Latham has been operating in the Middle East since 2008 and has two offices in Riyadh and Dubai.
The RHQ will be based in Riyadh, according to the statement, and will “provide strategic direction and management support” across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. It will be led by Salman Al-Sudairi, managing partner, and Safaa Arthold, director of administration.
Al-Sudairi said: “Our regional headquarters in Riyadh will lead on setting our strategic vision for Saudi Arabia and the rest of the MENA region. From tech to energy, finance to sports, there is tremendous growth opportunity in this dynamic market, and we’re well-positioned to support our clients’ success in the region and beyond.”
Rich Trobman, chair and managing partner of Latham & Watkins, added: “Saudi Arabia is a major hub for commerce, finance, and innovation, both within the Middle East and more widely, and the region represents an important pillar of our global growth strategy.”
In March 2023, Latham was also one of the first global law firms to be granted a Foreign Law Licence to practise in Saudi Arabia, formalising its presence in the Kingdom.
The RHQ programme came into effect on January 1, 2024, requiring multinational businesses to move their regional headquarters to Saudi Arabia should they wish to contract with government organisations, agencies, or funds. Clyde & Co received its RHQ licence earlier this month.
