Morgan Lewis & Bockius is set to open an office in Riyadh, amid a rush among international law firms to establish a foothold in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“We look forward to opening in Riyadh soon, subject to regulatory approval, and to further opportunities to serve those clients and others in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” a spokesperson for the firm said.
“We currently represent multiple institutional investors, state-owned entities, and global corporations in cross-border transactions, financing, and disputes involving Saudi Arabia.”
Morgan Lewis has two offices in the Middle East, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, having established a presence in the emirates in 2013 and 2019, respectively.
The Saudi expansion will be led by partner and Middle East and Africa disputes head Sara K. Aranjo, who joined the firm in September 2023, alongside partner Ayman Khaleq and of counsel Sourabh Bhattacharya. It will be further supported by partners and lawyers from across the firm’s global offices, the spokesperson said.
Earlier today Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan announced it had secured a licence to practice law in Saudi Arabia, operating through a Saudi professional company.
Several international law firms have sought to establish a foothold in Saudi Arabia since it became mandatory to obtain a licence by the Ministry of Justice to continue to advise clients on the ground.
The new legal framework is aimed at encouraging investment in Saudi legal talent and ensuring that work can be created from within the region, with local legal expertise growing accordingly.
Last month, Allen & Overy announced it had opened an independent office in Saudi Arabia ahead of its merger with Shearman & Sterling, which goes live on May 1.
