Khoshaim & Associates (K&A) has opened an office in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time the Saudi Arabian law firm has expanded outside the Kingdom.
The new office aims to support K&A’s existing and prospective clients in Saudi Arabia and the region.
It has three specific aims, namely to support inbound investments from the UAE to KSA given the move by companies to establish their regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia; to support regional investments by international and Saudi Arabian companies that simultaneously wish to invest in assets and businesses in the region; and broaden K&A’s bench with senior practitioners from international firms.
K&A has two offices in Saudi Arabia, in Riyadh and Jeddah. The K&A UAE team will integrate into the firm’s corporate, finance, capital markets, and dispute resolution practices and offer a more robust set of regional services, including regional M&A, cross-border financing, dual-listing capabilities, and regional arbitration.
“This significant step reflects K&A’s ongoing commitment to further strengthen Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the legal field, while enhancing our ability to serve clients across the region,” said K&A’s managing partner, Zeyad Khoshaim, in a statement.
“Our expansion into Abu Dhabi is a testament to the strength and resilience of Saudi Arabia’s economy. This move enables us to continue providing the highest standard of legal counsel to our clients, wherever they may be.”
Abu Dhabi is abuzz with activity, driven by sovereign wealth fund investments and cross-border deals. Energy transitions, digitalisation, and supply chain diversification bring further opportunities to the UAE capital.
Earlier this month it was reported that Skadden is set to open its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi. The New York law firm has hired Michael Hilton, who was formerly regional managing partner for MENA at Freshfields, to spearhead the new presence, according to people familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, Indian law firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas (CAM) opened its first Middle East office in Abu Dhabi in March this year. It strengthened its presence with the hire of Himanshu Chahar as a partner and director in corporate transactions from BSA Law.
