Eversheds Sutherland has hired the former legislation office head at the Ministry of Justice in Saudi Arabia. Musab Aljammaz’s hire as a partner comes as the firm cements its longstanding relationship with AlDhabaan & Partners through a joint venture in the Kingdom.
Based in the firm’s Riyadh office, Aljammaz brings substantial experience in legal and regulatory compliance, having played a pivotal role in shaping Saudi Arabia’s legal landscape.
He has drafted several of the nation’s most significant laws and regulations, including the Civil Transactions Law, the Regulations for Licensing Foreign Law Firms, the Lawyers Rules of Conduct, and the Civil Enforcement Law, among others.
“Through this pioneering offering and legal capability development, I aim to contribute to the realisation of my country’s 2030 Vision by enhancing the availability of sophisticated and innovative legal services in Saudi Arabia,” said Aljammaz in a statement.
In addition to the strategic hire, Eversheds has committed to formalising its 13-year association with AlDhabaan & Partners by way of a joint venture.
AlDhabaan & Partners founder and chairman Mohammad Al Dhabaan said: “I am pleased that the extension of our agreement with Eversheds Sutherland continues, following our longstanding and close professional relationship with them since 2011.”
“Additionally, it signifies our commitment to attract and retain exceptional legal talents, including new partner Musab Aljammaz, to achieve our goals and meet the aspirations of our clients in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030,” he said.
As part of the process, Eversheds has relocated John Kemkers, a litigation and disputes partner and the head of the firm’s Africa group, to Riyadh where he will be senior office partner of the joint venture firm.
“I am very pleased to have relocated to Saudi Arabia,” said Kemkers, who was based in London. “It is one of the fastest changing countries in the world and a fascinating and dynamic place to work. My continuing role as head of the Africa group will also support the longstanding links between the Middle East and Africa and I can better take advantage of those links from Riyadh. This includes our co-operation agreement with KWM (China) which has already resulted in significant referral opportunities in both the Middle East and Africa.”
Eversheds now has some 40 lawyers, including eight partners, in Saudi Arabia.
The firm’s continued investment in Riyadh comes at a time of significant regulatory and economic change in the Kingdom which has resulted in the creation of one of the world’s busiest legal markets.
In September, Dentons hired the former legal advisor to Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice as a partner, Abdullah Alsulaimi served as the Deputy Minister for Laws and International Cooperation.
