Mishcon de Reya Partners with Ebrahim Al Habardi Law Office to Launch Riyadh Joint Venture

Mishcon de Reya Partners with Ebrahim Al Habardi Law Office to Launch Riyadh Joint Venture

Mishcon de Reya, a leading UK law firm, is making significant inroads into Saudi Arabia by applying to establish its presence in Riyadh through the formation of a joint venture company, named Mishcon de Reya Lawyers & Legal Consultants.

The venture, which is pending approval from Saudi authorities, will be forged in partnership with the Ebrahim Al Habardi Law Office, which previously was associated with Jones Day.

This strategic move follows recent amendments to Saudi Arabia's Code of Law Practice, under which foreign firms are now required to operate through a joint venture or branch office, rather than merely partnering with local firms.

Leading the new joint venture company, Mishcon de Reya Lawyers & Legal Consultants, will be joint managing partners Ebrahim Al Habardi and Kassim Meghjee. Al Habardi is the founder and principal of his firm and a former counsel at Jones Day. Meghjee is a partner specialising in Mishcon Private based in London.

Martin Davies, currently the Head of Middle East at Mishcon in London, will provide his leadership as the co-chairman of the office. In addition, Yusuf Giansiracusa, who retired from Jones Day's partnership at the close of the preceding year, will take on the position of Senior Special Counsel.

Mishcon de Reya envisions its Riyadh office as a hub for fostering and expanding existing connections with both corporate entities and individual clients in Saudi Arabia, within a global context. This office will engage closely with Saudi families and international corporations involved in activities within the Kingdom, offering comprehensive legal services covering a wide range of areas, including corporate affairs, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, project management, construction, real estate, litigation, arbitration, and providing vital assistance to the firm's involvement in various projects sponsored by the Public Investment Fund (PIF).

The opening of this office is in line with Mishcon de Reya's 10-year strategy to extend its international presence into emerging economic hubs.